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Deaf Reach 2009
Adventist Deaf Ministries is really excited about the
Deaf Reach
program. Deaf Reach is an intensive
weekend workshop which trains Deaf lay people how to give Bible studies and lead souls to Christ. Pastor David Trexler has been the main speaker for this program with Pastor Paul Kelly presenting a couple of the workshops. The Deaf Reach
program comes complete with a book entitled Sharing Your Faith with the Deaf which is an adaptation of Don Gray's You Are
My Witness and a Bible study lesson set Sharing the Word with the Deaf.
This year, approximately 165 people have been through this training at seven different Deaf Reach events around North America. Deaf Reach has been held in the following locations: McDonald, TN; Orlando, FL; Silver Spring, MD; Vancouver, WA; Lodi, CA; Rochester, NY; and Alberta, Canada. This is something that ADM is really excited about!
We can not depend on pastors for the Deaf alone to spread the Gospel message to each Deaf person in North America. The work is too vast and the workers are precious few. Lay people are needed to reach out to friends and the Deaf that live in their area.
"We learned that sharing our faith is NOT scary. We just tell about our own experience with Jesus.... The guidelines we learned during the weekend are easy and life changing," shared one attendee in Tennessee.
One person in Florida stated, "We practiced sharing our testimonies which brought tears to the eyes, also some chills and goose bumps." He goes on to say, "We acquired precious knowledge that will empower us to bring others to Christ."
A soul in Washington left Deaf Reach on fire, "I must admit that the whole weekend was the most amazing experience...We are going to roll up our sleeves and share the Gospel using our various spiritual gifts in the Deaf community."
ADM thanks the North American Division for providing funds so that a book and Bible study lesson set could be adapted and for covering some of the expenses of Deaf Reach workshops.