Today, we are sharing a powerful story from a church in California, Chapel of Change, and their Deaf ministry, Signs of Change. The ministry is led by Renee Thomas, who shares how God is using Deaf people to reach others with the Good News.
Renee begins by reflecting on her faith journey, saying, “If God decides to heal my hearing, I have no problem with it. But God will still use other Deaf people to reach the gospel to the Deaf community, in our language — ASL.”
She continues, introducing herself with a heartfelt sign. “Hello, my name is Renee Thomas. And this is my name sign,” she signs. The joy in her eyes is evident as she adds, “I’m one of the pastors at Chapel of Change. I also lead a Deaf ministry here, Signs of Change. Through our signs, are the changes. Through our changes, are the signs. Signs of Change.”
The story of Chapel of Change and Signs of Change begins with Pastor Brian, the lead pastor at the church. He recalls how the ministry started:
“We started our church, Chapel of Change. Our mission is to give fresh hope. A couple of months after we started, a precious lady who was the mother of a Deaf child, came to me and she said, ‘Brian, the Deaf community needs to hear your message. Are you willing to allow me to interpret your message on Sundays? Next Sunday, Ms. Cam started interpreting my message. Within a couple of weeks, the Deaf community started to respond. Next thing I know, we experience what I like to call a revival at our church.”
Renee adds her own perspective on the importance of sign language within the Deaf community. “ASL is the key to understanding, as that’s our language. We praise God for ASL Bible translation, and for local Deaf pastors to teach the Word of God in our language,” she explains.
Renee was joined by several members of the Signs of Change community, who each shared their insights on how they experience and share the sign language Bible. One member explained, “Scripture in text is difficult to understand. So we modify the words into action. We visualize and expand on the Bible, to help understand better. Then we encourage others to be equipped.”
Another shared a powerful analogy: “When you go swimming, and it’s murky in the water, you’d wear your goggles, then you’d see clearly. It’s the same as experiencing Jesus in your heart. Through understanding His Word, you can see clearly. The Bible is alive and strengthens you.”
One more member expressed their awe at God’s work in their hands: “Jesus takes over my hands, to share God’s Word with people. I’m like, ‘Wow, Jesus is alive in me!’ It’s amazing.”
As the stories continued, Renee reflected on the deeper purpose of their ministry and shares one final thought, “God let us be Deaf, to use our language and reach the lost Deaf souls.”
