Often, it all starts with a glance. The glance of a volunteer who meets the gaze of a deaf person, isolated in the crowd. There are no grand speeches, just a twinge of the heart and a simple question: "How can I help?" The fear of not knowing, the fear of being awkward is all very real. Yet the desire to welcome is stronger. This article is not about complex programs, but about those who form a dedicated ministry team, trained as volunteers and providing sensitive spiritual support. Focusing on training, understanding needs and concrete commitment to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Part 2 of this series detailed the basics of sign language and the various technologies and communication tools available to facilitate this inclusion, such as listening assistance systems, captioning and visual aids.

Today, we will focus on the human and organizational aspects: how to move from intention to action by structuring sustainable support. This article focuses on those volunteers who answer the call of silence. We will explore the steps to form a dedicated ministry team; recruit committed volunteers and provide them with the necessary training in communication and spiritual accompaniment. 

1. Forming a ministry team dedicated to deaf people

For a ministry to deaf and hard-of-hearing people to be truly effective and sustainable, it is essential to build a dedicated team. This goes far beyond simply providing occasional services; it is about fully integrating these people into the fabric of church life. 

A. Recruiting and raising awareness among volunteers

Prayer is the best starting point for this ministry. We must pray for wisdom and discernment for leaders, and ask God to call people to serve, as well as to draw deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind people into the life of the Church.

1. Establish a core team and gain the support of leaders
   • Any successful ministry initiative relies on a strong team. It is crucial to assemble a core leadership team to oversee the ongoing development of the ministry.
   • The support of the pastor and/or church board is vital for a strong ministry. Maintain communication with ministers and boards to ensure their commitment.
   • Clarify the vision and goals of the ministry. The team must define whether it will focus specifically on people who are Deaf (culturally Deaf), hard of hearing, deafened, or deaf-blind, as each of these populations has distinct needs.
   • The handbook "Deaf Ministry: Ministry Models for Expanding the Kingdom of God" by Leo Yates, Jr., is a useful resource for understanding the nuances and possible models of ministry.
2. Recruiting Volunteers
   • To recruit members for the Deaf ministry team, you can ask other church leaders for recommendations, post an announcement in the church bulletin and make announcements in Sunday school classes and during worship services.
   • Write a brief list of "positions" with a succinct description for each role in order to have a clear idea of the skills required.
   • Form a prayer team made up of people who care about those with disabilities. This team not only intercedes but also raises awareness among the congregation about the needs of the deaf and creates spiritual support.
3. Congregation Awareness
   • Hospitality is the cornerstone of a successful ministry. A welcoming spirit, smiles, invitations and inclusion are essential.
   • Deaf Awareness Week/Sunday events, observed during the last week of September, are excellent opportunities to educate the congregation. These events may include:
     • Involving deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in leading worship (signing the Lord's Prayer, welcoming people, reading Scripture).
     • Presentations on Deaf history and culture.
     • Organizing post-service lunches with discussions about Deaf ministry.
     • Promoting these activities via the church website, social media, newsletters and by reaching out to places such as senior centers, audiology/ENT offices and hearing aid centers.
   • Maintaining an approach of "ministry with" rather than "ministry for" people with disabilities is a key theological consideration.

B. Training in Communication and Spiritual Accompaniment

For volunteers to serve effectively, training is essential, covering both the practical aspects of communication and the fundamentals of respectful spiritual accompaniment.

1. Communication training
   • Listening and individual preference: It is imperative to always ask the individual about their preferred method of communication, as it can vary greatly. Not asking is a form of audism. Audism is a form of discrimination and prejudice against deaf or hard-of-hearing people. This concept is based on the belief that the ability to hear.
   • Etiquette and behavior: Training should include advice on etiquette and considerate behaviors (Etiquette and Communication with Persons with Disabilities — R-Squared). For example:
     • Avoid treating adults like children and use age-appropriate topics of conversation.
     • Do not make assumptions about people's abilities
     • Get the person's attention by gently tapping their arm or shoulder before speaking
     • Speak clearly, at a moderate pace, without shouting or exaggerating lip movements
     • Face the person and do not cover your mouth
     • Look directly at the person, not the interpreter if one is present
     • Be patient, repeat or rephrase the message if necessary
     • Using paper and pencil can be helpful if verbal communication is difficult
     • Use language that is person-centered and avoid terms considered negative by the Deaf community, such as "hearing impaired" or "deaf and dumb"
   • Learning American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture:
     • Offering regular sign language classes within the church and for the community is an excellent practice. Ideally, a Deaf or hard of hearing person should teach these classes, as it is their language.
     • Online resources (ASL University, Start ASL, Lesson Tutor) can supplement these trainings
     • The United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries (UMC DHM) ASL video glossary of religious terms is a valuable resource for church-specific vocabulary. Examples of classroom use are provided.
     • Becoming familiar with Deaf culture is just as important as learning sign language, as it promotes greater hospitality and deeper understanding
2. Spiritual Guidance and Empowerment
   • Empowerment: The goal of ministry should be to empower deaf and hard of hearing people, not just to include them. This may involve pairing them with a hearing person at the beginning of a role to build their confidence, before they fully assume positions of service and leadership. It is important not to discriminate in leadership.
   • Theology of inclusion: Training should reinforce the understanding that all people, including those with disabilities, are created in God's image and have tremendous gifts and assets to offer the church (God's good creation rethinking disabilities | UMC.org). Rev. Justin Hancock reminds us that disabilities are marks of God's creativity.
   • Overcoming theological barriers: It is important to combat erroneous theologies that view disability as punishment for sin, as this creates tension and isolation. Jesus set an example of inclusion and hospitality toward all.
   • Awareness and education: Providing education about hearing loss helps to normalize it and reduce behavioral barriers and prejudice. Training can draw on resources such as The Julian Way's three-hour course, which aims to improve the welcome given to people with disabilities in churches.
   • Support during grief: Being understanding and empathetic toward people who may be grieving the loss of their hearing is an important aspect of spiritual care, as everyone experiences grief differently
   • Relationships and community: The goal is to create meaningful relationships and a community where deaf and hard-of-hearing people feel they truly belong

Conclusion

Establishing a dedicated and well-trained ministry team is a fundamental step in transforming the Church into a truly inclusive place. By combining sensitive recruitment, ongoing awareness-raising among the congregation, and comprehensive training in communication and spiritual accompaniment, communities can not only welcome Deaf and hard-of-hearing people but also recognize and integrate their unique gifts. It is by cultivating these relationships and removing barriers that the Church becomes a more complete and rich expression of the Body of Christ on Earth.

The next article in the series will focus on "Adapting Worship Services and Activities for Greater Inclusivity." In this fourth article in the series, we will examine how to adapt worship services in practical ways by using sign language interpreters, real-time captioning (CART) systems and strategic visual accommodations. By focusing on the accessibility of the Word, the use of assistive listening technologies and making a concrete commitment to ensuring that the liturgy is seen as well as heard,  we as a religious community can reveal the unexpected depth of a worship service that truly includes everyone.

This series of articles was written based on information and various documentary resources from ResourcesUMC.org, UMC.org & United Methodist Committee On Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Ministries.

Chadrack Tambwe Londe coordinates French-language content in Africa for United Methodist Communications and is a UM News correspondent. He is based in Congo.