Welcoming the Deaf Community to your Church

We are celebrating that your church is wanting to welcome, honor, and provide a space for the Deaf and hard of hearing community (D/hh) to grow in their relationship with Jesus! THANK YOU!

Sonshine Interpreting provides excellent interpreters that love Jesus and have a heart for ministry for any setting that will equip Deaf people for life and ministry. Unfortunately, we do not provide the coordination of interpreters for weekly in-person church services. We can coordinate weekly church service interpreters for any online content (live streamed, via zoom, or pre recorded content).

We want to do everything we can to encourage, educate, advocate, and come alongside you in what you are doing because what you are doing to provide local, in person interpreters is SO IMPORTANT! Below are some great resources for you to utilize and share with your teams as you consider how to best welcome and honor the Deaf community in your fellowship. 

Resources:

• 5 tips to create a welcoming environment for the Deaf community - here is the link.

• Important facts about the Deaf community

• Find other churches with a Deaf ministry in your area here. Collaboration can be so helpful!

• Article explaining why Deaf ministry is vital to your church.

• The Bible in American sign language.

• 3 must have qualities of a professional interpreter.

• Helpful tips for building a Deaf ministry.

• Converge Deaf Ministry has excellent ministry coaches to come alongside your team. E-mail Converge.

What Next?

Wondering where to start? Find and learn from interpreters in your area and other churches that are serving the Deaf community. 

1. DeafChurchWhere.com - find out what churches are accessible in your area (look at an hour radius).

2. Reach out to every one of the churches that welcomes the Deaf community (regardless of the denomination). Learn from them.

3. Learning about the local Deaf community is helpful: colleges with Deaf attending (including those offering ASL and Interpreter Training Programs).

4. Lean into the Deaf attending your church to advise and lead. 

5. If this feels overwhelming and you have the desire to move forward but you're not sure where to start, consider having a coach from Converge Deaf Ministry (a free service) come alongside your team. For further support, email Sonshine Interpreting. We will come alongside you to consult, train, and advise. We offer a personalized church consulting service that will help you take the next steps in your ministry welcoming Deaf people.

6. Hire Sonshine if you need interpreters for any conferences or events. We would love to serve you!

7. If you have interpreters in your community, encourage them to continue to grow in their gifts by taking interpreting workshops. Sonshine offers monthly workshops specific to the Christian setting and Christian interpreter mentors to help your interpreters grow and reflect the excellence of Jesus.