Group Mentoring

Purpose/Cause/Passion: We provide excellent ASL interpreters who love Jesus for events, music, and media that equip Deaf people for life and ministry.

Our Niche: Developing Jesus-loving interpreters to provide access for Deaf communities within Christian events, music, and media.

Let’s Do This! 

Sonshine Interpreting highly values the training and discipleship of Christian Interpreters SO THAT we provide excellent interpreting that equips Deaf people for life and ministry. In 2024 we created our 10 year vision. By 2035, Sonshine Interpreting will foster a network of 1,000 Jesus-loving interpreters equipped with professional development and mentorship opportunities. To reach our goal, we started offering 4 types of virtual development under “Sonshine School”.

For Interpreters/DIs

  • Workshops

  • Mentoring

  • Community of Practice

For the hearing audience

  • Lunch and Learns

To register for mentoring, please fill out the application below. We will get back to you in 5-7 business days. We will add you to a waiting list once a training is full. We appreciate your patience in this process. Each mentor track has CEUs available, costs $150 and lasts 6 weeks. Attendance is expected each meeting and homework will be given and checked. We look forward to working with you! We love our Sonshiners! *Proceeds from Sonshine School support the Mission-Minded Interpreter (MMI) Fund.

Register below

Quarter 3

Quarter 3:

Registration opens:

5/15/2025

Registration closes:

6/01/2025

Apostles Creed and

Church Liturgy

Chris Beasterfeld

Track Description:

Have you ever been stumped by some of the congregational readings and just how fast they say them?  We will explore different church liturgy and how to interpret them.  Limit 8.  We will have four workshops and each member can have up to two one one-on-one mentoring meetings. 

 Meets

  • Via Zoom

  • Thursdays

  • 6/26, 7/10, 7/24, 8/7

  • 6:30pm-7:30pm CST

  • Knowledge Level: Novice +

Bio:

Chris has been an interpreter for 25 years and holds a degree from Tennessee Temple University. She is Missouri licensed and certified and holds a Mental Health Interpreter Certification. She has worked in education, religious, medical, and mental health interpreting. She was also a pastor’s wife for 20 years and led a Deaf ministry for 10 years until her recent move to Kansas. 

Sermon and

Worship Prep

Hannah Riedel

Track Description:

In this track, Hannah will guide you through the main steps in how to prepare for an upcoming sermon and worship set. She will teach from her own 10+ years experience on how to prepare by asking the right questions, researching the scriptures, practicing transliterating those scriptures, and making a GLOSS of the upcoming worship set. Join us to learn tips on how to be prepared and team with everyone involved!

Meets

  • Via Zoom

  • Saturdays

  • Session 1 & 2:

    • June 28 10:30am - 12:30pm & 1:00pm-2:00pm CT

  • Session 3: 

    • Saturday July 12th 10:30-12:30pm CT

  • Knowledge Level: Advanced +


Bio:

Hannah is a mentor, coach, professional interpreter, business owner, momma, and accessibility advocate. She has been interpreting for 14+ years and currently lives and works in California advocating for the ASL Interpreting community through her Terp Coach Network online. She loves the ocean, hazelnut lattes, and time with her family.

Refining International

Interpreting Skills

Lisa Garcia

Track Description:

This track is designed for people who are looking to improve their skills in international spaces or clients with ASL/English as a second language. You will practice techniques to adapt your interpretation to clients from a variety of countries. As well as, how to voice interpret in culturally complex situations.

Meets

  • Will depend on student and mentor availability

  • 1:1 meetings

  • 3 sessions each

  • Knowledge Level: Novice +

BIO

Lisa has been working as a professional interpreter for 21+ years. She has a passion for international interpreting that began at a young age due to moving to various countries. She has experience working in a variety of international settings. She is one of the founders of the Latin-America based "Interpretes En Podcast" and served as the designated interpreter for "Americas Union of the Deaf". She holds RID CI/CT Certification, AA in American Sign Language Interpreting, BA in Theology, and BA in Spanish.

Church Interpreting

Peter Boklund

Track Description:

This mentorship class is for novice interpreters who are interested in gaining tools to put in their bag of tricks. We will be focusing on interpreting skillsets in general while using church-related materials. Discussions are open to specific features of interpreting functions (the nuts and gears of interpreting) and interpreting approaches within the church setting. English to ASL.

Meets

  • Via Zoom

  • Thursdays

  • 7/10- Asynchronous
    7/17- Synchronous
    7/24- Asynchronous
    7/31- Synchronous
    8/7- Asynchronous
    8/14- Synchronous

  • 6pm - 7pm CT

  • Knowledge Level: Novice +

Bio:

B.A. degree in interpreting and over 10 years of professional interpreting experience in a variety of settings. Serving in ministry providing ASL access for over 15 years and currently leading an ASL ministry at a local church in Wichita, KS. Co-owns an interpreting agency with his wife and mentors local interpreters seeking certification. Current certifications are NIC and EIPA 4.5 and seeking legal certification under BEI. Loves the Lord and feels blessed to serve Him in ministry working with the Deaf and interpreters.

Deaf-Friendly

Approaches

to Sermon Interpreting

Marvella Sellers

Track Description:

Learn how to interpret sermons in ways that are theologically sound, Deaf-centric, and biblically clear. We’ll focus on Christianity 101 basics, Triune-God concepts, and thought processes. Explore approaches to Old and New Testament interpretation for diverse Deaf/HH congregations.

Meets

  • Via Zoom

  • Wednesdays

  • 6:30-8pm CT

  • 6/11, 6/25, 7/9

  • Knowledge Level: Advanced +

Bio:

A known trainer for interpreters, employed as a DI and in ProTactile/SSP fields, currently a seminary student and a Christian Deaf leader who are familiar with transliteration strategies combined with a longtime spiritual background.  In-depth knowledge in ASL/Bilingual development assessments and assisting Deaf/HH leaders within Christian contexts, from professional to inter-personal and intra- skills.

Quarter 4

Quarter 4:

October - December

Topics will include

  • Bible Translation

  • Mentorship

  • Voicing

  • High Level Voicing

  • and more