More Than Interpretation

While Nohelani did not grow up Adventist, she became a member as a teenager through an evangelistic program at a local church. From a young age she felt called to become a sign language interpreter, and years later—after joining the Adventist Church—she knew God was leading her to use that gift in ministry.

As a youth she attended Sacramento Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sacramento, California, where Pastor Doug Batchelor served as head pastor. When he invited her to interpret for an upcoming evangelistic series, Nohelani hesitated. She had only recently begun interpreter training at a local college and felt unprepared for such a responsibility. After prayer and encouragement, she accepted the challenge.

The program proved difficult, and Nohelani quickly realized how overwhelming theological content could be without adequate training. Midway through the series, however, a Deaf woman named Nancy attended. With tears of joy Nancy shared that she had been praying for more interpreters in the Adventist Church—and seeing Nohelani interpret was an answer to her prayer.

Soon after, Nohelani met Jerry, another Deaf church member. Jerry became a mentor, patiently guiding her and offering feedback to improve her interpreting skills. Through this partnership the church became a welcoming space where Nancy and Jerry could fully participate and connect with hearing members because communication access was finally available.

Deaf Ministry

This experience—and others like it—revealed a deeper truth: hearing interpreters alone are not the complete solution. For Deaf ministry to truly grow, hearing and Deaf members must work together—not just through interpretation, but through shared leadership, collaboration, and mutual respect. Interpreters open the door, but lasting inclusion and spiritual growth happen when both communities unite to serve and share the gospel with the Deaf. The Adventist Church is in desperate need of highly skilled interpreters to work alongside Deaf members and support the growth of Deaf ministry.

More than 70 million people worldwide are culturally Deaf and use sign language.[1] They are ordinary people with hopes, dreams, abilities, and God-given talents—they simply cannot hear. Because spoken language is inaccessible, Deaf individuals rely on their eyes for communication. While some can lip-read, only about 30 percent of English is visible on the lips, leaving most of the message to guesswork. For this reason, sign language is preferred for its clarity, richness, and ease of use.

When Access Is Absent

Esther, who was born to Deaf parents, encountered this reality firsthand when she visited a small church in Hermosa, South Dakota. Because it was a small congregation, there was only one adult Sabbath School class, which had already begun when she stepped into the room and chose a seat in the back. As a first-time visitor, she quietly took in her surroundings. Everyone was seated facing the teacher at the front—everyone except for one man. He sat in a folding chair facing the congregation, silently mouthing every word spoken. To some, that might seem unusual, but Esther had a strong hunch that she needed to meet him. During the break between services, she walked to the front and, using both voice and sign, asked one individual, “Are you deaf?”

His eyes filled with curiosity as he followed Esther’s fingers from her ear to her mouth while she signed “deaf.” He nodded and responded, in sign and voice, “Do you sign?”

That was all it took. They quickly became acquainted. The man, Ken, explained that he was skilled at lip reading and that the members were gracious enough to mouth the words spoken each week. Because no one in the congregation knew sign language, that was all they could offer.

For Deaf ministry to truly grow, hearing and Deaf members must work together—not just through interpretation, but through shared leadership, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Esther couldn’t imagine the strain of staring at someone’s lips for hours every Sabbath morning, trying to decode movements into meaningful sentences. She admired his perseverance and offered to interpret the worship service in ASL. Ken’s eyes lit up with excitement—“Yes!”

After the service Ken repeatedly expressed his gratitude and wished Esther were relocating to the area. For him, seeing the sermon in sign language was refreshing and far easier to follow than lip reading.

Ministry With, Not For

While Esther’s experience highlights the strain of worship without access, Sam’s story reflects what becomes possible when Deaf members are fully included.

Sam, a Deaf German man living in British Columbia, was invited to the Ferndale Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Washington Conference for fellowship with other Deaf members. Wanting to ensure clear communication, Nancy Brown, one of the Deaf members at Ferndale, arranged for an interpreter. During Sabbath School the interpreter voiced Sam’s comments, surprising the hearing attendees and allowing Sam to fully participate.

In the worship service the interpreter’s skill brought the sermon to life—something Sam later said he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Although he deeply appreciated this access, Sam continued attending church even when no interpreter was available. After befriending Mat, a new Polish church member with no sign language skills, Sam encouraged him to become an interpreter. The reason for this seemingly odd request? Sam recognized in Mat something not all interpreters possess: a genuine heart for ministry.

Sign language interpreters may receive different levels of formal training, but in church settings there are qualities they cannot learn in a classroom—chief among them a genuine love for Jesus and a deep, selfless love for the Deaf community. They must embrace Deaf culture, recognize the unique gifts within this community, and advocate for full inclusion in church life and mission. Because interpreters are often the primary bridge of communication, they should build real friendships, offering social, emotional, and spiritual support rather than seeking recognition or leadership for selfish reasons. Above all, their highest calling is to clearly communicate and help the Deaf understand the Word of God.

Yet connecting with Deaf members is not the interpreter’s responsibility alone. The entire church family shares the call to build relationships and engage with one another. Deaf members bring God-given spiritual gifts that strengthen the congregation and advance its mission, and they should be welcomed as full participants. While some interpreters may lack proper qualifications—and even skilled ones still carry a “hearing accent”—the broader church community must actively support inclusion rather than relying solely on interpreters.

A Congregation Learning to Listen

The Ferndale church offers one example of what this shared commitment to Deaf ministry can look like. In preparation for an upcoming Deaf Big Day—a special Sabbath gathering featuring a Deaf speaker—hearing members spent months taking sign language classes so that visiting Deaf attendees would feel genuinely welcomed. Their efforts were evident, as Deaf guests felt the warmth of members who communicated directly in sign rather than relying solely on interpreters.

On the Sabbaths that no interpreter is available, the pastor provides a sermon script to their dedicated Deaf member, Nancy Brown, and the song service often includes a YouTube video with music and a sign language interpreter to ensure accessibility. The congregation consistently seeks to include Deaf members and visitors, hiring interpreters when possible and communicating as best they can when one is not present. Their love for the Deaf is unmistakable within this small church community, and visitors immediately sense that care.

A Ministry for All

While the Adventist Church urgently needs more sign language interpreters worldwide, hearing congregations can still do much to help Deaf members feel welcome. Some churches have embraced Deaf visitors so warmly that they have stayed—even without an interpreter each Sabbath—because they found genuine love and community.

Churches can learn basic sign language through online resources, greet Deaf visitors warmly even if they do not sign, and sponsor individuals who feel called to train as interpreters.[2] By taking these simple steps, congregations can better support their Deaf brothers and sisters and partner with them in sharing the gospel with one of the world’s largest unreached people groups.

[1] World Federation of the Deaf, Frequently Asked Questions, https://wfdeaf.org/contact/faqs/.

[2] For resources from Adventist Deaf Ministries International, please visit https://www.adventistdeaf.org.