Christian Deaf Ministries
P.O. Box 144
Arkport, New York 14807
Breaking the Sound Barrier for Christ

We just finished deaf camp at Odosagih Bible Conference near Buffalo.  We had 34 who came out for the camp.  The speaker was Dr. Randy Sanders from Peoria, Illinois.  Randy just resigned his pastorate to start a new deaf ministry, and will be working locally as well as in the islands of Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua and Jamaica.  His wife, Sue, is a teacher of interpreters and held a seminar for area interpreters while at camp.  The pastor of the North Syracuse Baptist Deaf Church and I will be doing some visitation in western New York to try to interest more deaf people to come out for the camp.  There are so many who need to hear the gospel.

In May I attended the baptism of an 80-year old deaf lady.  Last September she and four others accompanied me to the deaf retreat at Delta Lake.  The speaker was Jim Sloan, and his message reached her heart and she came to receive Christ as Savior.  She has been in a Bible teaching church since that time, and although her interpreter is inexperienced, she has done a good job of interpreting the teaching for her.  Many of us were invited to attend baptismal ceremony.  What a joy to see the Lord’s blessing in letting her live to age 80 in order to get saved!  She gave her testimony at deaf camp and that was a blessing to all.  This was the first time I ever heard a whole church cheer after a baptism!

Right now everyone is working on the camp to be held in Grenada in July.  We had wondered where we would stay because there are no suitable camps; however the Lord intervened and the University of the West Indies offered their dorms AT NO CHARGE!
They are like motel rooms so everyone will be very comfortable instead of sleeping in bunk beds.  Praise the Lord for this.  This will be the first camp in Grenada.  Cooking and meetings will be done in a tent nearby.  Dr. Sanders is the speaker for this year.  Deaf people are coming in from St. Vincent, Antigua, Jamaica and Grenada.  

One interesting note about the camp is that seven are coming over from Antigua.  These are the men who were saved last year at camp.  What a blessing to know they are following the Lord, and seeking to grow in the Word.  There is a big need for interpreters in Antigua who can interpret in the churches.  Right now we don’t know of anyone working with the deaf in that country.  
 
Sign classes just ended in June with 19 people taking the classes this year.  It is amazing how just through the teaching of sign language, we are able to reach out to the deaf in many places.  We already have five new students signed up for September, and many of the old ones will go on to the next class.  The deaf choir will be practicing again in September since we have been invited to do some concerts in the fall.

I visit one deaf lady at her house regularly.  She is really very lonely, with no one who signs, and she doesn’t get out very much.  She did accept the Lord at one of our meetings about 3 years ago, so I try to keep up with her, encourage her to read her Bible and just spend some time with her.  

During July and August I will be staying at Odosagih Bible Conference.  I play the piano for morning and evening meetings and interpret for the deaf at the meetings.  I will also be teaching some sign language this summer.  Some of the staff has requested that I do that because they would be able to communicate with the deaf and especially in the Special Friends camps.  I meet a lot of people at camp who have deaf friends or relatives so it is a good contact for the ministry.

I have just finished another CD which should be out soon, and am working on the 4th which will be out in July or August.  The funds all go to help a deaf couple, Sheldon and Rachel, to go to Bible School.  They have finished one year and I was able to send $5000 from the sale of the CDs, so praise the Lord for that.  Sheldon and Rachel are working in the island of Grenada this summer, helping the deaf and preaching.  I am supporting them through the summer so they can eat and travel around the island.  They will return to Bible School in September.  

Thanks to every church and individual who has a part in this ministry.  I really appreciate each one.  Please continue to pray for me as I make decisions for the ministry and the many activities and events that occur.  This is my 36th year in deaf ministry and the workload continues to increase.   Pray for the deaf camp in July that many will be saved again this year.  Pray that those who are Christians will grow in their walk with Christ.  This is probably the highlight of their year.  Pray for Rachel and Sheldon as they return to school.  Pray that the Lord will keep their focus on the deaf in the islands and they won’t become enamored by the material things here in America.

If you want to have a part in helping Sheldon and Rachel in their schooling, please send your contributions to Christian Deaf Ministries.  Or if you wish to help send a deaf person to camp, the cost is $100 per week (much less than American camps.)

Yours for the deaf,

Lois Dungan