New Sign Language Ministry Translates Sermons, Builds Community

On Aug. 30th, an American Sign Language interpreter stood next to the stage at Mars Hill’s Bellevue campus and translated the service into ASL.

It was Mars Hill Bellevue’s first service for the hearing impaired, but it won’t be the last. In the future, interpreters plan to translate all of Bellevue’s 11:15 a.m. services into ASL.

And translating the services is just the tip of the iceberg for the new ministry.

Community building

“You can’t just offer an interpreter and expect to have a successful ministry,” said the group’s leader, Lindsey Kasowski, as she prepared to translate the first ASL service. “Deaf people desire community.”

So community-building is a high priority for the group.

Plans for an ASL-based community group are already in the works. The group will not only include people with hearing impairments but also anyone who uses sign language or who is interested in learning.

That way, the group won’t segregate or marginalize anyone who’s invited.

A growing ministry

Six people came to the first sign language interpretation although it wasn’t formally advertised.

In the future the group may advertise through flyers at local college campuses and malls, and it may host social events to help expose the services now offered for ASL users at Mars Hill.

Volunteers needed

God has stocked the Bellevue campus with several motivated people who use ASL and are eager to help with the group’s community-building aspects.

But so far, Kasowski is the only ASL-interpreter translating the service, and the team urgently needs one or two more interpreters to share the load.

To join the ministry or ask questions about it, contact Lindsey Kasowski on The City.