Insights into interpretation
Preparing and delivering sermons is hard work for any preacher, yet the difficulties are multiplied for Deaf Christians. Monica Hobel, who is Deaf, and her friend and retired GBM missionary Jean Ellis, share their insights into the experiences of Deaf believers in Austria.
Monica writes…
Every Friday we meet to read a Bible passage and prepare for the monthly Services in Sign Language, which are generally held in the afternoon of the last Sunday of the month. Before the pandemic, twenty or thirty came along, but now only around ten attend. However, the services are streamed via Zoom to Deaf throughout Austria.
Once a year the hearing pastor of the church organizes an interpreter to enable us to have a joint service at which Mirko, pastor of the Deaf group within the Free Evangelical Church of Klagenfurt, will preach.
Challenges
Sometimes it is difficult to plan ahead as the hearing church members often change things, which influences our meetings. That can be exasperating, but we find solutions. One such solution is to use a room of the small church in Ferlach on occasions—for example for our monthly intensive Bible studies, which a few of us attend.
Desires and prayer requests
We would like to see more people coming to church in the future and Mirko hopes that other pastors or leaders will come to support us and share the preaching with him—especially if they are fluent in sign language! Please pray that the Lord will provide others with the gifts and willingness to do this.
It is not always easy to tell other Deaf about Jesus, especially if they have no interest or even reject the message. If they are ready and approach us and their heart is open for Jesus, then we are happy to tell them more. The main thing is to be patient and make time for them. If they see that our faith is a positive influence then they might ask questions and show interest, which could lead us to invite them to services.
Jean writes…
When the pastor of the church in Klagenfurt looked for an interpreter locally, he was unable to find anyone willing to interpret a Sunday morning service. Looking further afield he found a believer in Graz who is willing to take on this task. She has to prepare for these services, especially if Mirko is preaching, by having a video call with him.
Normally interpreters work in teams of two or three for something which lasts longer than an hour, but the interpreter from Graz has taken on this task on her own. For the seventy-year celebration in the summer she brought along a young colleague (who is not a believer), and they did a great job until it was necessary to interpret Mirko’s testimony without having been able to prepare with him! Knowing his story, I could have interpreted most of what he was signing—even without preparation—but all I could do was encourage her afterwards, knowing how difficult it is to interpret Mirko!
Deeper study
Although I no longer do any interpreting, I am happy to help the few really interested Deaf to study the Bible on a deeper level than they do in the Friday meetings. At present, we are looking at James’ letter and learning together, which is always an encouragement.
Please pray for the Deaf who continue to meet and prepare the services, and for those who no longer attend—some of whom are believers. This is the only church in the whole district which provides anything for the Deaf. Although some churches in other parts of the country do have interpreters or meetings for the Deaf, Klagenfurt is the only one where the Deaf prepare the whole thing, even if it is only once a month.