As Lewis Parry strolled to the pulpit, his eyes widened with excitement in front of smiling faces at the 61st National Deaf Christian Workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Behind him, the projector read: “With God, you can do it.”

As soon as the final stragglers took their seats, Parry, a member of La Iglesia del Parque de Cristo in Tulsa, began signing to his fellow brothers and sisters.

“You never know what happens in your life, whether it is good or bad,” Parry said. “But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

As The Park’s lead deaf minister, Zeth Pankhurst, translated Parry’s signs for hearing attendees, the crowd waved its hands in the air rapidly — a sign of applause in American Sign Language.

The northeast Oklahoma church recently hosted the National Deaf Christian Workshop for the second time in its history. Formerly known as the Park Plaza Church of Christ, the congregation first welcomed the workshop in 2012.

The annual event — offering classes, lectures and opportunities for Christians to share their experiences — coincided with the 50th anniversary of deaf ministry in Tulsa.

The ministry began at the Memorial Drive Iglesia de Cristo and transitioned two decades later to the congregation that became The Park.

Carl Moore returned to Tulsa — where he served as The Park’s first deaf minister — for the workshop.

Moore offered his testimony during Parry’s lecture.

“I am so glad to be back here,” Moore signed to the crowd. “It is always a blessing being able to share my experience of how I received Christ.”

Workshop speakers, including Moore, Pankhurst and Parry, focused on topics such as facing fears and spreading the Gospel within the deaf community.

In addition to deaf translation during regular assemblies, the Park church hosts a monthly special worship service for its deaf ministry.

The services offer a great opportunity “to reach lost souls” within the deaf community, Pankhurst said.

“When the people see that encouragement, their eyes are wide open,” he said. “That’s why we have deaf ministry.”

Fewer than 2 percent of the world’s 70 million deaf people know God, according to Pioneer Bible Translators.

“They are not getting the message,” said Fred Bogan, a member of The Park. “They are probably the most isolated demographic in the country.”

Workshop attendee Steven Russell said the need for deaf ministry is crucial.

“They are all around us,” he said. “You don’t realize how many deaf people are around you, and every large city has many.”

When asked about encouraging churches to begin their own deaf ministries, Pankhurst provided a simple, yet powerful answer: “Just do it.”

After 50 years, the deaf ministry remains as important as when it started, said Brenda Rumsey, who now attends The Park.

“What we like to say around here is that we are family and together we are stronger,” Rumsey said. “God has given each of us certain talents that we can use to teach others. That is what we are here for.”

Este artículo apareció originalmente en La crónica cristiana y ha sido reimpreso con permiso.

Nic Fraraccio is a senior journalism major at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and a contributor to The Christian Chronicle.