Signs of Life Team Visits Maranatha School for the Deaf

By Chris Heatwole Moore

Eight members of Signs of Life Fellowship (SLF) visited Maranatha School for the Deaf (MSD) and the Deaf Bible Church in Top Hill, Jamaica, June 14-26.

A congregation in formation in the Southern District of Virginia Mennonite Conference, Signs of Life conducts worship and teaching in American Sign Language (ASL). All eight members of our team can communicate in ASL, a first for a short-term mission team to Maranatha.

Our team conducted a seven-day Bible school on the book of James with the Maranatha students. We focused on life application of the scripture.

In the evenings, we spent time getting to know the dorm students and some people from the local Deaf community.

On Sundays, we were blessed to see the Gospel presented in both Jamaican Sign Language and in “country signs.” We were warmly welcomed into the fellowship of the Deaf Bible Church.

Our team was pleased to be shown around the Ridge community where MSD is located and surprised to see how the hearing people in Ridge integrate the deaf members into community life. MSD is a gathering place for deaf and hearing alike.

This cross-cultural fellowship gave the Spirit the opportunity to encourage three ministries: The students and staff of MSD met American believers who could communicate with them directly and brought some new ways to approach the scriptures. The church leaders were affirmed in the faithfulness and beauty of their intergenerational worship and teaching. Our SLF team was refreshed by the enthusiasm of our Jamaican counterparts and by seeing the Gospel spread among the Deaf community in another country.

We were all reminded that the Spirit still blesses mustard seed ministries. We hope and pray that this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship of cross-cultural Kingdom building and
encouragement.