Greetings in Christ!
First, thank you for ALL of your support and your prayers for Lutheran Deaf Outreach!!
People often ask Pastor Reinke – what do you do?? Here is a short update on what is happening at Immanuel, around St. Louis, and beyond…
Here at Immanuel: I am working with Jennie, our sign language interpreter and one of our members, Katie, to begin a Deaf Action Team.
At a recent meeting, we decided to change the interpreted Worship Service time. It is moved from Sunday morning to Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The reason for this is to expand outreach into the community. We are praying this will be a more flexible time for people to come with their deaf family members.
On the weekend of April 17 to 19, I am planning on preaching and will sharing about Deaf Outreach at all of our Worship Services. Then, on the weekend of May 24 - 26 we will host a Mission Festival weekend where we will sign all of the Worship Service. We are praying members will invite Deaf people they know personally or in the community to come join us. We are praying this will help make connections for VBS.
The Deaf Action Team is partnering with DCE Intern, Maggie Warner to make VBS Deaf friendly. We are arranging to incorporate deaf children and deaf adults with hearing children into the Vacation Bible School experience June 7th through the 11th.
We are praying and seeing where God opens doors for outreach!! What will happen in the future?? Deaf Bible Study?? Family Deaf Worship or ??? Please partner with us in praying for:
- God to open doors for outreach as 98% of Deaf people do not believe in Jesus or attend any Christian Church
- God to guide people with a heart for Deaf Outreach to join the Deaf Action Team
- God to guide people who know or are willing to learn Sign language to join with us in sharing the Gospel
- God to send His Holy Spirit to touch the hearts and lives of Deaf people and their families
- God to give us wisdom to follow where He leads
NOTE – If you go to YouTube and search for MARK732 you will see videos produced for Outreach – all of these are recorded and broadcast from Rooms at Immanuel!! These are voiced and signed for everyone. Monday videos is going through Bible focus on Chapter 3’s. Wednesday is open topic discussion. Friday is ideas and ways for outreach.
St. Louis area:
Pastor Reinke is working with Holy Cross Deaf Lutheran Church in St Louis. They gather together for Worship, Bible Study, Training, and for outreach. He is mentoring two men from the Deaf church in applying for and prayerfully beginning online Seminary training in September. We are praying God will guide the Deaf Congregation as they reach out to Deaf people all around the St Louis metro area.
Beyond St. Louis:
My main work continues with World Lutheran Deaf Outreach. He likes to say, “Today we were in Las Vegas, Florida, Houston, Austin, Utah, Africa, Australia, and Canada!!” HOW!!?? He works online training leaders for Deaf Outreach across the U.S. and in many countries around the world. For the last 4 years, before COVID 19, he and his wife, Dacia, lived full time on the road training deaf people across the U.S. and around the world.
Because of the limitations on travel and meeting together. Most of the training is now done online. Thank God for technology that makes this outreach possible.
Why World Lutheran Deaf Outreach?
- 98% of Deaf people do not know Jesus.
ABCD – A Bible Curriculum Deaf materials
Our materials are developed by and adapted for Deaf people to study and learn God’s Word. These materials are also designed for Deaf people to then begin teaching and sharing the Gospel with others.
Why Deaf Materials?
- Vocabulary – easy read/sign
- Short Sentences
- No Passive Voice
- No idioms
- Visuals included – pictures, graphics, etc.…
Our ABCD Deaf Materials are around the U.S. They are also used internationally in Australia, India, Europe, Latvia, Brazil, and many countries in Africa!
If you or someone you know is deaf, hard of hearing or knows sign language, or you'd like to contact Pastor John Reinke, please use the form linked below:
Leave a Reply