This weekend I had
an extraordinary time at MidAtlantic Deaf Men's Retreat (MADMR) at
camp Hebron near Harrisburg PA. This is the second year I have
attended. I had a great time fellowshiping with over 90 men, most of
whom where Deaf. Noah Bucholz the guest speaker for the weekend
presented on apologetics. I learned so much about Deaf ministry from
these anointed and adept Godly men.
Some of the men I
met last year. Others I knew from Philly Deaf Church in South
Philadelphia, Connecting Deaf Fellowship located outside of Norriston and
First Deaf Mennonite in Lancaster County. There was many new faces
and it was great to meet most of them. I felt very welcomed as we
chatted well into the night about language, ministry, being men and
life in general. I am blessed to have met so many great Deaf
ministry roll models and glean from their vast wisdom.
Noah Bucholz got
his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and his Masters of
Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Noah is one of the
most dynamic Christian Deaf speakers I have ever seen. He presented
on apologetics that the Deaf men may be faced with. Some of these
where evidence of Young Earth Creationism, the validity of the
gospels and proof that Jesus is God. It was amazing.
“Pardon your
servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor
since you have spoken to your servant(Exodus 4:10).” The most
valuable thing I learned this weekend was how to do Deaf ministry.
Often I understand how Moses felt when he asked I AM to send someone
else who had better speech. Here I am trying to be a missionary to
Deaf in a foreign land and sometimes I can't even understand the Deaf
around me let alone trying to minister to them. It was wonderful to
see how Deaf do Deaf ministry. I learned so much about Deaf Worship,
Deaf preaching and Deaf mobilization.
I can not fully
express the richness I gained this weekend. I was thankful, honored
and blessed to be part of something so actuated by God. I have grown
and gained so much knowledge from this experience.
