San Antonio Church Launches First Deaf-Led ASL Service

Bridging the Gap for the Deaf Community

• 🎯 Nearly 96% of deaf individuals in the U.S. are not connected to a church, a statistic Community Bible Church in San Antonio aims to change.
• 💡 For the first time in San Antonio, a deaf-led worship service in American Sign Language (ASL) is being launched to reach thousands.

Personal Connection and Mission

• 🧠 Pastor Ed Newton, lead pastor at Community Bible Church, shared that deaf people are the third most unreached people group globally.
• 💖 His personal connection, with both parents being deaf, fueled his drive to address this need in San Antonio, where over 78,000 deaf people previously lacked a dedicated deaf church.

A New Deaf Church Experience

• 🗓️ Starting in June, Community Bible Church will offer a full deaf church experience on Saturday nights at 5:00 PM.
• 🗣️ Pastor Ashton Luff, who lost his hearing at age three, has been hired as the church's first full-time deaf pastor, leading the teaching and worship.

Finding Faith in the Heart Language

• ✝️ According to Deaf Missions, only 2% of the world's deaf population knows Christ, highlighting the vast need for accessible faith communities.
• 🌟 Pastor Luff found his calling at a Christian camp for the deaf, where he encountered the gospel directly through sign language, realizing his hands could be used to share his faith.

Encouraging Inclusivity in Churches

• 💬 Pastor Newton encourages other lead pastors to inquire about the number of deaf people in their towns, emphasizing that God speaks every language, including the silent ones of the heart.