Deaf Program
Ephphatha Ministry, had a long history of ministering to the Lutheran Deaf children at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) in Faribault, MN. for over 110 years. In recent years this ministry became Christ Through Hands Ministry, (CTHM), a non-profit ministry that provides ecumenical religious education to students K-12 at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. Our organization, "Christ Through Hands Ministry" symbolizes and reflects how we share the message of God's love and grace, through our hands, by communicating the Word of God in American Sign Language to our Deaf brothers and sisters. We are a member of the ELDA, or Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association here in the United States. CTHM works closely with Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, another ELDA member, and a wonderful Deaf congregation made up of young families, middle agers and senior citizens.
Joyce Atchison, our newest Director of Christ Through Hands Ministry, is deaf and fluent in ASL, and has worked for many years as a Director of Deaf Ministry, Teacher of Deaf Children/Youth, and a Mental Health Therapist with Deaf Children/Youth and their families. She is thrilled to return to Faribault after a 13 year absence, as her #1 passion and "calling in life" is spreading God's love within the deaf community.
Currently, we have 30 deaf students from MSAD enrolled in our Religious Ed program this Fall 2010. In addition, there are many deaf adults in the Faribault community "hungry for spiritual food" and who want a faith and fellowship group, as well as a group of several Deaf Senior Citizens who plan to meet regularly for prayer and spiritual support.
Goals for the CTHM deaf ecumenical religious education program for the 2010-2011 year are:
1. Recruit and train volunteer deaf adults to teach K-8 religious education at MSAD after school every Wed from 3:30-5:30 pm.
2. Provide "catch-up", and small group or 1-1 instruction for First Communion and Confirmation students as needed.
3. Start up a ecumenical Deaf Youth Group at MSAD from 6:30-8 pm on Wed evenings, providing socialization and spiritual development for 9-12 grade DHH youth, with deaf adult role models who are excited to share their faith in Jesus Christ.
4. Provide Deaf Youth Retreats for 6-8th graders, and 9-12 graders at least 1-2 times during the school year.
5. Sponsor fundraisers, and seek out financial supporters to help purchase/lease a van for transporting DHH children and adults to various religious education activities within the Faribault and Twin Cities area.
6. Together with other Deaf Christian adults, start a Faith and Fellowship group for deaf adults ages 20-60 yrs old, in the Faribault community, providing Christian faith development. Example: learning about prayer, hosting bible studies, and learning how to have a personal relationship with God.
7. Encourage deaf adults to attend Deaf Encountering Christ retreats in the Central MN area to enhance their spiritual development.
8. Provide a bi-weekly Coffee, Tea, and Devotionals (CTD) group for Deaf Senior Citizens in the Faribault area. Arrange for guest speakers when possible.
9. Speak to various churches in Minnesota about Christ Through Hands Ministry to gain their financial and prayerful support of our ministry.
10. Collaborate with Parents and Pastors of the home churches of our DHH students, inviting them to support our CTHM program.
NOTE from the Director- Joyce B. Atchison
I am very excited about my first year back in Faribault as Director of Christ Through Hands Ministry, and look forward to meeting many parents of DHH students from MSAD, working with the MSAD staff and students, and doing spiritual and pastoral outreach in the community with deaf adults and deaf senior citizens.
