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Sunday Worship Service 10:30 AM
7745 Tioga St
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
ASL Interpreted Service

Deaf Ministry

Ministry Purpose:

The purpose of the Deaf Ministry at Bethany Baptist Church is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to give praise and honor to our Lord and Savior. This is accomplished in several ways:

    • Provide interpreted worship services, classes and ministry participation for deaf and hard-of hearing individuals
    • Minister in our community and city at large (to promote deaf awareness)
    • Minister through music using sign language

HISTORY:

Pastor William R. Glaze was sent by the Lord, to Bethany Baptist Church with many visions. Among many was a vision to minister to the deaf and hard-of-hearing by opening the Gospel of Jesus Christ through sign language.

In the summer of 1993, Pastor Glaze approached Azalea L. Davis after learning of her knowledge of the language.    Azalea was burdened with knowledge of the need for interpreted worship services based on her late younger sister’s regular attendance at Bethany.  Arleen J. Davis, who was deaf, did not have the benefit of interpreted worship services. Pastor Glaze and Azalea began to plan the start-up of the Deaf Ministry at Bethany.  That summer, much prayer, research and publicizing took place. The two agreed to begin fully interpreted worship services on the fourth Sunday of each month.

The fourth Sunday of September 1993, the first interpreted worship service was conducted. Bethany’s doors were open to the Deaf community without prior knowledge of any deaf attendees. That Sunday, several deaf people visited Bethany and enjoyed a fully interpreted worship service.

After hiring an interpreter from the Pittsburgh Hearing, Speech and Deaf Services, the search began for someone to regularly commit to interpret each month. Minerva Lane suggested Validia Mitchell, who was then teaching sign language classes at the Homewood branch of Carnegie Library.  Validia made that commitment and became the ministry’s lead interpreter.

The demand for interpreted worship services increased and another interpreted worship service was added in 1994.  By this time, some Bethany members had taken sign language classes and the ministry began to grow.

In May of 1995, the Deaf Ministry conducted a concert of Gospel music in sign language. The Lord blessed this effort by sending deaf people from all over the city of Pittsburgh and neighboring communities. This was a tremendous success and became known as the ministry’s Annual Spring Concert.

Bethany now conducts interpreted worship services every Sunday and interprets concept classes, discipleship classes and other ministry functions on an as needed basis.    Special concerts, services and plays (Christmas and Easter) are interpreted.

The ministry currently has a teen deaf ministry (ALPHA) led by Eunice Ruffin, a children’s deaf ministry led by Wanda Ferguson and Toya West and the adult praise and worship team Heavenly Hands under the leadership of the Deaf Ministry.  The ministry maintains its exposure to the deaf and hard-of-hearing by traveling to other churches and participating in community events by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in song and sign.

For further information or to get in touch with the ministry’s leader, contact the church office at (412) 242-3255 (voice).

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