🤟💙 Deaf Ministry

                      Our Deaf Ministry is a blessing to our church family, helping to create an environment where everyone can worship, connect, and grow in their faith. Through sign language interpretation, fellowship, and support, we strive to ensure that God's message is accessible to all. We are grateful for this ministry and the opportunity to share God's love, build meaningful relationships, and serve one another in unity. 🙌✨💙

For we are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 📖✨

The deaf ministry of the Kingston Church of Christ is on the resurgence. It began in the 1990’s in Kingston, with the aim of evangelizing and bringing to Christ, members of the deaf community in Jamaica. The interest in reaching the deaf community in Jamaica started to spread and this led to the creation of the St. Catherine Deaf Ministry. Some of the pioneering founders/leaders/volunteers were Grace Sinclair (emigrated), Avril Harris-Ellis (emigrated), Chris & Petrina Patterson (emigrated). Other past facilitators are Judith Pink (emigrated) & Desmond Rose. The ministry played a major role in ensuring that our deaf brothers and sisters were integrated into the church community. 

              The St. Catherine Deaf ministry grew exponentially, with the ministry having as much as 10 deaf members at one time.  The volunteer group also grew as more persons saw the need to learn the language and interact with our deaf family of believers as well as others outside of the church.

            After the COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Catherine region of the church started meeting with the Kingston region for church services. In an effort to ensure that our brother Andrew was not left out, the St. Catherine Deaf Ministry continued its work at the church services in Kingston; this has led to interest from members in the Kingston ministry. The St. Catherine Deaf Ministry is currently co-ordinated and led by dedicated members Mrs. Teasha Martin Thorne, Mrs. Diana Mills and Mrs. Dionne Bennett. Together, they continue to work tirelessly to strengthen the programme and encourage participation and fellowship. 

Other members and facilitators of the group include, Michelle Williams, Debbie Salmon, Marcia Brevett, Sophia Purrier, Barbara Daye, Brittney Welsh, Nadine Welsh, Prince Watson, Maurice Johnson, Dorothy Bailey, Erica Campbell, Wayne Thorne, June Blackman and Geoffrey Sadler. Andrew’s desire is to have more brothers learn the language and join the ministry so that he can have greater male interactions.   

Andrew, being our only deaf member at the moment, remains a longstanding representative of the deaf community in the congregation.  His involvement and participation at church has played an important role in fostering awareness and inclusion. This has led to recent involvement of the deaf ministry in services to include Andrew sharing from the podium and children being taught songs in sign language to present at church services.  By doing this, our children are getting an appreciation for the language and are showing more interest in communicating with deaf persons.     

Andrew participating in the service

Over the years, the ministry has become more than just a support group; it has evolved into a family-oriented fellowship that emphasizes unity, spiritual growth, accessibility, and inclusion. Through dedication, volunteerism, and faith, the St. Catherine Deaf Ministry continues to positively impact lives and create opportunities for meaningful worship and connection for the deaf community.

Kids signing at a church service

At our Sister's Lorraine's Funeral