This book contains the proceedings of a conference on Deaf Liberation Theology that took place at the Catholic University of Leuven. Four Deaf persons, rooted in the Deaf community and professionally involved in Deaf pastoral ministry, Thomas Coughlin (USA), Cyril Axelrod (South Africa), Peter McDonough (UK), and Beth Lockard (USA), relate their views on and experiences with shepherding Deaf communities as social-cultural minority groups within the hearing Church, and their efforts to enculturate the Christian message, which often looks so typically hearing in Deaf eyes, in Deaf cultures. Marcel Broesterhuizen, hearing, puts their reports against the background of the paradigm shifts that have taken place in the field of deafness and Catholic views on the relationship between Church and culture. Jacques Haers, hearing, discusses the presentations in the light of liberation theologies. The book contains a verbatim transcript of the forum discussion led by Helga Stevens, Deaf, who is actually a member of the Flemish Parliament.

Will God still use you if you wander away from Him and later repent? Many Christians think that God could never use them in His service because they were backslidden for a long time. It's difficult for them to get involved in a church ministry because they feel guilty and ashamed for straying away from the Lord. Even after they have repented and God has led them back to the church to grow strong in the Lord daily, they continue to struggle in the area of service. I know; I was one of them. However, one night at a missions conference, a missionary family sang a song, "Here am I, Lord, Send Me," and I asked God if He would send me and use me. God opened the door for me to go to the DeafNation World Expo with the Silent Word Ministries International team. During the week, God stirred my soul by showing me that Deaf people around the world need the Lord Jesus. For twenty-seven years, I was a careless Christian and lived with the attitude that "God will forgive me all the time." God finally broke my hard heart and let me see what He really wanted me to do. Through the burden God gave me to reach the Deaf around the world, Romans Road for the Deaf was born. It was a faith ministry, and we had to step out in faith and trust Him to start. The beginning was rough. However, God is always good, and He has saved many Deaf and Hearing souls at DeafNation expos. In this book, you will be inspired to read how God has worked in us and through us in His powerful ways to reach many thousands in just eight hours a day at every city where we have been. I pray that these stories will be a blessing to you and will help you to witness for Jesus with gladness and boldness wherever God may use you.

Following years of theology of deafness based on the premise that Deaf people are simply people who cannot hear, this book breaks new ground. Presenting a new approach to Deaf people, theology and the Church, this book enables Deaf people who see themselves as members of a minority group to formulate their own theology rooted in their own history and culture. Deconstructing the theology and practice of the Church, Hannah Lewis shows how the Church unconsciously oppresses Deaf people through its view of them as people who cannot hear. Lewis reclaims Deaf perspectives on Church history, examines how an essentially visual Deaf culture can relate to the written text of the Bible and asks 'Can Jesus sign?' This book pulls together all these strands to consider how worship can be truly liberating, truly a place for Deaf people to celebrate who they are before God.

Michael Beates's concern with disability issues began nearly 30 years ago when his eldest child was born with multiple profound disabilities. Now, as more families like Michael's are affected by a growing number of difficulties ranging from down syndrome to autism to food allergies, the need for church programs and personal paradigm shifts is greater than ever. Working through key Bible passages on brokenness and disability while answering hard questions, Michael offers here helpful principles for believers and their churches. He shows us how to embrace our own brokenness and then to embrace those who are more physically and visibly broken, bringing hope and vision to those of us who need it most.

Deaf people have the right to read, study, pray, worship, serve, discuss, and meditate on God's word. Ayres calls for the rediscovery of the spiritual legacy of the Deaf-World as he explores the history of ministry programs and proposes a definitive plan for the future. Deaf ministry patterns over the past forty years are highlighted and a description is given of the New Culture of Deafness--brought about by the radical changes in Deaf-World. Each chapter concludes with useful discussion guides for students or small groups. Ayres calls for the rediscovery of the spiritual legacy of Deaf-World as he explores the history of ministry programs and proposes a definite plan for the future. "An invaluable contribution to the field of Deaf ministry..." --Rick McClain, Deaf Pastor for College Church of the Nazarene, Olathe, Kansas "An unusually keen knowledge of the past, a strong sensitivity with the present, and a proposed plan for the future..." --Duane King, Founder/Executive Director, Deaf Missions, Council Bluffs, Iowa "God has clearly inspired Bob to write this book for precisely 'such a time as this.'" --Mary J. High, PhD, Associate Professor, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina "Deaf Diaspora is a 'must read' for anyone who is active in or serving a Deaf Christian ministry..." --Mark Seeger, Pastor, Jesus Lutheran Church of the Deaf, Austin, Texas Included are inspirational personal narratives by Chad Entinger.