From the beginning of our ministry with youth and young adults, Kathy and I have invested heavily in recruiting and developing excellence in ministry leaders, especially those who are Deaf/HH over the past forty years.

I mentioned in the previous newsletter about the cohort I led of high-level Deaf/HH leaders on Classic Christianity. I challenged them to lead "two-by-two" their own cohorts discussing theology and faith. It is exciting to know that one is actively meeting, a second already had formed and active, and a third is close to launching. This is more of what the Deaf Church of the future looks like than a traditional Sunday morning worship service.

Ultimately, those that can meet in person become Acts 2:42 gatherings. But this is just two-thirds of the vision of DeafChurch Together... the goal is for the primary church in the area, such as DeafChurch First Coast, to draw these small groups together for collective service and worship.

I am pleased to introduce our inaugural Steering Team for the national ministry of DeafChurch Together. Most of these people are from the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and represent our Anchor Churches. As this model is replicated in other areas, we will expand our representation.

Flora Galbraith (Pittsburgh)

Carla Hill (Pittsburgh)

Mary Mangan (Tallahassee)

Wendy Robertson (Tallahassee)

Nikki Smith (Gainesville)

Janice Ladd (Gainesville)

Nancy Stavropulos (St. Augustine)

Sandra Oja-Dunaway (St. Augustine)

Michella Basas (St. Augustine)

Dennis Kelemen (Jacksonville)

Richard Carnell (Gainesville)

David Tarwater (Eastern Shore, AL)

This DCT Steering Team will provide me support, feedback, and accountibility on budgeting and strategic leadership. They also are our champions in their respective churches. Our ultimate authority is bishop Alex Farmer of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and we are a mission initiative of this diocese.

What an amazing God we serve together! Thank you for being part of this mission with your prayers and gifts.

Bob Ayres+

Click below for an online liturgy in ASL following the BCP2019 lectionary.

Marva Sellers

Church Planting Curate

Marva has been working diligently to get to know the Deaf Community in this area. She is making progress, but needs a team to come along beside her. Jesus sent out his disciples two-by-two to share the good news of his kingdom. Marva's request for prayer in ASL above is for God as Lord of the harvest to raise up more workers in the field.

DeafChurch First Coast is our "test plot" for this church planting model. Everything Marva and I are learning in this process will be replicable in other communities. This is such an exciting time as we build bridges with other individuals and churches in the area to spread this vision. We are so excited about new friendships and conversations with a church located within walking distance of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB). As God leads, we look forward to finding ways to collaborate with them.

Thank-you for your response for financial support for Marva through Christ The King Anglican in St. Augustine. There is a link below for online giving or send a check to Christ The King Anglican with DeafChurch in memo line to: PO Box 1657, St Augustine, FL 32085 



Prayer request from Marva for building a ministry team

"To approach anything in the spirit of hopelessness is to make it hopeless; to approach anything in the spirit of faith is to make it a possibility." William Barclay

To donate to the national mission, select DeafChurch Together from menu.