The October 7 DeafNation Expo in Chicago was a great place for Marvin Budd of Berrien Springs, Michigan, and Jim and Bunny Hovey of Adventist Deaf Ministries, based in Mesa, Arizona, to reach Deaf individuals for Christ.

DeafNation travels around the United States, hosting expos in various cities, celebrating Deaf culture. Huge crowds of Deaf people attend these expos—in fact, more than 4,200 attended the Chicago event. “It is great to be in a community where ASL (American Sign Language) is the expected mode of communication, and we don't need interpreters,” Marvin notes.

The Hoveys and Marvin had pamphlets, outreach magazines, and other materials to give away. The most popular give-away items were the New Testament Bibles and two DVDs—one was "Final Events"; the second was "Our World a Theater," a two-hour program in sign language explaining The Great Controversy.

Attendees also had the opportunity to sign up for a free outreach magazine subscription and Bible studies. As Deaf individuals looked over and chose materials, the Hoveys and Marvin gently engaged them in conversation, expressing cheer and love of Christ. Marvin recounts, “People came by to pick up handouts and ask questions. We [were] able to answer some questions. A young couple [came] to explain how their life changed since giving [up] bad health habits and to talk about why we are here. Bunny gave them some extra information about the Sabbath.”

“Deaf people are a family,” Bunny, Deaf herself, shares. “For example, in Chicago, there were a lot of people, but not all were from Illinois; many were from Wisconsin, and some from Michigan, Indiana, Alabama, Florida, as well as Iowa. Deaf people go far and near just to get together in one place.” Since attendees were individuals from all over the United States, many contacts and materials are now scattered across the nation.

With approximately 6 million Deaf people in North America, this is a huge mission field right here at home. Sadly, at this time, roughly only five percent of Deaf people attend any church, mosque, or synagogue.

Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, since 1998, Adventist Deaf Ministries (ADM) is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. For additional information, contact: Adventist Deaf Ministries, P.O. Box 6114, Mesa, AZ 85216; website: www.deafadventist.org; e-mail: adm@deafadventist.org.

ADM offers a quick reference guide for Deaf ministry entitled "Can You Hear Us?" This 24-page booklet is free to anyone who requests it.

Esther M. Doss is the correspondent for Adventist Deaf Ministries.