Deaf Church Online: Removing Barriers Through Digital Discipleship

By Jeff Finley

With nearly 3,000 Facebook followers, Deaf Church Online is reaching many people who otherwise would not be able to participate in a church service or a group Bible study.

“When we consider the barriers a deaf person may encounter when attempting to attend church, it can be eye-opening. The deaf face issues like isolation, transportation issues, churches discontinuing their ministries to the deaf, and more,” said Pastor Sarah Harris in an email interview with Light + Life. “I believe the largest barrier to their participation is that there are typically no churches nearby who provide the communication access so badly needed, whether it be to present in ASL [American Sign Language] or have well-qualified interpreters consistently available.”

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“People tend to share what helps them, and we praise God for how many are being reached.”

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Not everyone who hits “Like” on the church’s Facebook page joins on a weekly basis, but Harris is using digital discipleship to connect with the rapidly growing congregation.

“My pastoral ministry to the deaf — preaching and teaching on Sundays and Wednesdays — has grown greatly since going online through Facebook and Zoom. Deaf Church Online reaches from 100 to 300 people weekly, with viewers from the USA, Japan, Australia, Africa, and Canada. Currently, the deaf are studying the Book of Matthew on Mondays on Zoom,” she said. “Social media has been a tool that removes this large barrier for many, and it is a pathway to draw nearer to the Lord for those who may otherwise be forgotten. People tend to share what helps them, and we praise God for how many are being reached.”

Faith and Family

Harris was born deaf. She now lives in Georgia, but she grew up in Florida and lived there for much of her adult life. Her spiritual journey began in the Sunshine State.

“I was introduced to spiritual influences as a child by my family. When I was living at a residential school for the deaf in Florida (age 5 to 11), I attended Sunday school class every Sunday but did not understand anything,” she recalled. “When I was about 12 years old, my parents and grandparents started attending church services, and my mother would try to help me by pointing her finger to the songbook or Bible for my deaf brother and me to try to follow along. Neither of us understood, because our first language is American Sign Language, and there was no sign language interpreter.”

Her extended family includes members of Church of Christ and Baptist congregations.

“Several of them are preachers and teachers,” she said. “I am thankful for my spiritual heritage and journey, because even though I could not yet understand the message, my family were the first people that showed me the importance of spiritual life at a young age.”

As a young woman, she experienced a budding romance and a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

“My husband, Danny, was the one that led me to know the Lord. He attended a revival meeting before we were married, and he invited me to the next meeting with him as his date. That church was faithful to provide a sign language interpreter at every service or event. My husband and I began attending regularly, and got married at that church in 1974. I am so thankful that Danny never pressured me, but patiently allowed me time to make my own decisions with the Lord. In 1976, at age 21, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I am so grateful for Danny’s faithfulness to share Christ.”

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“God kept telling me to step forward and lead the best way I could.”

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Stepping Forward in Ministry

Her career plans initially didn’t include serving as the lead pastor of a church.

“Danny and I attended Tennessee Temple [University] in Chattanooga in the late ’70s, and, after raising our family back in Florida, I later earned a [Bachelor of Science degree] in human services in 2003 from Springfield College,” she said. “I worked as a social service case manager in our deaf community in Florida for about 15 years while my husband led our ministry to the deaf.”

That ministry included a church serving deaf Floridians.

“In 2005, the Lord led Danny to become the pastor of our Deaf Church in Largo, Florida, a congregation led for and by deaf people using ASL. It was a joy to lead our services in ASL — giving full access to our congregation,” she said. “As a pastor’s wife, I planned church events, taught small groups, and assisted my husband in the ministry.”

Ministry became a way of life for the Harris family.

“Danny and I were married for 43 years and served the deaf in ministry together with our three daughters,” she said. “Then after an extended battle with cancer, my husband passed away. His passing left a huge void, and I prayed for God to provide a new deaf pastor for the Deaf Church, but God kept telling me to step forward and lead the best way I could.”

Then the world changed dramatically.

“In 2020, the COVID pandemic hit Florida. Our Deaf Church was closed, and I ended up doing Facebook livestreaming for teaching and using the Zoom platform for Bible studies or just for a chance to meet and reach out to our deaf congregation,” she said.

Harris moved in the fall of 2021 to a rural area of Georgia to help care for her parents — who are in their 80s —  and work on the family farm.

“During that season, I noticed that the deaf from other places were joining in and watching with us on Sundays, including those from out of state, those from other countries, and those who lived in places with no access to church in their signed language,” she said. “We decided to name our gathering Deaf Church Online, and I have enjoyed seeing what God is doing within our congregation.”

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“I am so grateful to be in a fellowship that focused on freedom, breaking free from legalism and celebrating grace.”

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Ordination

Harris’ pastoral ministry was affirmed June 8 as she became an ordained elder in the Southeast Region Conference of the Free Methodist Church USA.

“The ordination process was a challenge and a blessing! The ordination service was filled with confirmations that this was the right path for me,” she said. “I used my husband’s favorite well-used Bible, and there was music that my husband loved. God used these to bring peace to my heart. With my children and grandchildren present, it was both validating and moving. This was definitely a landmark experience in my journey.”

Her ordination came eight years after she connected with Free Methodism.

“In 2016, our church in Largo, Florida, began conversations with the Free Methodist denomination, and it was very enlightening to me. My husband and I read and researched about the FMC, and the more that I researched, the more I felt at home. I am so grateful to be in a fellowship that focused on freedom, breaking free from legalism and celebrating grace,” said Harris, who added that former Southeast Region Superintendent Darrel and Peggy Riley were especially “instrumental in our transition into the FMC as well as in my ordination process, so I will always be thankful for them.”

Harris’ life and ministry have not been easy, but she knows her source of strength.

“Christ has given me strength over these many years of ministry. I have experienced numerous challenges as a deaf woman, as a widow, and as a woman pastor, but I am trying to make it my practice to choose to rely on God to help me navigate each day, as He has a plan for me,” she said. “A verse that I claim every day is Philippians 4:13 [NKJV], ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”

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