In Jamaica, five deaf persons join the church among dozens baptized

Shanique Roach (left) and Nadine Peart-Thompson (right), two of the persons from the Deaf Church right before they are submerged in the baptismal waters by Pastors Howard Grant  and Coneil Morgan, respectively, conduct the baptism. Image by Charmaine Bailey-Bloomfield

February 24, 2017 | St. Catherine, Jamaica | Charmaine Bailey-Bloomfield/JAMU/IAD

Five deaf persons were among the 104 persons baptized during a tent evangelistic series held in Portmore, St. Catherine, in Jamaica, last week. The hard of hearing new members are the first to be baptized since the Church for the Deaf was established at the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church three months ago.

Nadine Peart-Thompson speaks with Pastor Coniel Morgan about her experience. Image by Damian Chambers

Pastor of the Church for the Deaf Coneil Morgan, whose training in sign language gives him the ability to communicate effectively with members of the deaf community, said that the church has been growing and several hard-of-hearing individuals have expressed an interest in joining.

The newly organized group of 46 worshippers have faced challenges, “as with this growth, the social issues of the members are brought into sharper focus,” said Morgan.

“It is a community that has been marginalized because of their impairment so the Church will have to also cater to the physiological, educational and social needs of this community,” explained Morgan.

Among the initiatives already implemented to bridge the gap between the hearing and the deaf, is the commencement of a ten-week sign language class began at the church’s Central Jamaica Conference headquarters office, earlier this month. There were 40 persons who signed up for the class, church leaders said.

Morgan hopes that in the near future, the church’s educational institutions including Northern Caribbean University (NCU) will be able to implement training programs for the special group of persons.

Students of the sign language class practice signing during the first of eleven sessions on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2017. Image by Coneil Morgan

Nadine Peart-Thompson, who was among the first four deaf persons to be baptized on Feb, 11, testified that she is excited about her new found faith.

“I feel free and happy that I am no longer under the control of the devil, but with Jesus,” said Peart-Thompson. Peart-Thompson said that she is learning more about the Bible and likes the songs that the Church sings. She also shared that out of gratitude for those who encouraged her, she also has three persons whom she is encouraging to accept Jesus as Savior.

The tent evangelistic meetings entitled Better Life and Community Evangelistic Series, ran from Jan. 22 to Feb. 18, by Pastor Meric Walker, executive secretary for the church in Jamaica. Walker was elated that the Holy Spirit allowed the team to reach those with special needs.

“I am delighted to see that the series was so blessed with not only 100 and more baptized, but that even those with special needs could have received the Word of God and make a decision to follow Him,” said Walker. “Our church is making a concerted effort to establish Special Needs Ministry because it is a necessary ministry to which we are committed to reach those who society may have given up on.”

The church’s plan is to expand this ministry throughout the entire country, Walker added.