In the early 1800s there was a beautiful model of individuals working together as a team. This “team” worked together to influence the life and education of a deaf girl. Who were these individuals? Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Laurent Clerc and Mason Cogswell.
Gallaudet was a preacher who noticed Cogswell’s daughter, Alice, playing outside by herself. He later learned that she was deaf. Mason was a doctor. Mason and his friends gathered money and sent Gallaudet to Europe to learn about educating deaf children. After experiencing frustration in England, Gallaudet ended up in Paris, France, and met Clerc, a bright deaf educator. Gallaudet and Clerc came back to the United States together. Upon their arrival in the U.S., Gallaudet, Clerc, and Cogswell established the very first school for the deaf, American School for the Deaf in Connecticut. Their desire was for deaf children to learn to read so that as they grew up they could read the Bible and understand God’s Word.
A parent of a deaf child (Cogswell), a preacher with a heart for others (Gallaudet), and a deaf man (Clerc) all worked together to influence others.*
We would be wise to learn from this successful model of cooperation and unity for Deaf ministry. Are you a leader of a Deaf ministry? Or, are you involved in a Deaf ministry in your church or area? Does your Deaf ministry have a team of leaders? Or, is your Deaf ministry contingent upon the leadership of one person?
It is much healthier to have a leadership team, instead of depending on one person to lead and “carry” the ministry. A Deaf ministry is much more likely to be sustainable with a leadership team (not person). There is great potential that a ministry will collapse if it is ultimately dependent on the leadership and services of one person. Some Deaf ministries perish when a leader moves away, becomes seriously ill, or passes away.
If you are the sole leader of a Deaf ministry, consider asking people to be a part of your team. Train your new leaders. Spend time together experiencing spiritual growth through studying the Bible and praying. Delegate responsibilities. Even those who may not have sign language skills or experience in Deaf ministry may serve on the leadership team by praying, providing food, handling finances, and organizing events, among other services, for your ministry. Be creative in determining how individuals on your leadership team may serve.
You do not need the most talented individuals to serve on your leadership team. The most important things to look for in servant leaders are willingness, commitment, and passion for the ministry.
I understand there are some unique circumstances where there may not be enough people to form a leadership team. In those cases, one leader is better than none. However, our ultimate goal over time should be to form a team of leaders.
Consider reading Acts 2:42-47. This passage of Scripture tells the story of another wonderful model of Christians working together as a team. What was the result of their teamwork? The last part of Acts 2:47 says, “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
May God bless your Deaf ministry team as you work together in reaching out to deaf people and their families and friends.
*The story of Gallaudet, Clerc, and Cogswell working as a team is shared in “Deaf Diaspora: The Third Wave of Deaf Ministry” book by Bob Ayres with personal narratives by Chad Entinger, published in 2004 by iUniverse, Inc. You may purchase this book from Deaf Missions’ Store by clicking here.
