They come from all parts of the region, Fort
Worth to Garland to Melissa, to worship
together as family at Prestonwood. And as
the music begins, worshippers in Section 310
visibly engage in worship, fingers fluttering
swiftly, yet beautifully as they follow the lead
of translator Sue Brown.
Over the years, the Deaf Community has learned that
Prestonwood truly is a church to call home. Each Sunday,
between 20 and 40 people attend a Bible Fellowship class and
then the 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. They know that they are
loved and embraced. Sue, their Bible Fellowship teacher and
worship leader, is a friend and professional translator who is well
known in the community; and Dale Russell has been a fixture in
the Deaf Ministry at Prestonwood, translating for 20 years.
“When I think
about heaven,
I think how
enjoyable it will be as a
deaf person takes in the
splendors of His glory.”
— Sue Brown, Deaf Ministry Teacher/Translator
Joe Schofield, Associate Pastor/Married Adult 4 and 5, said
our church is privileged to minister to the Deaf Community.
“Even if we don’t understand sign language, we understand the
language of real love, the love of Jesus,” he said. “All it takes is a
smile, a handshake, a hug, to show His love.”
Joe is grateful for the love and the passion Sue and Dale have
for this ministry. He agrees with Sue that in many ways, she and
Dale are like foreign missionaries telling the story to many who
are hearing it for the first time.
“They don’t know about having a relationship with Jesus,” Sue
said. “I’m here to tell them that they are not forgotten and that
God loves them.”
“When I think
about heaven,
I think how
enjoyable it will be as a
deaf person takes in the
splendors of His glory.”
