Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010

Deaf International Community Church offers a ministry

As a child, Gigi Doubrava attended church regularly. Yet there was no interpreter to sign the delicate words of a sermon.

Like several other deaf churchgoers, Doubrava felt like she was missing something. Many years later, interpreters at hearing churches helped fill in the missing links, but the service was still geared toward the hearing community.

It wasn’t until the newly formed Deaf International Community Church in Olathe held its first service on July 11 that she felt satisfied.

The church gives Doubrava something that a traditional hearing church simply can’t, — “to be able to be who I am as an individual — who God created me to be.”

The feeling doesn’t surprise the Rev. Debbie Buchholz, the senior pastor at Deaf International Community Church.

“I think that everyone has a right to receive the message in their native language,” Buchholz said. “When you go through an interpreter, you lose a percentage of what’s being said. Also in hearing churches there’s a lot of singing, it’s culturally matched for the majority.”

The Deaf International Community Church has created a service that is culturally matched for its members. “Our spirit is geared for the deaf culture. So we do less singing and more drama,” Buchholz said.

Many messages are acted out through theatrical performances adding a unique dimension to the service. Come Christmas, the members will celebrate the story of Christ’s birth through drama instead of singing.

The church emerged largely from a deaf ministry group that had been formed at First Baptist Church. Buchholz, who is hard of hearing, led the ministry. It started with eight people and as it grew to more than 100, the group decided to form its own church.

The reasons hinged mainly on independence. Becoming nondenominational would allow more members to feel comfortable at the worship service. Church members also wanted to have a worship service of their own in their native language and culture.

“We couldn’t be called a church. We couldn’t make our own decisions. There are just so many things that being a deaf ministry kept us from growing even further,” Buchholz said.

The path has not been easy and members understood that hardship would be part of the journey.

For now the church rents space at Center of Grace in Olathe. It doesn’t have the latest technology or fancy equipment.

The church’s wish list includes its own building with stained glass windows and stadium pew seating so all members can see. Buchholz would like floors that vibrate in proportion to the music and technology that makes it easier for all members to follow along.But for now they’ll settle for the basics like a children’s pastor.

The church eventually hopes to have a $160,000 operating budget.

“We’re nowhere, nowhere, nowhere near that,” Buchholz said. “It becomes scary now when I run out of copy paper.”

Buchholz is sending letters to area churches and individuals asking them to consider sponsoring the budding church. For now the church office is in Buchholz’s basement.

“But it’s worth it,” Doubrava said.

The group is already planning Christmas Eve services. The lights won’t be turned down for a midnight service. And members won’t hold candles like they have been asked to do at a hearing church.

“I want to sign and praise the Lord,” Doubrava said. “We’re going to have Christmas Eve service our way — the deaf way — with God’s blessing.”

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