It's Sunday morning. Your congregation is laughing at a story the pastor just told. Heads are nodding during a powerful teaching moment. Someone wipes away tears during worship. The whole room feels connected—except for the Deaf member sitting near the front, watching an interpreter try to keep up, wondering if they caught the joke, missing the emotional undercurrent that everyone else is experiencing together.
Here's the painful truth: most Deaf believers have spent their entire spiritual lives on the outside looking in. They've sat through countless services where they were technically "accommodated" but never truly included. They've smiled and nodded through after-service conversations they couldn't follow. They've watched their hearing family members build deep relationships while they... waited. Watched. Wondered if this is just what church would always feel like.
If your heart is breaking reading that, good. It should. Because the Church is supposed to be where everyone belongs. And right now, we're failing our Deaf brothers and sisters.
The Ministry Partner
They're sitting in your sanctuary.
Are they really part of your church?
Why generic interpretation fails in ministry
Most churches approach interpretation the same way they'd book a vendor: "We need someone to sign on Sunday mornings, let's find whoever's available." But here's what happens with that approach: You get an interpreter who's technically competent but doesn't understand the theology being taught. Or someone who can sign the sermon but completely misses the heart and passion behind it. The Deaf congregant gets words, but they don't get the experience. They don't feel the presence of God the way everyone else does.
Ministry interpretation isn't just about vocabulary. It's about capturing the pastor's heart when he's preaching on grace. It's about conveying the joy and reverence of worship—not just mechanically signing lyrics, but helping Deaf worshippers encounter God through song. It's about making sure that when the congregation spontaneously erupts in praise or the pastor goes off-script because the Spirit is moving, the Deaf member isn't left behind.
And church isn't just Sunday mornings. It's Wednesday night Bible study. Youth group. Mission trips. Baptisms. All those moments where community is built and faith is deepened. If your Deaf members only have access on Sunday mornings, they're not truly part of your church family.
How we serve
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When you work with ASL Hands, we don't just ask "when do you need someone?"
When churches contact us, we ask about your worship style, your theological tradition, the Deaf members you're serving. What does your typical service flow look like? Is your pastor a storyteller who goes long, or someone who teaches verse-by-verse?
We match you with interpreters who don't just know ASL—they understand ministry. Many of our interpreters have grown up in church or served in deaf ministry. They see interpretation as worship, not a job. For churches with ongoing needs, we provide consistent interpreters who become part of your community, learn your pastor's style, and build relationships with your Deaf members.
We've partnered with churches like Saddleback to ensure Deaf members aren't just present—they're known, spiritually growing, and contributing their gifts to the body.
Here's what we need you to know: quality ministry interpreters book out weeks in advance, especially for Christmas, Easter, and major events. For services longer than two hours, you'll need a team rotating. We also need context—sermon topics, worship set lists, any multimedia elements. The churches that build the strongest partnerships with us plan ahead and treat interpretation as essential to their mission.
ministries
churches
Making your church a true
spiritual home
When you work with ASL Hands, you're partnering with people who care deeply about the spiritual lives of Deaf believers. We're connecting you with ministry-minded professionals who see this work as sacred and who want your Deaf members to encounter God just as powerfully as anyone else in the room.
let's work together
Is your church ready to truly welcome
If you're convinced your Deaf members deserve more than bare-minimum accommodation, if you want to build a faith community where they're fully included—let's talk. Fill out our intake form and let's start building something beautiful together.
