At 10:00 a.m. on Sabbath mornings at Ferndale Church, you will find one particular Sabbath School class where there is a lot of discussion but no one is talking. No one talks because the class, taught by Nancy Brown, is in sign language. The Ferndale Church has made arrangements to have a sign language interpreter for the 11 a.m. worship service each Sabbath as well.
Nancy Brown, who is deaf, graduated from Gallaudet College in 1967 and later moved to Oak Harbor, Wash., in 1989. After attending an evangelistic series, she gave her heart to the Lord in baptism. Later she moved to Everson and started attending the Ferndale Church.
Brown has always had a strong desire to reach out to the deaf community. Through the encouragement of Pastor John and Alberta Blake, the idea of teaching Sabbath School for the deaf became Brown's goal, so she has been prayerfully planning to expand her ministry and reach out to those who would like to study with her.
Everyone at the Ferndale Church is very supportive and hopes there will be several in the deaf community who will want to study the Bible and learn about Jesus. If you are deaf or know of someone who is deaf, please accept this invitation to join us.
Nancy Brown, who is deaf, has a sign language ministry to other deaf or hearing-impaired people in the Ferndale community.
Debbie Roth signs for a Ferndale Church service.
