Dear Christian friends:

Since the Gospel lesson for today tells of Jesus' ministering to a deaf man, and since I have served in our Synod's deaf mission for twenty-five years I want to speak to you this morning about that tremendous work. Since you members also of the Synod that work is also your work.


In the ministry to the deaf our Lord Jesus Christ has always been both our inspiration as well as our example. Jesus was concerned about the deaf. He went out of his way a great deal just to minister to one deaf man. So often the deaf are ignored since there are only a few in each city, two to each one-thousand of population.

Many churches do not have an organized mission for the deaf and consequently they are not served. Thank God that He has led our Synod into this work. The deaf ministry began in 1896 in Chicago. Today we have fifty-five full-time workers with the deaf.

Jesus took the deaf man aside and ministered to him in a special way. So do we: Separate congregations of the deaf and many have their own places of worship. Memorial in Oakland, California. Memorial in Oakland, California. Pilgrim in Los Angeles. Missionary often holds services in our hearing churches on Sunday afternoons or evenings. Rev. Bailey of Oakland has services in Sacramento and Stockton, California. California has four missionaries to the Deaf.

After Jesus took the deaf man aside he actually communicated with him by means of a crude sign language. Sign language is still the chief means of preaching the Gospel to the deaf. It is a very beautiful way to bring Jesus to those who cannot hear the spoken word. (Demonstrate)

Alphabet, man, woman, baby, house, city, tree-forest, water, river etc. God Father, Son and Holy Ghost. "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." "Lord's Prayer", "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Jesus opened the hears of the deaf man and restored his physical hearing and freed his tongue so that he could speak plainly. By the Gospel we do even greater works than this. Jesus once told His disciples: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

He only gave the man physical hearing. By His Gospel we are able to give the deaf spiritual hearing. A man may hear all kinds of sounds and words and great music, but he hasn't heard anything until He's heard that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. A man may say some beautiful things and give a great oration, but he hasn't really said anything until he says, "Jesus is Lord."

This the deaf do by means of their beautiful sign language, "Jesus Christ is Lord." They also say that Jesus is Lord by living a sanctified life: Elmer, Bob, Lyle. Indeed Jesus has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the dumb to speak. Praise Him.

You can have a great part in this work by supporting your Synod's missions. Deaf missions are under the Synod's Mission Board and are heavily subsidized about $650,000 each year.

During the last five years missions are at a standstill. Congregations are not giving to missions as they used to do. Doctrinal controversy. While we debate about doctrine we should not forget the chief work of the Synod. Some are withholding mission funds. I think the devil is happy to see this going on in our churches.

May God give us unity once again in Jesus Christ, so that we may work together to do this work and other work that has been at a standstill in recent years.

Amen.