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Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

The Deaf Church at Praise began in 1986 with two deaf persons and a Sunday School Teacher. The attendees were faithful and before long there were deaf and hearing being added to the class almost every Sunday! Today there are about 25 people, both hearing and deaf, attending regularly. Many have come to enjoy the class while others come to observe the Bible being taught in Sign Language. The hearing and deaf come from the surrounding area and as far away as Vineland, Millville and Tuckerton areas.

Friends of the deaf, such as Vivian Grabau and JoAnn Somers, have invited their friends and students to attend church services. A student of Praise Bible Institute and another member of Praise Tabernacle, Thoris Sappie, attends class and has presented lessons on the Jewish customs and culture which were enjoyed by all. Vivian Grabau has frequently presented lessons in doll drama and design. The lessons each week are presented in ASL, the language of the deaf.

The class is taught by Ann Maselli who is a graduate of Bethany Bible College. Ann has worked in the deaf ministry for many years traveling during the summers to preach and teach at deaf camps around the United States. Ann is a professional sign language interpreter in the South Jersey area and teaches at the local community college and at Praise Bible Institute.

The deaf church at Praise has reached around the world by supporting interim missionaries Swifty and Maddie Allegretto, Jim and Nancy Lutz and continues to support Ephphatha Deaf Ministries in Seoul, Korea. Ephphatha is a Christian children’s home for unwanted children. Although the deaf church at Praise may be considered small, they have given approximately $8,000 to help house, feed and share God’s love and word with these children.

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