If I was deaf would I still go to church?  Probably not, because there is no sign language interpreter at my church, the Assembly of God church in Towanda, Pennsylvania.  It’s hard to imagine a world with no sound, but even harder for me to imagine a world without God.  In our churches today you would not be able to follow or hear the sermons.   Our relationships with the church and God would be lonely and distant.  A deaf person cannot follow what church is about.  Without an interpreter the most I could do is read the pamphlet or attempt to mouth read.  (Broesterhuizen, 2005)  I feel there should be a sign language interpreter or a deaf church available in every town.            Deafness is a disability that takes away the ability to hear.  There is no doubt that being deaf is traumatic and hard.  It is hard to imagine not hearing a TV or having to read subtitles.  It is a scary image for me to think of not hearing a single sound.  I would feel so alone in the silence of my own thoughts, without the daily noises I hear day to day, or never being able to hear my parents’ voices.  Deafness is more than just lack of interaction in the world around us.   Centuries ago in European history you were an outcast, cut off from society and ultimately from the word of God. (King, 2007)            Two centuries ago, a deaf person wasn’t given the opportunity to gain knowledge and faith in the church.  They were considered outsiders, and not even given a chance to gain knowledge of the faith.  Without the means of hearing the stories and traditions inside a church were not obtainable for a deaf person.  Therefore, they were not a part of the church.  Even, if I was to attend church as a deaf person it would be ultimately impossible without an interpreter to understand or lip read my pastor.  Often, pastors talk very slow or very fast making it hard to lip read, or they show little expression so I could have no means of gathering the meaning behind the words. (Broesterhuizen, 2005)            Churches have been developed lately, for the deaf.  They provide a place of sanction and a growing place for religion in the deaf community.   The means of communication in these churches are sign language.  There are bible studies, classes, and ministers that preach weekly using sign language.  Some have deaf ministers feel that sign language was a gift from God in order to give the deaf a bridge to his kingdom. (Burch, 2000) This gift gave deaf people the ability to follow God, and hear his word.            The deaf community deserves the opportunity to attend church and follow the word of God along with the hearing people in the world.  After centuries of the deaf being viewed as outcasts and forced to not follow God, we finally have open eyes and open hearts on the issue. Now we should take action and bring the churches and interpreters to the disabled. The importance of having a deaf church or a sign language interpreter is evident when we look at the facts and benefits.  We will build a new bridge to God and bring a new group of people to the church.  Deaf churches, allow not only the growth of sign language, but the opportunity for deaf ministers to lead the church.  Sign language is the sole means of communication between God’s word and the deaf, without it people disabled by hearing have no chance to open their hearts and eyes to the lord. (Burch, 2000)  I know that if I was deaf, I would want the same opportunities as those who can hear.  I think we should make the churches available to the deaf community.  But, until we take action and follow through with making our churches assessable to the deaf, like Marcel Broesterhuizen said, “the churches will be empty and the deaf clubs will be crowded.” (Broesterhuizen, 2005)