News

Spring 2011 News Letter     ( posted 5/25/2011)

2011 United Methodist Congress of the Deaf Conference     ( posted 6/26/2010)

The 2011 United Methodist Congress of the Deaf Conference will be at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina on July 29-31, 2011.

The featured guest speaker will be Bishop Peggy Johnson of the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Conferences. Also, we will be celebrating 40 years of Deaf ministry work in the Western North Carolina Conference.

Please email Rev. Wineva Hankamer at whankamer@wesleyumc.com to RSVP.

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Old News

UMCD President’s Report
October 2007  

Hi Everyone!  About 40 - 45 people attended our UMCD conference July 19 -22, 2007 in Orlando, FL. We all had a wonderful time! We enjoyed Paul Jones sharing devotions, worships and his testimonials. Paul emphasized that we should be communicating and talking with God each and every day -- God wants us to talk with Him, He wants us to let Him know of our needs, and He wants us to ask Him for guidance.

There were 3 workshops presented during our 2007 UMCD Conference. Rev. Wineva presented a fund-raising workshop on "Fun Raising on Fund-Raising (more on this below), Dan Kenyon presented a workshop on Lay Leadership, and Rev. Joo Kang shared with us about the retreat center near Seoul, Korea where our 2009 UMCD Conference will be held.

We also held a singing signing songs contest. There were 5 individuals and group contestants. The songs they signed were magnificent, and enjoyed by all. First place - $150 winner was Maria Jones of Orlando, FL, second place $120 winners were 3 members of Christ Church of the Deaf, Lasander Saunders, Charlotte Shears and Ellsworth Bouyer of Baltimore, MD. Third place $100 winners were tied between Paul Jones of Orlando, FL and Ishmael Katema of Mutare, Zimbabwe - each won $50.

UMCD celebrated its 30 years anniversary. UMCD was founded in July 1977 at Trinity College in Washington, DC. Different people shared the history of UMCD. Thanks to the Orlando, FL planning group for providing UMCD a 30-year anniversary cake.

During free time, UMCD attendees visited the Disney Village, did some shopping, and/or relaxed in the pool at the hotel.

Future UMCD gatherings will be different. We will have at least 4 days of testimonials, devotions, worship and Bible study. We will begin doing that in 2009 when UMCD meets near Seoul, Korea.  From what I gathered, it should be an inspirational experience, something we can take back home to share with others. You won't want to miss it!!!

I heard from some people that flights to Korea would be too expensive. I can understand that this particular trip will be costly due to airfare, but that is a POOR reason for NOT going to Korea in 2009. Please don't let expenses of 2009 UMCD Korean trip frighten you. About 75 Koreans and Japanese sacrificed their money and flew to the U.S. to join us at the 2005 UMCD global gathering in Baltimore, MD. So, let us plan on going to Korea in 2009! WE CAN DO IT!!!

Our 2007 UMCD had a workshop on fund-raising. Rev. Wineva Hankamer gave a power-point presentation of different fund-raising ideas. This presentation is now on our UMCD.org website. It gives you a lot of ideas of raising fund to go to Korea. You CAN raise funds in different ways. So, go to our UMCD.org website and click on index, then click on "Watch for photos and articles from the Conference HERE", then click on 'Fun Ways to Fund Raise for Individuals or Groups". Don't wait for 2009 to plan or start fund raising. Not until 2008.  Start planning now for our 2009 UMCD Global Gathering in Korea!!!

The total cost of the 2009 UMCD conference, which from July 28 - 31 is estimated to be $200 - $220, including meals and lodging. Our 2009 UMCD Conference will be held at a retreat center near Seoul, Korea. Yes, the retreat center has air-conditioning!!

Using the Internet, current roundtrip airfares from the East Coast to Korea is about $1,700. From the West Coast, current roundtrip airfares to Korea should be cheaper. That may go up in 2009. This is just to give you an idea how much you need to raise funds for your trip. You may want to set a goal of raising $2,500 per person. You may either work through a travel agency (UMCD is looking for one), or you can reserve and buy airline tickets on your own, using the Internet.

Rev. Joo Kang, our UMCD Vice-President will be helping us and provide us updates on our 2009 trip to Korea and retreat plans.

You will need a passport. If you don't have one, now would be a good time to get one. They are good for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16. Check with your local U.S. Post Office or your local passport office about how to get a passport. It can take up to 3 - 6 months (or longer) to get a passport.

We will share more news through our UMCD group serve as well as through our UMCD newsletters. If you are not on the UMCD group email list, please see below how to sign up.

I appointed MaryJane Kenyon as our UMCD Newsletter editor.  If you have news concerning your church, past events, coming events, pictures, etc., please send them to MaryJane at dmj730@comcast.net for our next UMCD Newsletter.  The deadline is January 31, 2008.   Thanks to Candis Shannon for her willingness and putting together our last UMCD Newsletter. Also, thanks to MaryJane for preparing and editing our current UMCD Newsletter.

Blessings and Peace,
Dan Kenyon
UMCD President

Rev. Peggy Johnson Elected Bishop! 
Click here for Information and Photos!

"Fun Ways to Fund Raise for Individuals or Groups"
        ***Click Here for the PowerPoint Presentation from the workshop given at the Conference (If you have PowerPoint)!  
        ***Click here for the Presentation if you do NOT have PowerPoint.

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United Methodists hold church's first global deaf conference News Story about the 2005 Global United Methodist Conference

United Methodists Hold First Global Conference for the Deaf (Another article about the Global UM Conference of the Deaf from The Christian Post)

Signs Of Deaf Awareness (News Video about the 2005 Global UMC Deaf Conference)
People from over a dozen countries gathered in Baltimore , for the first United Methodist Global Conference of the Deaf. Part of the planning was to arrange interpreters fluent in a variety of sign languages. That effort was part of the reward, also.
Script |  Windows Media |  MPEG

Deaf pastoral exchange broadens ministries and perspective News article from the newspaper of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church about Rev. Joo Hai Kang.

Deaf-Blind Camp - What would it be like to scale a mountain if you were deaf and blind? Or, bungee jump or even ride a motorcycle?  As Reed Galin reports, there’s a special camp in Maryland where deaf and blind adults can have these rare experiences, and live without limits, for at least one week. 

Serving the Deaf - There are 28 million Americans who suffer some form of hearing loss. In a world where communication is key, it’s difficult for the deaf to find jobs and it can be equally hard to find businesses that cater to their needs. But as Reed Galin reports, there’s one business that does both, and serves up slaw on the side.

Deaf ministry resource opens at Conway church (Nov 18, 2004 Article about Debbie Bennett from the Florida UM News Service)

NTC Rev. Tom Hudspeth's ministry advocates for Deaf empowerment  (Sep 24, 2004 Article from the North Texas UM Conference Reporter)

Deaf Lobbyist at 2004 General Conference (News Video)
There are 28 million deaf people in the U.S. but less than one percent call themselves Christian and fewer attend church. Elke Betz-Schmidt has been deaf since she was five years old, and she is very active in her United Methodist church, but she thinks most deaf people feel alienated and not welcomed by churches. She is working to change that, by lobbying for more deaf ministries and making her voice heard within her denomination.
Script | Windows Media | QuickTime | MPEG

Report on Deaf Mission Team to Zimbabwe: 2003

United Methodist Deaf Ministries (Website for the General Board of Global Ministries  of the United Methodist Church)

Deaf Ministries of the Baltimore Washington Conference, United Methodist Church

Central Texas Conference UMC Deaf Ministry (Rev. Rick Springer)

Lover's Lane UMC Deaf Ministry, Dallas, TX (Rev. Dr. Tom Hudspeth)

Christ UMC of the Deaf, Baltimore, MD (Rev. Peggy Johnson)

Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference UMC Deaf & Hard of Hearing Ministry (Rev. Dr. Curt Keller)