How shall
they hear without a preacher? —Romans
10:14
When
Thomas Gallaudet graduated from seminary in 1814, he had planned on becoming a
preacher. However, his call to the ministry took a different turn when he met
Alice, a 9-year-old, hearing-impaired girl in his neighborhood. Gallaudet began
to communicate with her by writing words with a stick in the dirt.
Helping
Alice motivated him to help others too. After consulting with European and
American experts in educating the deaf, he refined a system widely known today
as “signing” (a person’s hands spell out the message). Eventually, he
established the American School for the Deaf.
Gallaudet’s
school for the hearing-impaired contained a Christian curriculum that shared
the gospel and included Bible instruction. He had answered the call to
preach—but it was to a very special group of people. Signing was the way he
communicated the gospel.
Like
Gallaudet, we too could be sharing the Word of God with people in ways they can
understand. Otherwise, “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).
Seeking
the lost, and pointing to Jesus,
Souls that are weak and hearts that are sore;
Leading them forth in ways of salvation,
Showing the path to life evermore. —Ogden
Souls that are weak and hearts that are sore;
Leading them forth in ways of salvation,
Showing the path to life evermore. —Ogden
Don’t
withhold from the world the best news that’s ever come to it.
RELECT: How might God want you to reach out to those around you this week?
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