A ministry at Triad Baptist says a lot without even making a sound.

Signing ministry members Michelle Hailey, T.W. and LouAnne Webb, and Julaine Ferry—the newest member of the group and its only professional interpreter—bring the gospel truths taught by Lead Pastor Rob Decker and the music performed by Jared Hoots and the Contemporary Worship band to life for the deaf each Sunday.

Julaine Ferry signs the sermon during the Contemporary Worship service.

One deaf member already has come to know Christ through the group’s efforts and counseling of some of its members, and the ministry hopes to reach many more and welcome them to Triad.

The ministry currently interprets for the deaf at the 8:45 a.m. service, occasionally interpreting at the other two services upon request. The team prepares each week using emailed sermon notes from Worship Director Scott Compton (Music and SNAC classes), and emailed songs from Hoots.

A performance group called Signs of Blessing is also part of the ministry; it grew out of Hailey’s SNAC class and ‘signs’ songs to music.

A former member at Triad began the ministry in 2005. Hailey, one of the volunteers trained by the founder, continued it by herself. She uses and has taught classes in Signed English. Unlike American Sign Language, Signed English doesn’t have its own alphabet, grammar, syntax and facial expressions. Instead, Signed English combines ASL signs and non-ASL signs to communicate the exact order of a sentence or verse of a song in English.

For instance, imagine seeing signs that correspond to each word in the English sentence “ I went to the store” communicating “I went to the store.” In the grammatical structure of ASL, that same sentence would be “Store I went finished” instead.

The Webbs joined Hailey after T.W. joined the staff of Triad Baptist Christian Academy (he serves as Lower School Principal) and they began attending the church. Both had served for nearly two years in a deaf ministry at a church in Patterson, N.J., before moving to North Carolina.

Julaine joined after transferring with Sorenson Video Relay Service to the state last July to work as a professional interpreter for the company’s Greensboro VRS center.

Triad’s sign ministry works in two teams that alternate weeks. In one, TW interprets the sermons and LouAnne the music; the other team features Julaine interpreting the sermons and Hailey the music.

“We interpret even when no deaf people come because it helps us stay fresh and capable and also because there are folks who have taken sign classes and like to sit in the section and learn more,” Hailey said.

Michelle Hailey signs a song during the Contemporary Worship service.

“One of the main benefits of the sign ministry is that even when folks don't know sign language, watching signers tell a story through sign interpreting a song can bring greater meaning and deeper worship,” she said. “That's my goal with our group Signs of Blessing. We hear comments over and over about how a song touches someone because we interpreted it.

“For me, I have a passion for Christian music, but since I have no singing talent, signing is my avenue for praising God,” Hailey said. “I absolutely love interpreting songs. We would love to grow our deaf ministry. We just need to get the word out that our services are interpreted. We’re also planning to interpret all of the special programs, such as Easter and Christmas dramas.”

For the Webbs, their service in Triad’s sign ministry allowed them to resume work that the leader of a large deaf ministry first kindled in New Jersey after they graduated from college.

“We began immediately with private lessons at the deaf leader’s home,” T.W. recalled. “It was her first language being born a hearing child in a deaf home; her youngest biological son was born deaf. After a few weeks at her home, we added a second day of instruction each Wednesday evening before church, then gently prodded us to become participants in a deaf Bible study for greater immersion in the language.”

The Webbs eventually found themselves helping interpret for a deaf ministry with more than 70 members before they returned to North Carolina.

“We wondered why God developed this in us and then moved us,” T.W. said. “His answer was simple. The day we arrived in the state, a deaf couple broke down in front of the home we were living in. Soon, a few deaf began to attend the church where I ministered as a middle school teacher and coach. We had the opportunity to lead two of them to Christ in the years we served.”

Flash forward a few years later to when the Webbs attended the 8:45 a.m. service for the first time and saw Hailey interpreting. “When the Lord brought us to attend Triad for church, we saw Michelle interpreting and approached her to offer assistance if needed.”

Like the Webbs, Julaine learned sign language basics from someone who grew up a hearing child to deaf parents. A pastor’s daughter, she encountered deaf children in two of the churches that her father, Col. Allen Ferry (retired and now a Triad member too) served during his military chaplaincy.

“I was always interested in learning so that I could interpret for those children in church,” Julaine said. After earning her college degree in an unrelated field, she felt the call to get formal training to serve the deaf and enrolled at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

“I applied late and was accepted, and believed this was God's way of saying. ‘This is what I have for you,’ ” Julaine said. “I graduated with a two-year associate’s degree in educational interpreting.

“I started interpreting at Triad shortly after becoming a member. I believe it was the next Sunday! I’ve enjoyed working with those involved with the ministry already, and have been praying for growth, both in the attendance of deaf individuals and with expansion of the interpreter pool. Lord willing, God will bring more to help with the interpreting and with the potential for mentoring. I’m glad God lead me to Triad where I’m able to use the skills He gave me in the church!”