Les Carroz d’Arrâche, France, June 21, 2013. [CD-EUDNews]. On June 14, about 50 people gathered at the Le Flocon Vert resort in the village Les Carroz d’Arrâche, France to participate to a special Conference on weekend’s theme “Hope for today and for tomorrow”.
An interesting topic made even more interesting by the fact that the conference was organized totally for the deaf. A thrilling experience.
This is the second international deaf congress organized in the territory of the Inter-European Region of Seventh-day Adventists (EUD).
Led by Valérie Lefebvre, responsible of Signe d’Esperance, the Adventist French association for deaf, the organizers team made a wonderful job to welcome all the participants and create a fantastic “international” group dynamic. “I was amazed by the rapidity of adaptation of deaf people to different languages signs,” she declared.
The participants at this conference came from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, USA giving international character to the whole meeting. Participants gathered in the cozy hotel "Les Verts Flocons" located in the village Les Carroz d'ARRACHE, France, and followed a detailed but well balanced program between plenary meetings, cultural visits, and in nature too.
Special guests of the Congress were David Texler, american deaf pastor and his translator Alfred Griffith, son of deaf parents.
The presentations of pastor Texler made in american sign languages have been well accepted thanks to the huge work of the translators to sign in their different languages.
“The International Deaf Conference was a spirit-filled event that brought the attendees closer to Jesus Christ,” said Pastor Texler. “I am confident that all of the Deaf people, as well as hearing individuals, were greatly blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.” What impressed most Pastor Texler and his translator Pastor Griffith was how the event worked in bringing Deaf people from other countries together in one place for gaining spiritual blessings from God. It was clear that the participants were encouraged to move forward despite the obstacles they are facing at home. “Our hats are off for Valerie Lefebvre who did a superb job in leading the conference through the blessing of the Holy Spirit” concluded Texler.
One of the major goal of such congress was to create the opportunity to meet people living a similar situation as the deaf but in different contexts, and discover how the others are coping with the thousand challenges the life proposes.
“This is not a parallel world,” commented Corrado Cozzi, EUD Deaf contact reference, “even though it is obvious there are differences, there should be more attention to improve awareness in our religious context of the needs of brethren that live different.”
It was amazing to see children sign with their parents, as well as people sign with their new foreign deaf friends. It was the best paradigm that nothing can be an obstacle against the willingness.
"I’m greatful for the good mood during the meeting, for solidarity, for the joy to meet and share,” said Lefebvre, “ I was touched by the warmth and richness of each, and pleased by the message of hope, pastors spoke to our hearts.”
This congress has been once again the proof that different deaf ministry teams want to collaborate and move forward together.
"I was deeply impressed by the strong spiritual need of the Deaf to share their faith with one another and the care they have for those who are not ready to meet Jesus,” concluded the Congress Larry Evans, General Conference Deaf contact person, “the Church is finally beginning to realize that within its own organizational structure is an unreached people group."
The next appointment in 2014, with the aim to continue to learn from each other!
