Rib Mountain Deaf Lutheran Church

09/05/2026

A message from NWD Deaf Ministry in ASL video also captions. Thank you for watching the video. May God be with you always!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvuEslpWwd4

Here transcription...
Greeting (Hello) to all,

If you are wondering what is up with this month???
This September month is Deaf Awareness Month!

I wanted to share a bible verse
NIRV ACT 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.\
They began to speak in languages they had not known before.
The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.

After receiving the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in many languages,
the apostles went out to spread the Gospel.

This event occurred during Pentecost in Jerusalem,
where they preached to a diverse crowd gathered from various nations.

The apostles communicated in the native languages of the listeners,
enabling them to understand the message of Jesus Christ.

This marked the beginning of the apostles' public ministry,
as they shared the teachings of Christianity
with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Wow, won't that be great if this is happening in today's world churches out there for the deaf people?

Right now not many hearing pastors are able to speak in Deaf people's native languages.

That deprived the Gospel from the Deaf people out there.

Deaf individuals often feel excluded from the Gospel when their native sign language is not used.

This exclusion can lead to a lack of understanding and connection with spiritual teachings,
as many Deaf people do not have access to the Bible or religious teachings in a language they fully comprehend.

Language Access is Crucial

Many Deaf adults encounter barriers when they do not have a language to express their thoughts and beliefs.

This can hinder their ability to engage with the Gospel effectively.

Organizations like Deaf Missions emphasize the importance of delivering the Gospel in sign language,
recognizing that Deaf individuals are included in the Great Commission, Cultural and Linguistic Identity.

The struggle for language access reflects broader issues of cultural identity and inclusion within religious communities.

Deaf people often seek to connect with their faith in a way that resonates with their unique experiences and language.

In summary, the lack of access to the Gospel in their native sign language can lead Deaf individuals to feel deprived of spiritual nourishment and community.

The most natural way for Deaf people to encounter the gospel isn’t through reading, but by translated Scripture in their heart language, sign language.

According to Matthew 25:40, believers are called by the Bible to serve everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
This involves making sure Deaf people have equitable access to spiritual materials for missions.
One practical method to fulfill this demand and demonstrate a commitment to justice and diversity is to learn American Sign Language (ASL).
Ministries can demonstrate the compassion and love that are essential to their faith by prioritizing American Sign Language (ASL) and fostering a welcoming environment.

Let us pray to God to bless deaf ministry and help us celebrate the Deaf Awareness Month

Thank you for watching
from NWD Deaf Ministry

This video is about Deaf Awareness Month 2026 for deaf ministry.

08/27/2026

07/21/2026

Come and join with us. An interpreter will be provided for church service at 10 am with the picnic to follow. This picnic is hosted by the hearing church but we deaf church members will be there to celebrate the Lord with them. Let's meet the new pastor who is learning sign language. Hope see you there. Please let us know if you plan to come so we can have the head count for food.

Please share :) The sign up sheet is at the back of church.

07/21/2026

Want to practice your signing, immerse yourself in the Deaf community, just meet some amazing people, or have a blast fun playing games?

Come join us for our Deaf Fun & Fellowship on Saturday August 8th, 2026 from 10am to 4pm 😁

🤟 Everyone is welcome!

• Whether you're fluent, just starting out, or only know a few signs, we'd love to have you!

• Kids are welcome too!

This is a relaxed, fun environment to socialize, practice signing, make new friends, and enjoy a BLAST FUN GAMES together.

Come for a little while or stay all day- rain or shine!

Feel free to invite anyone who might enjoy coming. We hope to see you there! 💙🤟 See less

04/23/2026

Greeting from Rib Mountain Deaf Lutheran Church,

Here is history of our deaf church... time flied so fast... pastors came and went... Is this the end for the deaf church? No, we continue to have a worship service with an interpreter at the same hearing church. A new pastor will be coming soon in June. Let welcome him Pastor Joel Picard. He will serve both hearing and deaf church with an interpreter.

Over 100 years of Deaf ministry... Let us honor the pastors who served the Lord with gladness (Psalms 100:2) for the deaf community.

Deaf ministry began nationally in Chicago, Illinois in 1894.
The first worship service in North Wisconsin District was held in Merril, Wisconsin by Rev. Traughott Wangerin in 1907 (1907-1926).
Over the years, the North Wisconsin District Lutheran Deaf Mission has spread its wing by sending the pastor to travel to many different towns to serve the deaf community.

Rev. Edward Baker (1926-1927)
Rev. Fred Gade (1927-1931)
Rev. Otto Schroeder (?-1960)
Rev. Warren Paulson (1960-1962)
Rev. John Nickerson (1962-1965)

Rev. Robert Corl (1965-1981) had served Zion Lutheran Church and St. Marks Lutheran in Wausau, Wisconsin for both hearing and deaf until he retired. He signed.

Rev. Gordon Hien (1981-1982)

Rev. Thomas Hedtke (1981-1984) Rib Mountain Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. This is the first time for Rib Mountain Lutheran church to have an interpreting program for the hearing impaired people.

Rev. Phillip Pledger (1984-1987) Rib Mountain Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. He signed (slow) and used an interpreter.

Rev. Donald Zuhn (1987-1988)

Rev. Steve Schumacher (1988-1993) Rib Mountain Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. He served both Rib Mountain Lutheran Church and the Missionary to the Deaf North Wisconsin District until he became full time for the Deaf. Before him was Rev. Donald Zuhn, Pastor for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf, Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1989, ,Pastor Schumacher accepted a position with the North Wisconsin District as a full-time Missionary-at-Large to the Deaf.

Rev. William Knaack (1994-2019) conducted 2 services held at Rib Mountain Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin each month. Pastor Knaack traveled throughout the North Wisconsin District holding services in Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Bible Class in Green Bay, Escanaba, Rock, and Marquette. He and his wife Diane had also traveled to Upper Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota to reach out to deaf Lutherans.

Rev. Tim Swanson (2018-2025) Rib Mountain Lutheran Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. He served both hearing and deaf. Sometimes he had an interpreter for hearing church but he signed for the deaf church. He accepted a call at another church in MO.

May God bless them who have served the Lord with gladness for the Deaf ministry.

We thank you Rib Mountain Lutheran Church and North Wisconsin District - LCMS for their support and continue to keep the Deaf ministry going. We pray that it will continue for as long as God's Will.

04/21/2026

Greeting to all, hope you are all well and ready for the new year 2026!!!

Sorry for being behind in the news...

If you are wondering what is happening with the deaf church right now... We now have 2 worship services with an interpreter each month in the morning. We will have 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday of each month with an interpreter. You are all welcome to attend our church Sunday worship service. We will post the calendar monthly so you will know if we have an interpreter for Sunday worship service or any special events.

May God be with you all and stay warm.