Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 17, 1994 TAG: 9412190021
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But one place the 43-year-old Christian campus ministry had never been equipped to go was right here in the United States: Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. - the nation's only liberal arts college for the hearing-impaired.
Until now. Thanks to Bob and Karen Rhoads, that's changed.
The Rhoadses, who were both born deaf, are Campus Crusade for Christ's first hearing-impaired staff members, and they're the ministry's first chance to reach Gallaudet students. They were in Roanoke on Tuesday to meet with Roanoke Valley Baptist Association ministers and to solicit their support.
Bob Rhoads, who first got involved with Campus Crusade when he was a freshman at East Carolina University, said he has been praying to bring Campus Crusade to Gallaudet for 10 years.
"I wanted to help deaf people come to know Christ," said Rhoads, who lives in Maryland with his wife.
He and his wife know from personal experience how difficult learning about Christianity can be without guidance or sound.
"There was no interpreter in my church, so the only understanding I had of God growing up was through pictures in Sunday school books," Karen said in sign language as her husband interpreted. "I tried to kill myself seven times and I ran away from home two times, but God gave me a second chance...I want to share God's love with others."
Although Gallaudet has a student Christian group, there is no leadership for it.
"They're surviving on their own, so when they found out about us they were very excited to have someone to lead them and help them to grow," Rhoads said. "Local ministers go over for Bible study, special events or holidays, but there is nothing on a day-to-day basis."
The couple will provide that daily guidance in four steps: one-on-one talks with students about who God is, group outreaches and Christmas and spring regional crusade conferences, Bible study and daily living applications, and finally how-to sessions to show students how to share their faith with others.
Before they can get started, there are a few hurdles to cross. Gallaudet's adminstration still hasn't given its final OK to the project - the Rhoadses expect an answer in January. Bob Rhoads isn't worried about their answer. If it's not Gallaudet, the couple will go to Rochester, N.Y., or Texas or California or anywhere where there is a large concentration of deaf students because the Rhoadses are determined to "win" deaf souls.
"What they're doing is so unique because it's the deaf contacting the deaf. They're making that direct link," said the Rev. Randy Buckland, who is the pastor of Bonsack Baptist Church's hearing-impaired congregation. "Their commonality will make them successful."
Still, one obstacle stands in their way: money.
Since February, Bob and Karen have been crisscrossing the nation, trying to raise the money they need for literature, salaries and benefits.
They're still about $18,000 short, but they're confident that by the new year they'll have reached their goal.
"No job is bigger than what the Lord can handle. He will take care of it," Bob Rhoads said.
by CNB