Prayer for two dear Brothers please.

[Davo]

We attended the funeral of Brother John yesterday.

We heard how his mother who was deaf and dumb was converted as a 16 year old girl in Dublin and was immediately thrown out by her father. She arrived in Sheffield and eventually started a Christian deaf and dumb club. John's mother and father as well as his siblings were deaf and dumb. As the only member of the family who could hear and speak he had a struggle learning to speak. He was taught by a neighbour but when he arrived at school, he was in trouble because of his bad pronunciation as well as havin his left hand tied behind his back because he was left handed which was discouraged in those days. (My dad suffered something like that)

When John was 11 he stole some money from his mun's purse to go to the cinema, he was so much under cinviction of sin he confessed to her and was converted.

At the funeral, there were several members of his family who were deaf and dumb and there was another member of the family who was to translate the service into sign. Two days before the funeral she had to withdraw and the family were at a loss as to what to do. They tried all the deaf clubs but there was no-one available at so short notice. Then just before the funeral John's son received a text, he wasn't sure from whom, that informed him there was a translation service in our own town A quick call secured the services of a young lady who came along and did a good job. It was good to see these deaf people singing the olkd hymns with their hands. The young lady also went to the graveside several miles away to translate and it turned out that she was a christian, albeit a member of a New Frontiers church. She said it was a pleasant change to attend a christian funeral instead of the usual funeral where there is absolutely no hope.

We do not at present have a pastor, but the visiting minister (who we know well) gave a real evangelical address so nobody could be unaware of the gospel message.