Fostering unity among Deaf and Hearing Christians through Bible teachings, prayer, fellowship, and outreach initiatives.
The Birth of the Deaf Christian Convention
In 1968, within the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio, The Deaf Institute, a Christian educational center catering to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, embarked on an innovative endeavor. Armed with an overhead projector, they introduced a deaf program at the North American Christian Convention (NACC). This pioneering initiative aimed to bridge the gap between faith and communication for those who faced hearing challenges.
Among the convention attendees that year, a solitary figure stood out: Cheryl Nagel, the daughter of Cecil Bennett, the visionary behind The Deaf Institute. Cecil’s unwavering commitment fueled his mission to expand the participation of deaf individuals at NACC year after year.
Fast forward to 1975, when Deaf Missions proposed a groundbreaking idea: a separate convention exclusively for the deaf during daylight hours, followed by integration with the broader NACC community in the evenings. Thus, the “NACC Deaf Convention” was born, its attendance rates fluctuating over time. The pinnacle came in 1986, when 75 deaf and hearing signers congregated in Indianapolis, united by their shared faith and unique experiences.
However, the subsequent years witnessed a decline. Attendance dwindled below 25, prompting loyal deaf Christians who faithfully attended NACC to ponder the reasons behind the stagnant growth of the deaf community within the convention. Among this dedicated group were individuals like Gary & Phyllis Wilson, James & Deborah Wines, Janice & Jerald Erkerle, Terry Dowling, Gail Carr, Cheryl & Tim Nagel, and Rod & Brenda Burke.
In 1993, during the NACC gathering in St. Louis, Missouri, James Wines and Rodney Burke engaged in a pivotal conversation. Troubled by the persistently low turnout of deaf Christians at NACC, they hatched a daring plan: a “deaf-owned” Christian convention. Invitations were extended to approximately 13 deaf Christians and 40 hearing signers, but fate intervened—only 12 deaf Christians and a lone hearing signer, Bryan Eubanks, the director of The Deaf Institute, graced the meeting. Their conclusion was clear: it was time for the deaf community to forge its own path, to create a space where their faith could flourish unencumbered.
And so, with muster of courage, the deaf Christians embraced Bryan's suggestion: they should indeed have their own convention. Thus began a new chapter—a gathering where hands spoke louder than words, where faith transcended silence, and where the Deaf Christian Convention found its rightful place in the tapestry of spiritual fellowship.
Their hearts echoed with a shared sense of purpose as they deliberated over the convention’s name and location. The collective voice echoed: “National Christian Convention of the Deaf” (NCCD).
To determine the host city, they drew slips of paper from a bag. Detroit, Michigan, emerged first, but Scott Hembree, a local resident, hesitated. The second draw revealed Charleston, West Virginia, and Rod Burke stepped forward, ready to shoulder the responsibility.
And so, the seeds were sown. NCCD blossomed—a sanctuary where deaf and hearing signing Christians from across the globe could commune, worship, learn in workshops, embark on field trips, and share banquets.
The genesis occurred during a pivotal NACC meeting in St. Louis, July 1993, amidst the echoes of the great Midwest flood. There, they christened it: NCCD. The inaugural gathering would grace Charleston, West Virginia, on a memorable October weekend in 1994.
And thus, history unfolded—a testament to faith, resilience, and the power of community.
