“So Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” and Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:9-10
Prayer and dependence on God are essential in life although often difficult to maintain! My children are now grown, and the house is much quieter, but I still remind myself to sit quietly, saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” As followers of Jesus, we have to seek environments where we hear God’s voice.
It strikes me that God did not speak to Samuel after he completed his theological training or achieved some other milestone. He spoke before Samuel was even able to recognize God’s voice! God wants closeness with each of us to give guidance. If we take time to pause and listen, we are often surprised! Trusting in God prepares our hearts for the tasks He calls us to do (Proverbs 3:5-6).
My husband Bob and I became involved with “DeafWorld”—a term coined to identify the cultural/linguistic experience of deaf and hard of hearing people—in the mid-1980s. Our close friends, who are deaf, taught us sign language and were very patient with us. Together we ministered to deaf and hard of hearing teens. We remain grateful for these friendships and influences on our journey.
Trusting God, we decided to build our family through adoption of older children, including adopting our youngest daughter, who is deaf. As she entered her teen years, we saw a spiritual battle within her. She felt like God was a “hearing God” and could not relate. Though being active in church and youth group with interpreters, she perceived faith as only for hearing people. As a mother, I was crushed to think one of my children did not think God could communicate in her heart language – American Sign Language (ASL). This is not fair; everyone should have the right to make sense of the Gospel, in any language or context. We researched and realized that the Christian faith in DeafWorld had become almost extinct. As we struggled to help meet her spiritual needs, we sensed God’s leading to establish a national outreach for deaf and hard of hearing teenagers.
Deaf Teen Quest was established in 2000. Over the years I have volunteered in various roles with this ministry while working full time as an Occupational Therapist in the local school system… and being the mother of five children. Whew! It was chaotic and certainly some ‘spinning plates’ crashed along the way, but God—who is always faithful—carried us through. We serve an amazing God who has spread this ministry across the country as part of Youth for Christ USA.
So now, during this part of my journey, I pause to hear God’s voice again. Over the past year, God put it on my heart to develop widespread prayer for this ministry. I am currently coordinating and establishing prayer groups for Deaf Teen Quest in every state. Praying for the leaders and teens we know, and for those to come, listening to God, being open, gratefully following, and responding, to join in with whatever He is doing.
“Lord, help me learn your ways.
Show me how you want me to live.
Guide me and teach me your truths.
You are my God, my Savior.
You are the one I have been waiting for.”
Psalms 25:4-5
Kathy Ayres
Kathy enjoys nature and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and canoeing. She was born in Texas but grew up in Gainesville where she graduated from GHS. Kathy is a UF graduate of the Occupational Therapy program and has worked in a variety of settings, but primarily in school systems. She is also the co-founder of a national ministry, Deaf Teen Quest. God has lead Bob and Kathy through 40 years of marriage adventures thus far. They have five children in their thirties and ten grandchildren, ages 2 to 10 years old. Grandchildren are a blast and she especially enjoys climbing trees with them!