Deaf Ministry
All worship services at RiverWalk Church have experienced interpreters
for our deaf members and guests.
​
Interpreters are also available for Bible classes, as needed. Besides offering their skills at all church gatherings, our interpreters also work in many of our local schools and fill other community needs.
The services are interpreted in PSE and/or ASL. The RiverWalk Church ministry for the deaf has recently become affiliated with
Deaf Christian Ministries Foundation of the MidWest (DCMFM).
RiverWalk Church will periodically host Mark Lowenstein, who is a deaf evangelist in the Olathe/Overland Park KS area. Mark will come to Wichita to conduct services for the deaf community of Wichita.
​
Check out their website at www.DeafChristianFoundation.org.
Phyllis Hogue was initially drawn to interpreting for the deaf because she wanted to communicate with Jenean Forshay, one of our deaf sisters. In fact, Jenean was her initial trainer in signing skills. Phyllis graduated from the Interpreter Training Program at Front Range Community College. She uses her skills daily at
Caldwell Elementary School in Wichita.
She signs for some of our worship assemblies, but particularly enjoys signing for children who need her skills in Bible classes.
Melody Manlove took a short class on sign language with Scott Ramsey and Jenean Forshay and fell in love with signing. Following a couple of classes via Wichita Area Technical College, she began what she calls “tiny efforts” at interpreting at Central (first songs, and eventually speakers). After 10 years, she decided to certify. She took a two-year Interpreter Training Program through Cowley County Community College, and certified in October, 2008. Melody does community interpreting through Sign Language Interpreting Services, is a member of the Kansas Association of Interpreters, and is currently teaching an ASL 1 class at WSU.