One Sunday, a friend shared something that stirred my heart deeply: Avery, a young, deaf man, had never been baptized. I immediately reached out to his brother and stepmother. His brother truly wanted Avery to be baptized, but didn’t know how to explain baptism in a way Avery could understand.

I prayed, then jumped into Avery’s life.

Avery had been attending church with his brother for years, but never fully understood the services. There were no interpreters, and even if there had been, English-based interpreting wouldn’t have reached him. ASL (American Sign Language) is Avery’s first language—his heart language. Like many Deaf individuals, reading English is difficult for him. For too long, Avery sat in pews surrounded by God’s Word but unable to access it.

I call Avery a “lost sheep,” just as Jesus describes in Matthew 18:10–12. He had wandered far, but Jesus never stopped seeking him, and I had the joy of being part of bringing him home.

To teach Avery, I signed the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. I used visuals from FreeBibleImages.org, a wonderful, free resource especially helpful for the Deaf. Showing pictures alongside ASL storytelling makes Scripture come alive. Avery’s eyes lit up. For the first time, he saw and understood God’s love and the meaning of baptism.

Avery was baptized at Lifebridge Community Church (LCMS) in Sealy on June 1, 2025. I was the signer for Avery.  Pastor Scott Heitshusen led the baptism.

By Deaconess Becky Jungklaus, ASL Lead Evangelist Trainer