A GATEWAY TO THE DEAF COMMUNITY

Vallejo, California is called the "Gateway" accessing the beautiful Napa Valley Wine country to the north, San Francisco to the southwest, and Sacramento to the northeast.

Vallejo is a "gateway" in another way. The Vallejo area is diverse, being home to many different cultures and languages. There are Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Africans, and Hispanics to name a few. While these ethnic groups are very different, these groups have one thing in common: each ethnic group has deaf people. In the Greater Bay Area there are 150,000 hard of hearing people, of which 19,000 are deaf.

BMW'S BAY AREA TEAM

Biblical Ministries Worldwide is working in Vallejo to reach the Deaf. In 1999 Penny Harden moved to Vallejo CA, and began building relationships with the deaf in the community. In 2000 this progressed to Vallejo Bible Church for the Deaf, a once-a-month ASL church service, in which Penny brought in guest speakers.

In 2003 Brad Ketterling began commuting once a month from Los Angeles California to preach. Brad moved to Vallejo in 2004, and began working with the men and developing leaders.

God touched Hannah Mullins to work with the deaf. In May 2007 Brad and Hannah got married, and Hannah began working with her husband with the deaf couples and with Penny with the single women.

BMW's Bay Area Team endeavors to plant many deaf churches. We wish to finish the church plant in Vallejo, and start more deaf churches in the Bay area. To do this, we need more workers. Please pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. Also, please consider our ministry.

For more information, please contact Dominic Gonino or Brad Ketterling.