By Sharon Mager
ROHRSVILLE, Md.—Pleasant Valley Baptist Church offers sign language classes as a community outreach. At least 40 people have signed up for June’s six-week session.
This group recently graduated from a sign language class at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Ron Pitts (far right) teaches the classes as a ministry.
The classes allow students to learn about 250-300 words. That’s enough, church member and teacher Ron Pitts said, to get along well with any new language.
There are people from all walks of life, including atheists, in his classes so Pitts said he shares the Gospel gently. In addition to students being in a church setting and meeting Senior Pastor Clayton Clark and interacting with other church members, Pitts incorporates Biblical signs and he teaches them to sign “Amazing Grace.” “It’s a beautiful song to sign to,” Pitts said.
There’s also time after the classes for church members to interact with the students. “This is all about planting seeds and allowing the Holy Spirit to work,” Pitts explained.
Ron Pitts, a Vietnam Veteran, learned sign language early in the 70’s. He’d come home from his military service and was attending Frederick Community College. Christmas was nearing and he needed money for presents. He was pleased when the Frederick Downtown Merchants Association hired him as a street Santa, walking through the Frederick streets spreading cheer.
“I came across a group of students from the Maryland School for the Deaf and Santa was embarrassed that he couldn’t communicate with the kids,” Pitts said.
When the town asked him to don the red suit and return the next year, Pitts vowed he would not disappoint those students again.
He approached Louis Foxwell, a school administrator and teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf.
“He agreed to teach me my Santa lines in sign language, and a few more words,” Pitts said. “I got into it. He didn’t mind teaching me, and so we continued classes.”
When Santa began “ho-ho-ho-ing” around Frederick the following year, he once again saw the students and he signed to them and they happily shared what they wanted Old Saint Nick to bring them.
Pitts enjoyed the new skill. He laughed as he shared that when he and his wife, Elaine, were dating, they’d go to places where there was loud music and he taught her to sign so they could “talk” to each other over the music. They taught their children sign language, and now they teach their granddaughter, and as a natural extension, they shared the sign language class at their church.
Pitts teaches “Sign English.” There are some differences between the American Sign Language (ASL), he said. “Most deaf people use ASL in their day-to-day interaction. ASL is like shorthand to hearing people and Sign English would be like we speak in complete sentences. The deaf person would call a person using Sign English as being wordy but very happy they don’t have to break out their pencil and paper to communicate. They are also happy you have take the time to learn their language. I always suggest after taking my introduction class that students take a more formal ASL course. I am just trying to get them over the fear of learning this very special and wonderful language,” Pitts said.
Pitts enjoyed the new skill. He laughed and shared how when he and his wife, Elaine, were dating, they’d go to places where there was loud music and he taught her to sign so they could “talk” to each other over the music. They taught their children sign language, and now their grandchildren, and as a natural extension, they shared the sign language class at their church.
Bobbie Bowers who serves as the church’s outreach minister, is among the many church members who took Ron’s classes. She has found some unexpected opportunities to use the skill.
Last year the church set up booths at a community strawberry festival. They offered face painting and shared information about the church.
“I had a deaf lady and her young son who wanted to be painted. It was nice being able to have the basics to communicate with them,” Bowers said.
“You never know when you’ll use it.” Bowers was a nurse years ago and said there are many times that would have come in very handy. She said sign language would be useful for anyone visiting in hospitals, especially for patients who are on ventilators.
Bowers agreed with Pitts, that the classes are opportunities to plant seeds. Two thirds of the students are from the neighborhood.
“You never know what it will produce. You may not see any results right away, it’s about building a relationship with the community, she said.