At all New Wine summer conferences, the BSL interpretation team, led by Signs of God, interpret for deaf delegates at the main venues during the main morning and evening sessions, as well as for a selection of daytime seminars. 

In 2007, for the first time, we also ran a signed seminar stream for the deaf during the Central and South West week in Shepton Mallet. These sessions were led by Raymond Abernethy, a BBC Northern Ireland news signer and part-time pastor.

Here’s some feedback from the deaf people who attended in 2007:

"I was astounded at how fantastic it was. Raymond adapted his sermon very well by using drama to illustrate exactly what he was preaching. This has even more impact on me as deaf person, to see and understand from Raymond’s very expressive signs and gestures to show how Moses felt when he was on Mount Sinai."

"Even now, many weeks later, I recall exactly what was signed. This to me is what preaching should be all about: for the congregation to go home and recall easily what we learnt and to act on it."

"It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. God spoke to me so clearly that week and opened my eyes even more to what I am alive for, having been blind for so long. We need more of this.”

So by popular demand, this seminar stream will be back in 2008, though we’ll need a bigger venue! It will be during the CSW week, 3-9 August. 

These sessions are also available to ‘hearing’ delegates, since they are presented as signed seminars, but with a speaking interpreter.