Christian Outreach: Interpretive Signing

As many Christians know, outreach can be intimidating. Some think it is difficult to speak to others about their beliefs without crossing any boundaries. Some believe that's it is just plain impossible. Well, it can be hard to accomplish at times, but it is not impossible, just look at how many people Billy Graham speaks to at one of his events! This guide, as well as the next few parts to follow, is to help you overcome these doubts and set a foundation for your church to reach out to the community.

We all love music in one shape or form. Period. But many of us don't stop and think about what the song's lyrics are trying to teach us. So many songs today are filled with an abundance of wisdom and insight (talking about Christian music that is!), but it's constantly being overlooked. However, an ingenious way of compensating for the lack of attention is to add interpretive signs that flow right along with the music. Let me say, I am not talking about strictly signing every single part of the song like and interpreter would, but it is important to focus on key words and phrases. Before you can start, however, it is best to learn the basics.

One way to begin would be to visit your local library (or any other one for that matter) and check out some books and possibly some videos on American Sign Language (ASL). Start with one that teaches you the basic hand movements as well as finger spelling, which is the method for spelling out proper nouns, and facial expressions. Then gradually work your way up to something a little more conversational. Eventually you can get the hang of everything and begin to focus on translating what you have learned into a performance.

The next step would be to find a song that everyone would feel comfortable with, usually something that is not too fast or too wordy as people can easily get lost in what is happening. Also it may help to stick with popular songs as it may provoke people to think a little more than usual about what is being said. The biggest factor in song selection is choosing a song that has a distinct message that doesn't require extensive knowledge on any certain subject.

Now that you have your song picked out, listen to it a few times and see what phrases stick out more than anything else. These phrases tend to be in the chorus or revolve around the main theme of the song. For example, the song "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe has the title in the lyrics multiple times. So instead of strictly signing the entire phrase use a sign that can signify the key point. Maybe use something resembling imagination, or even a sign that represents Heaven. The possibilities are literally endless and the outcome can be very rewarding for you and your congregation.

On a final note, now that you have your performance in mind, start thinking about how you can make it stand out even more. In a performance I saw a few years back, everyone involved had two arm-length dowel rods that they used to make various symbols such as a cross. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box on this, experiment with anything and everything you have to make this more creative and more involved. Usually the more the crowd is entertained, the better the response!

If you would like more information on ASL or any other matter feel free to visit the sites listed or even send me a message and I will be happy to help in any way I can!