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Profile Information
- Occupation:
- Pastor, Teacher, Coach
- Company:
- NewHope Community Church
- Company Website:
- http://www.discovernewhope.org
- Personal Website:
- http://www.facebook.com/timstidham
- LinkedIn Profile:
- http://www.linkedin.com/in/timstidham
- Twitter: What are you doing?
- http://www.twitter.com/timstidham
- Email Address:
- matriximages@mac.com
- Phone:
- 219-765-4148
- What Are Your Passions in Life?
- Inspiring people to live great lives and casting vision for organizations that change the world!
I also love my family and friends and really, really like my Mac! I love to laugh as hard as I can as often as I can. I love to be creative through media. I enjoy leading complex projects and developing teams.
- Favorite Charities / Not-for-Profit Organizations:
- NewHope Community Church, Dyer, IN
www.discovernewhope.org
Salvation Army
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
blood-water mission
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First re serving those with hearing loss anywhere, but specifically churches, is finding those who care about this, too. Doing something alone is asking for trouble. Going with a coalition - remember, it's harder to break a rope that has more than one strand, the power in numbers thing?
So, do some research. Look around at how many people have hearing aids. Note their name and make something like an Excel spreadsheet with this info.
Next, do a postcard-sized invitation to a meeting. Subject: "Are we meeting your needs? Can we help you more?" Agenda: Info gathering. Intro idea of captioning. Any interest? Ask for volunteers to 1) write a letter to the pastor or decision-making people (board, deacons, trustees?) 2) would they be willing to pay to purchase or 3) would they be willing to do fundraising to purchase initial equipment needs and ongoing costs? if so, then 4) fundraising ideas. Dinners/breakfasts work well. 5) Ask if anyone has TV engineering/IT skills. You might have to go outside this group for that. 6) Find out captioning need(-s). Is it only for main services? What about weddings, funerals, small groups? 7) Would your church want to do a TV ministry, then? 8) Would your church want to stream the service to the net with captions? 9) Is there any way your church/pastor could market the transcripts of the sermons? Maybe turning them into books for sale? (This could be a possible way you could fund this? 10) Will this be a "ministry" of your church or would your church just want to hire contractors to do this? It's similar to hiring a tradesman to do plumbing/electrical work at your church who is on the church's payroll or just hiring plumbers when you need them. 11) Who would be the person "in charge" of coordinating this? 12) His/her backup? 13) You should have a "team" of people if you do it in-house. Get suggestions on names/volunteers. 14) Ask if anyone has contacts at TV stations or local cable networks. (and not the "my grandson installs cable in people's homes" kind of referrals. You need VP of operations kind or engineers at a TV station. Local or distance doesn't matter. They can help you find people and be an advisor.)
If you handle this right, you will: 1) Re-energize your elderly population (those who typically have hearing loss) because you will make them feel special/thought of/considered/remembered. 2) You will give them a "cause" to work for/be involved in. 3) You may get some pretty good referrals of important people "in the know" who can either help financially or otherwise. 4) You could possibly turn those referrals into church members! 4) Finding younger techie folks in your congregation and asking them to take part in this may energize them (give them a cause) and could revitalize them, too. 5) You could totally change your church from a "back woods" to a "high tech". Beware of this. Long-time members may not like the change. Proceed slowly and cautiously. Good communication is required to show that this is being done to HELP current members, NOT to change the church. Someone like me who knows about the needs of people with hearing loss (or disabilities in general) can come in and discuss why this is important to do.
I could talk about all the technicalities (the "HOW") later when you've garnered your beginning coalition or done your prelim research.
Example. I started with our Deaf ministry. They are excited about this. Tremendously so. But they are not those with the "power" at our church, the decisionmakers. SO, I had to find folks who are. Guess what the Lord did for me? He allowed the head of our Deacon Board to suddenly lose his hearing! Sad, but it has energized our church because he has not been able to attend like he had been due to his loss (and dizziness!). So now almost everyone is "on the same page" and are working to help him out. I also before this happened went to folks with hearing aids and asked if they heard the services well or if captions would help. Those that said it would help, I asked them to write the pastor and deacon board about instituting captioning.
But the biggest lesson of all is have patience. Don't allow this to embitter or anger you. If it doesn't work NOW, it's not the Lord's timing. Don't give up. Just continue to build concensus and support. And pray, pray, pray.
Can I answer any further questions? Did I say too much? Did I even ANSWER your question(-s)? :)
I am available if your church wants a demo. I only do one free. After that, I cannot promise. I am also available for any questions/advice/help.
Thanks for caring about people with hearing loss. We will all probably join their ranks one day!
Kathy Cortopassi
If I can ever be of service, please contact me. James