Mission Focus | The Deaf
Missionaries | Mason and Bonnie Fenner
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MISSIONARIES
Mason and Bonnie Fenner were both born deaf.
Mr. Fenner was the pastor of a small Deaf church in Georgia before moving to Ohio as a church planter.
Mr. Fenner likes sports and graphic design. He also likes doing woodwork.
Mrs. Fenner likes watching movies, reading books, making quilts, and doing other crafts.
Mr. Fenner would love to get a special bus that could be used to transport the Deaf who use wheelchairs.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray that God will provide the resources needed by Cleveland’s Deaf community.
Pray that God will help Oakwood Deaf Community Church grow.
Pray that God will send more workers to Oakwood Deaf Community Church.
Pray that God will provide helpers as Oakwood Deaf Community Church members turn a boat shop into a church building.
Pray that church members will share Jesus with those who do not know Him.
MISSIONS AREA: The Deaf
Ever since Mason Fenner, who was born deaf, became a follower of Christ, he has wanted to find ways to tell people in the Deaf community about Jesus. He says that the Deaf community is a people group that has been largely unreached with the Gospel.
Oakwood Deaf Community Church was started by Mason and Bonnie Fenner in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Fenner says that Oakwood Deaf Community Church is not a local church—it is a community church because they are sharing Jesus and meeting needs throughout Cleveland’s Deaf community. Ministering to the Deaf community in Cleveland has its challenges. The Deaf in western Cleveland went to a special school for the Deaf and have known American Sign Language (ASL) all their lives. The Deaf in eastern Cleveland were taught to speak and read lips and have only learned ASL as adults.