Touching The Nations, Inc.
Our vision is to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ accessible, in American Sign Language (ASL), to every Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individual and other cultures all over the World.
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Valerie D. Johnson How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (interpreter)?”
In 1986, Valerie planned to have her class of Sunday School students (teenagers) sing the song “Rise Again” for that year’s Easter Program. The day before the program, the Lord woke her up and said, “Why don’t you do the song in sign language?” Knowing literally no sign language, Val called to one of the Christian bookstores to see if they had any books on sign language. Although there were no books, the clerk told her that he knew sign language. That was all she needed! Val went to the store where, in-between customers, the clerk taught her “Rise Again” in sign language. The next day at church, she taught it to the class; they signed the song in sign language that afternoon for the Easter Program. The rest is history. This was truly a divine call from God. Later, she was introduced to American Sign Language and the Deaf Community.
She taught sign language for more than 15 years and American Sign Language (ASL) for the last three years. She has taught in the North (as far as Midland, Michigan); the South (as far as Orlando, Florida), the East (as far as Baltimore, Maryland) and the Midwest (Texas) and a number of other places. She wants to see the whole world sign!
Valerie is an ordained minister and currently leader of the Deaf Ministry at POWER Centre Church International (PCCI) where Apostle Rita J. Johnson is Senior Pastor. PCCI is located in the city of Belleville, Michigan.
Minister Val has B.A. degrees in Business Management and Sign Language Studies, and a Masters in Ministry. In addition, she returned to school in 2003 to prepare for a Michigan State Quality Assurance test (State certification). She became a state certified interpreter in 2003. That same year, the Lord prompted her to quit her job at Ford Motor Company (after 15 years of service) and establish a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization called Touching the Nations Deaf Ministries, Inc. (now Touching the Nations, Inc.). The organization was approved by the IRS in September 2003. When she quit her job, she distinctly heard the voice of the Lord tell her to “go to the churches”. She currently works to teach American Sign Language (ASL) to churches and ministries in hopes that a passion and desire will be ignited to reach out to the Deaf Community. She also interprets or hires other interpreters for various church and ministry events, including concerts, when called upon.
The main focus of her organization is to bridge the communication gap that exists between the Deaf Community and the Hearing World with emphasis on the church-at-large. Se loves to teach and educate others (especially churches) about ASL and share with them about the plight of those in the Deaf Community often using the members of the Community to assist in classes, etc.
For most of the 18 years that she has been signing (three years of which she has been interpreting), she has taught hundreds of individuals in various parts of the United States (Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, etc.) to learn this beautiful language.
In the Fall of 2006 she was also a featured guest on the television program “Lexi” which airs to over 75 million on the Word Network. She signed all her responses to Lexi’s questions.
In January of this year, 2007, she assimilated a team of interpreters to minister at the live recording of Gospel Artist, Marvin Sapp. The recording, which is now out in stores, was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her team of interpreters can be seen from time to time on Marvin Sapp’s video on such programs as Video Gospel which airs on BET television station. Unfortunately, they are not shown enough for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing population to fully enjoy the music. She is endeavoring to make it possible for ASL interpreters to be seen on the DVDs or videotapes of Gospel and Christian artists alike.
God has given her a passion for working with and a love for the Deaf and HOH (Hard-of-Hearing). Over the years she has either developed friendships or acquainted herself with more than 40 Deaf or HOH individuals. God has given her such a passion that she seems to actually feel their pain, especially when they are hurt by the church. One such example of hurt caused by the church is the case of a young man (Deaf) who told her that he asked his Pastor to get an interpreter for him so he could understand the service. The Pastor responded that there are not enough of “you” (meaning the Deaf) to get an interpreter. He went on to say to Val that Jesus would have died for one person, why couldn’t they get an interpreter for one person! Another interpreter was near hysterics as she conveyed to Val and a couple other church interpreters how her pastor had told her that he liked it when she taught music to the children and the adults. But…..he did not want “those people” (the Deaf) here. The stories are too numerous to put here. However, this is exactly the reason—when Val quit her job at Ford Motor Company—why God commissioned her to reach out to our churches. Society already neglects the Deaf and HOH, they shouldn’t feel this same neglect and mistreatment by those that name the Name of Christ!
She is also on a mission to try to get Gospel and Christian music artists to start showing ASL interpreters on their television programs and DVD’s television ministries. This will also enable members of the community to go into Christian bookstores, Target, Wal-Mart and the like to purchase music and/or even preaching DVD’s …..they would then be able to “see” the Gospel preached, and “see” the music being sung.
Valerie’s motto’s are “The harvest truly is plentiful and the laborers are few!” and “If I can help somebody as I pass this way, then my living will not be in vain.”
Valerie knows that she has been divinely called by God to be the “voice” for the Deaf in helping bridge the communication gap between the Deaf World and the hearing world with emphasis on the church.
She has a true passion and heart for reaching out and working with the Deaf Community as well as to educate the church body-at-large to the plight of the Deaf population.
Valerie has also been inspired and impressed to reach out to other cultures. She is currently enrolled in Spanish Class at Washtenaw Community College and hungers to connect with the Hispanic Community as soon as possible.
Valerie and her husband, Arthur, of 27 years reside in Belleville, Michigan and are the proud parents of three adult children: Jonathan, Jeremy and Jennifer, who often work with her in ministry—either signing, videotaping or other aspects.
