ABOUT US

We're glad you stopped by the Touching The Nations, Inc. website. Established in 2003, we are a 501(c)(3) IRS approved non-profit organization that works to help bridge the communication gap between the Deaf Community and the hearing population with emphasis on the church-at-large. We do this by speaking at churches (locally and nationally), teaching sign language classes, holding conferences and workshops all over the country, and providing individual one-on-one classes to those individuals who prefer a more personal setting. We also endeavor to be of service to the D/deaf community; helping to meet the needs of various individuals in this group.

Valerie D. Johnson, President, is an ordained minister and State Certified Interpreter (Michigan). She holds B.A. degrees in Business Management and Sign Language Studies, as well as a Master's in Ministry. In 2003, she resigned from Ford Motor Company to establish Touching The Nations, Inc. (formerly Touching The Nations Deaf Ministries, Inc.). Since that time, she has done workshops or conferences in a variety of states such as, Tennessee, Texas, Maryland, and her home state of Michigan.  Her goal is two-fold.  First, to educate the church world about the plight of the Deaf Community in hopes that they will open their doors and their heart to these precious souls.  Her second goal, teaching others American Sign Language in order to close the huge gap that exists between the Deaf and Hearing worlds, is being realized all the time as more and more people want to learn the beautiful language of signs.  From September 2003 to December 2003, Valerie traveled to Baltimore meeting various individuals (Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing [HOH], and Hearing) to solicit their help with a large youth convention that would be held there in December 2003. Twelve to fourteen interpreters volunteered to assist her at the convention. It was a time of enlightenment and education for the convention goers as they not only watched and enjoyed the Deaf and Hearing Choir, but learned various signs in the process. It was also a time of unity among the group of volunteers; this was truly a highlight for TTNI!  The Lord later (2009) led Valerie to teach a nine-week Beginning ASL Course at Restoring Life International Church (Drs. Kenneth & June Robinson, Pastors), home church of Gospel Artist, Tye Tribett.

One of our goals is to see sign language interpreters on the videos of Gospel Artists.  We have done this either by contacting the artists themselves or their managements.  In September 2009, we took a team of interpreters to interpret for Tye Tribett, Marvin Sapp, Crystal Aikin and Kirk Franklin at Cedar Point for Joyfest.  It was a wonderful experience!  In January 2011, TTNI raised funds to cover expenses for a group of 17 individuals, which included 10, extremely excited, Deaf people from various states and a team of interpreters, to attend the 2011 Stellar Awards show which was held in Nashville, Tennessee.  Our future goal (2012) is to provide programming (television, streaming, etc.) that displays the beautiful gifts that are present in the Deaf Community that often gets ignored. We are trusting and believing God to open the door for the world to know that Deaf people, too, are preachers, teachers, evangelists, professionals, and business owners, just to name a few gifts/occupations.

We will soon be traveling to Tampa, Florida to speak to the Gospel Announcers Guild members at this year's (2011) Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) annual Convention. We endeavor to also serve the d/Deaf Community by assisting them with their needs (e.g. advocacy, needing interpreters, needing resources for hearing aids and other pertinent needs).