Deaf Table Talk with Dr. Toby #1

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Introduction: 

Welcome to the Deaf Table Talk with Dr. Toby. I signed Table Talk (signing). How did I come up with “Table Talk with Dr. Toby”? I have been thinking about “Table Talk” since I subscribed to the magazine called “TableTalk.” For example, (I will show you the magazine “TableTalk”). That is a fantastic magazine with much information about theology, devotionals, and many different things. It is excellent! I subscribed to it and read it for years until some time ago, I stopped, but I found the TableTalk online, and I keep reading it. I really enjoy it because it is a meat of content to thought in the spiritual. TableTalk has many different topics, themes, and issues to discuss. The magazine has a theme each month to discuss. 

I thought about using TableTalk with deaf people. I thought I should create the Deaf Talk Talk with Dr. Toby. You know, deaf people tend to chat and discuss many things, such as joking, storytelling, serious discussion, church, the Bible, doctrine, etc., while they are at the table. So, I thought about “Deaf Table Talk with Dr. Toby,” and I thought I would start vlogging from now on. 

I want to tell you about my experience in a doctorate program over the past five years. For five years, I always thought I would use a doctorate for my job in the world, help me write a book, and develop skills in research. I thought about it until I started thinking about God. He guided me to accomplish the doctorate program and gave me the degree. Why did I mention a world job and not the Lord? I feel like I put a doctorate as the priority for the world and not God. However, the more I thought about it, the more I thought about how God gave me the degree. I decided to use it for Him by researching deaf churches, deaf pastors, and anything for deaf people to learn about the Bible, church, pastor, what the Bible teaches, etc. 

After graduating with my doctorate, I studied and researched deaf churches. I talked with different deaf people from the churches, such as discussing the deaf ministry, deaf church, and interpreter services. It makes me more passionate to study and share with you, deaf people. I want deaf people to understand the truth from the Bible from the deaf person’s view (deaf culture and language). I will also work with hearing people to get them to work with us. 

My plan for this project is to have different themes to discuss. Whatever the theme, we will learn and discuss it. Then the following video, we will discuss a different theme. It can be one to five themes in a video. It depends on the time in the video. My goal is to make a video of up to 30 minutes, but I will try to make it up to 15 minutes. It is familiar to some people who like to sit and listen to the host talk or discuss the theme, such as Jay Leno or other shows. They tend to host the show for an hour. However, my video will summarize a theme from the Christian perspective. 

How long will I make this video? About 15 minutes. I will edit the video and transcript for hearing people understand my video. I don’t know if I will add a closed caption/subtitle, but I will make a transcript under this video for hearing to read it. I want hearing people to know about us and help them understand how to minister to deaf people, such as how to set up a deaf church, a deaf ministry, or an interpreter service for the deaf. I want to work with them because many deaf people want to go to church when there is no deaf church or deaf pastor in their home area. They would like to go to the church and ask them to set up an interpreter service. My purpose is to make videos to help hearing people know how to provide for deaf people’s needs when they want to attend church. 

When I work on researching, I will collect information from deaf people or anyone by asking them questions or surveys. Once I collect the data information, I will share it with you all. The questions and survey will be based on deaf churches, deaf ministries, and interpreter services for deaf people to get the information. Unfortunately, we don’t have many resources for the deaf church. So I decided to develop resources for everyone to learn about deaf ministries. It will help you to get the information and be able to share it with hearing people. 

This vlog will have many different topics. Some topics can be short, and others can be longer. It depends on the theme and research I am working on the topic. I will collect people’s questions to research and study to provide answers. 

I want to see more deaf churches be established for God’s glory. I want to lift God’s glory through the churches. 

Theme: Deaf Pastors

Right now, I have two themes. I am not planning to expand the explanation on each theme, but I will raise it in the next vlog. 

I want to discuss the theme of Deaf Pastors. First, I wish to summarize this topic. Before I start discussing, I want to explain this theme. I am not here to talk negatively against other people, shooting talk against the person, such as “He is a lousy pastor,” and on and on. No. I am not here to discuss if the pastor is not good at preaching. However, I am here to discuss the perspective of the Bible. (Point at the Bible). It is what this Bible said. When we face a situation, the Bible helps us how to solve it. The essential is we need to look at God’s words. 

The reason I want to discuss Deaf Pastors is that there was a recent incident with a pastor who fell to sin, which the Deaf Daily Moth announced about the deaf pastor in public. I also noticed some non-Christians discussed it, such as they said Christians allowed pastors to be free and walk away from jail. It seems like there is nothing has happened. They believe the court should punish pastors by going to jail for committing the crime. What shall we do about it?

I want to show you a verse in Romans 13:1. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” This is why Paul wrote the letter to people and told them that they must obey the government’s law. 

The verse is helping the questions that you are wondering. If the pastor breaks the law, he is required to face the law, such as in court, and the judge will give him a sentence. Yes, we do forgive anyone who sins against us. If we forgive, we should let it go. No. It is wrong. We cannot exempt their crime due to forgiveness. If I sin against anyone, I would ask them for their forgiveness, but I still have to face the law because I broke the law. It is the consequence I have to face it. Sometimes court would exempt them if they were repented and were forgiven. Or they wouldn’t exempt it. It depends on the case/situation. 

The situation is that pastors who molest underage children must face the law becasue it is severely against it. So, therefore, he must face the court and accept the punishment. 

We, as Christians, are required to report anyone who committed the crime because we want to protect the children. Also, we watch the pastor from falling into severe sins because we don’t want him to sin against God and break more laws. We must report it. Any pastor who violates the law must face the court to be punished. 

I will expand more discussion on deaf pastors, such as their appearance, qualification, etc. But first, we must report on pastors who do not comply with the law. 

Theme: Deaf Churches

Another theme is Deaf Churches. I want to make it briefly. I will discuss more on deaf churches more later when I find more information from the research. As of now, I have a heavy burden and concerns about Deaf people. (See the slide). There are only 2% of deaf people know Jesus Christ. 2%! Wow! There are some sources on the internet by the Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Missions, and DOOR, the mission group.  They shared the information that it is only 2% of deaf people know Jesus Christ! That means what? 98% of deaf people do not know the Lord Jesus Christ! Or have no relationship with Him! 98%! Only 2% of us know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ! Wow! That is why I am very burdened! 

I have been thinking about it and plan to discuss and explain what the churches can do. I want to encourage you all to do this for 98% of deaf people. Let me know, and I will show you.

Pray for them and encourage or invite them to the church. Pray for the gospel to be preached to them. We need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. We also explain to the churches that we need to have deaf people in their churches because they need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is essential to share with them.

I have found research on why deaf people don’t go to churches. Keep praying. This is the closed vlog. I will discuss the deaf churches in the next vlog. 

God bless you! I love you!

Happy New Year 2022!

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Happy New Year to you all! We have some positive and negative experiences in 2021. However, 2021 taught us something to become stronger. Let us strive to do well in 2022! I will plan to make some more videos. I finally have time for my blog since I was in the doctoral program last five years. I will share with you my journey in the doctoral program later.

Take care!

Toby

Welch’s ASL Juice: Tabletalk #1

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[Transcript]

January 20, 2021

Hello everyone!

Welcome to Welch’s ASL Juice! I created the name in 2007. Why did I name it? Welch is my last name. You know Welch’s Juice that has grape and fruit juice, and candies, etc. I thought it is cool to name Welch’s ASL Juice. Why? My last name is Welch. ASL is our first language, and all vlogs are ASL. The juice is our favorite taste of the ASL as language and deaf culture. So, I created the name to promote the information about deaf topics and different topics in ASL.

I mentioned that I would start my v/blog this month. My goal is to post a few vlogs each month. But right now, I am a doctoral student. Sometimes, I am extremely busy with my dissertation. Right now, I am processing to complete the proposal on chapters 1-3. I will soon start data collection. It means I will interview deaf students for my dissertation. I will explain more after I completed the program.

My v/blog has lasted for 14 years. It is up and down, but I keep my site alive because I will back to vlog. I have not been vlogging for a long time because I face life-changing and busy with the doctoral program.

BTW, see my shirt. It is from my work. J means Juanita High School. Rebels were our mascot, but now they changed to Ravens due to racism issues. Recently, we voted for Ravens as our new mascot. I don’t mean I support Baltimore Ravens if you love to watch NFL Football. Haha!

I learned so many things last 14 years that I want to share with you all.

My v/blog will be various about Christianity, deaf issues, healthy, health, and more. I have many ideas about what I will do with my vlog. If I am not busy the day, I will create a vlog. Sometimes, I may vlog every day for a week, three times a week, or whatever. It depends on my schedule.

Today is the United States of America. President Biden is our new president. We pray for him, leadership, congressmen/women, and government leaders. We thank Trump and other leaders for leading our last four years. I know Trump isn’t good with his words. I am not going to debate here about him because he is no longer president. However, importantly, but not least, we pray for our new president and leaders.

I hope you are doing well. Stay well, healthy, and safe.

So long!

/ twelch07 / Leave a comment

(Transcript for hearing people)

Hello, everyone!

Recently Alexander Graham Bell (AGB) spread their message and applaud about Nyle DiMarco in their article. Nyle is involving the Dance with the Stars, won the top role model (ANTM), involving LEAD-K to advocate the Deaf children use the ASL. He is very active in the Deaf communities as activism. He is very supportive of the Deaf community and the American Sign Language (ASL) as a true language. I have seen many vlogs and blogs about Nyle. I support Nyle because what he has done for the Deaf communities.


The Article of AGB stated they applauded Nyle, but at the same time, they encouraged not to use ASL because it will cause the Deaf children’s language and intelligence decline. They believe the listening and speaking are the best tools to use the language than ASL. It’s called LSL, Listening and Speaking Language. When I read and see the info about it, I want to discuss in my vlog from the biblical perspective and share what God would say about this situation. I want to give a few things to share that it displayed the AGB is “evil.”


In Exodus 4 talked about Moses met God through the fire in the bush where God is. He called the Moses’ name, and he went to the Lord. The Lord wanted Moses to lead the Jews, God’s people who were slavery to Pharoh in Egypt, to leave out of Egypt. God used Moses to lead the people. In Exodus 4, Moses told the Lord that he is not skilled in speaking before the Pharoh. The Lord asked him, “who made Deaf? Who made blind? Who made all things? I am the Lord, who made Deaf and all things.” The verse is clearly stating that God made you, me and others a Deaf person. Another word, we should accept what the Lord has created.


In Leviticus 19:14 stated we should not curse the Deaf people, not cause blind people to stumble because we must fear the Lord for He is God! Fear doesn’t mean we scare, but to show honor with the Lord reverence attitude. Exodus 4 and Leviticus 19:14 revealed that God created everything included Deaf people.


In Romans 9, (maybe not the chapter 9, another chapter, I don’t remember), talked about the clay and the potter. We are the clay, and the Lord is the potter. For example, if we wanted to make a bowl from the clay, then we are the potter. We decided what we want to make come out of the clay. It is the same idea what God is doing to us. We are the clay, and He is the Potter. He created us, all manlike such as hearing and Deaf people, according to His will. I see how beautiful the creature (cripple, mental challenge, Deaf, hearing, etc.) is beautiful. Some people do not think it is beautiful. The three verses I gave you showed us that God created us all included Deaf people.


AGB acted like God made a mistake for created the deaf people. How? AGB has to force Deaf people to change a different person, language, and culture. They don’t think Deaf people are normal people. When we born, it is what we are according to God’s will to create us. It means we should leave as we are rather than change to the opposite. We should leave it the language, culture, person, etc. alone. We should not change the person to opposition from what he/she is doing since birth.


AGB is an arrogance by declaring ASL caused us decline in intelligence while they applauded Nyle. It is ironic. In the book of James stated that if AGB is arrogance, (by not willing to work with Deaf people or anyone; focus only on the member of the board to make any decision without some people’s influence, and goal is to wipe out all Deaf people), then The Lord resist AGB. They think they know everything and are better than everyone else. It is Audism. Therefore, the Lord detests what AGB is doing. Unfortunately, AGB is present in America, and we have to face them. One reason why they are present is to cause us to become stronger and fight against their conduct. The world will see us how strong we are. We are not the only people fighting it. There are other Deaf people in other countries are fighting as well.


The Bible reveals clear what AGB is doing wrong and “evil.” I support the Deaf communities and Nyle!

So Long!