Alexandra Bishop --- Missionary To The Deaf
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“My name is Alexandra Bishop.”
The interview started “I am a missionary to Colombia.” That was the summarized story that initiated the interview, but at its beginning, at least 27 years ago, her calling’s course began to unfold. She was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Hackettstown hospital to be exact. Raised in an Assemblies of God church, in Washington, New Jersey, by saved [Christian] parents.
“My Dad was raised in the church, but my mom was saved a little bit later in life. Mom went to the University of Valley Forge, which was Valley Forge Christian College, in the early 1980s. From there, she graduated. Afterward, she went to work in a runaway shelter in Newark NJ, where she met my father, at the West Hudson Christian Center. |
They married and moved out to northwest New Jersey when my mom was pregnant with my older brother. And, that's kind of where I've grown up when I was a kid. We moved right over the line into Pennsylvania when they bought their first house. I still spent most of my time in New Jersey, because I was homeschooled, and that's where our church was, and all my dad's family.
When I graduated from college, I got my pastoral license through the New Jersey district, for the AOG. I grew up in a solid Christian home. I have two brothers---an older brother named David and a younger brother---Benjamin. Benjamin has a twin named Bethany. I'm five years older than the twins. So I'm kind of right in the middle. We were homeschooled. I did dual enrollment in high school for college. Following, I transferred to the University of Valley Forge where I studied missions, which is how I got involved with the deaf ministry.”
I commented on Alexandra’s broad accomplished for someone so young especially when a lot of 27-year-olds are still trying to find their way. What is missionary into days terms, I asked. We don’t want to assume. When some people think missionaries they think Mother Teresa.
When I graduated from college, I got my pastoral license through the New Jersey district, for the AOG. I grew up in a solid Christian home. I have two brothers---an older brother named David and a younger brother---Benjamin. Benjamin has a twin named Bethany. I'm five years older than the twins. So I'm kind of right in the middle. We were homeschooled. I did dual enrollment in high school for college. Following, I transferred to the University of Valley Forge where I studied missions, which is how I got involved with the deaf ministry.”
I commented on Alexandra’s broad accomplished for someone so young especially when a lot of 27-year-olds are still trying to find their way. What is missionary into days terms, I asked. We don’t want to assume. When some people think missionaries they think Mother Teresa.
What is A 27-Year-Old Missionary in 2019?
“A missionary is somebody who shares the Gospel, she began. A lot of times when we think of missionaries, we think of feeding programs. We think of medical missions. We think of schools. We think of all the ministries that missionaries start in other countries. I don't think that really is the heart. Missions is sharing Christ with people. It's, it's spreading the Gospel. And those ministries that you often see missionaries engage in are the avenues through which they share the gospel. A missionary has to be someone who shares the Gospel with somebody else, who disciples them. Who lives life with them. Personally, as a missionary, I will be going to Colombia. I will be living there. I will be working with a group of deaf, in church planting and discipleship. I will be traveling to different communities and building relationships with the deaf. I will be sharing about God and meeting their needs as the Lord enables me to do so. |
I don't know exactly what that will look like in Colombia. In Nicaragua, it looked like me working with a church plant, but I also taught in a Christian school for the deaf. I taught English and Christian education. Those were kind of the avenues through which God used me, to minister to the Deaf and to be able to share Christ with them.
Missionaries do, all kinds of things. Missionaries go to a country and they look for a way to most effectively share Christ with the people that God has brought them to. Some missionaries will work with feeding programs. Some missionaries will work with medical missions. it's really going there and saying----Okay, God, what is that the greatest need that these people have?’ And then, listening to him. Then trying to bring Christ to them, to meet their needs, and find avenues through which you can be Christ to those people.”
Talking about the different avenues, how did you find yourself ministering to the deaf?
Missionaries do, all kinds of things. Missionaries go to a country and they look for a way to most effectively share Christ with the people that God has brought them to. Some missionaries will work with feeding programs. Some missionaries will work with medical missions. it's really going there and saying----Okay, God, what is that the greatest need that these people have?’ And then, listening to him. Then trying to bring Christ to them, to meet their needs, and find avenues through which you can be Christ to those people.”
Talking about the different avenues, how did you find yourself ministering to the deaf?
On Amazon
Hearing the Deaf
“When I was a kid, my mother's sister married a deaf man. And that was my first introduction to the deaf community. But I never really had a lot of opportunities to learn sign language. So, I never really had any really good communication with him growing up. When I got to college, I met a group of deaf students. I told one of the girls, that was about my age, that I had an uncle who was deaf, and I had always wanted to be able to communicate with him. She said I can teach you some sign language. We started having dinner together a couple of times a week. She started teaching me. As time progressed, she started inviting me to different deaf events and different things.
“When I was a kid, my mother's sister married a deaf man. And that was my first introduction to the deaf community. But I never really had a lot of opportunities to learn sign language. So, I never really had any really good communication with him growing up. When I got to college, I met a group of deaf students. I told one of the girls, that was about my age, that I had an uncle who was deaf, and I had always wanted to be able to communicate with him. She said I can teach you some sign language. We started having dinner together a couple of times a week. She started teaching me. As time progressed, she started inviting me to different deaf events and different things.
" I think that I am called to go where God leads me and to minister to the people that he puts in front of me. No matter who they are."
From there, I just kind of fell into deaf ministry. I just started doing ministry with them. I started traveling, I went to Washington DC with them. Ultimately, probably the biggest trip with them, I went to Peru, which is how I got involved with deaf missions.
Although I was involved in deaf ministry in college, I kind of saw that as something that I was doing just in college, because I knew I wanted to do missions. So, I didn't know that ministry to the deaf was something that you could do as a mission overseas. It had never even occurred to me. So, I went to Peru and that is where I met my first group of Latin American deaf people. It just totally changed my life and my perspective on missions. I hadn't realized what a great need there was for deaf missions. |
I guess I had never really thought about it. I didn't realize that they were one of the largest unreached people groups in Latin America. one of the statistics that was given to me, by the organization that I work with, is that there are approximately 30 million deaf people living in Latin America. It is estimated only 2 percent of them are being a saved. So that makes them a really large unreached people group. There’s just not a lot of people that are ministering to them, because you have to learn several languages.
As a missionary, you expect to have to learn a second language, but not only do you have to learn Spanish, you also have to learn sign language. And something that's unique about working with the deaf is that each country has their own sign language. So, it can be very difficult to overcome those language barriers. This is why I think a lot of times people are not quite as ready to minister to the deaf. It can seem overwhelming to have to learn to overcome so many language barriers, but it is possible.
I had learned something else. Another culture awakening. I had thought there was one universal code for signings I another Western Civ bias. I didn’t know for different languages there was sometimes different symbols.”
As a missionary, you expect to have to learn a second language, but not only do you have to learn Spanish, you also have to learn sign language. And something that's unique about working with the deaf is that each country has their own sign language. So, it can be very difficult to overcome those language barriers. This is why I think a lot of times people are not quite as ready to minister to the deaf. It can seem overwhelming to have to learn to overcome so many language barriers, but it is possible.
I had learned something else. Another culture awakening. I had thought there was one universal code for signings I another Western Civ bias. I didn’t know for different languages there was sometimes different symbols.”
Another Culture Awakening --- Signing In Tongues --- So To Speak
Alexandra explained, “It develops within a country. There are a few countries where there wasn't a sign language and missionaries brought in a sign language. Like in the Dominican or Bolivia, they use American sign language, but most countries have their own. It creates, a lot of language barriers to overcome.” I'm going to segment what you said, everything you shared so far, but put it back together. I know you've talked about being a missionary, engaging different avenues, sharing the gospel, souls being saved, and ministering to the deaf. What your big picture? Does all this encompass you? Are you a missionary that minister to the deaf? What is your calling? |
The Heart of Her Calling
“God called me when I was very young. I was six years old when I felt like God was calling me to missions. I didn't really know what that looked like at the time. I've never had a specific moment where I felt a calling to deaf ministry. I think that I am called to go where God leads me and to minister to the people that he puts in front of me. No matter who they are. I work. I will do any kind of ministry that God brings into my path. It's just like he has specifically, at least at this time in my life, put deaf ministry on my heart. He has gifted me with these opportunities to learn sign language. I see his leading in that. I guess I feel called to follow God wherever he leads me. And right now, I feel, I'm led to do deaf ministry because I see his hand in that. But I think my calling, I guess, is more so, to follow God in obedience. I feel called to be obedient to wherever he brings me and do whatever he puts in front of me.” Kind of attached to that last question. What is your close your eyes, no limitation, vision? Where do you see yourself going? |
Vision Summarized
“My vision is to see the deaf become a reached people. I see them growing churches, all over Latin America. I see them being raised up as leaders and pastors so that they can reach their own communities. I see that they would have their own opportunities to be able to study the Bible. Right now, there aren’t really many opportunities for them to actually study theology, or to become pastors, or to be able to minister to their own people. |
And I think, the ultimate goal of missions is to leave an established church within the people group that you are serving so they have ownership over it. So, if I could see anything, I would love to see the deaf all-over Latin America, all over the world having churches. I see them being able to multiply those churches and to be able to serve within them, to create a strong body of Christ.”
I see them being able to multiply those churches and to be able to serve within them, to create a strong body of Christ.”
Do you think so far that you've been effective in doing this?
Effective Ministry
“I think the last couple of years, I definitely have seen God using me. I would say that the last couple of years have been mostly training for myself. I went and I worked under another missionary couple. I worked alongside them in their deaf church plant and in their deaf school.
Those were obviously not ministries that God established through me, but they were ministries that I was able to be a part. I would say that God definitely used me to reach the deaf there. He definitely has used that time to grow me, to grow my understanding of what it looks like to build a ministry, and what it looks like to start a church. I think that God definitely used that time. I feel like I was effective in doing what it was that God wanted me to do during that time.”
Effective Ministry
“I think the last couple of years, I definitely have seen God using me. I would say that the last couple of years have been mostly training for myself. I went and I worked under another missionary couple. I worked alongside them in their deaf church plant and in their deaf school.
Those were obviously not ministries that God established through me, but they were ministries that I was able to be a part. I would say that God definitely used me to reach the deaf there. He definitely has used that time to grow me, to grow my understanding of what it looks like to build a ministry, and what it looks like to start a church. I think that God definitely used that time. I feel like I was effective in doing what it was that God wanted me to do during that time.”
What has been your most challenging moment?
Challenges---Shopping Carts. Pizza, And Cultural Lens
“The most challenging things to me were probably some of the small things that you wouldn't think about. I mean, I went to school for intercultural studies, so I'd heard all about culture shock. You know, you have to learn another language. You're mentally prepared for that when you go to a new country. The hardest things for me are probably just some little cultural things. At first, they'll bother you just a little, but over time they can be challenging to overcome.
For example, in Nicaragua a country that I served in first, when you go to a grocery store and you stand in line with your shopping carts. In the US, we pass the carts forward. in Nicaragua, after somebody checks out, they pass the carts backward. So, they push and shove and that the cart comes back at you. It seems like such a small thing, but when you're first adjusting to a new culture it can be [challenging].
it's the little things that can cause you to be off kilter for the day. [You think], why did that have to happen? [You think], I don't know. [You think] that's kind of strange. It's almost like, those little cultural things that you weren't expecting to annoy you.
Challenges---Shopping Carts. Pizza, And Cultural Lens
“The most challenging things to me were probably some of the small things that you wouldn't think about. I mean, I went to school for intercultural studies, so I'd heard all about culture shock. You know, you have to learn another language. You're mentally prepared for that when you go to a new country. The hardest things for me are probably just some little cultural things. At first, they'll bother you just a little, but over time they can be challenging to overcome.
For example, in Nicaragua a country that I served in first, when you go to a grocery store and you stand in line with your shopping carts. In the US, we pass the carts forward. in Nicaragua, after somebody checks out, they pass the carts backward. So, they push and shove and that the cart comes back at you. It seems like such a small thing, but when you're first adjusting to a new culture it can be [challenging].
it's the little things that can cause you to be off kilter for the day. [You think], why did that have to happen? [You think], I don't know. [You think] that's kind of strange. It's almost like, those little cultural things that you weren't expecting to annoy you.
There are a lot of cultural expectations that we have without even realizing it. In New Jersey, for example, growing up, most of my friends and I had Pizza Night. You get used to that as a kid. So you think, everybody eats pizza on Friday night. You don't realize that’s a cultural thing. They really only do this in this part of the country. If you go to New England, it's not pizza night on Friday night. It’s fish and chips night or something.
I think that my biggest challenge was overcoming those little tiny cultural things that I didn't expect as opposed to like the bigger things. I knew I would have to learn a new language. I knew it would be hot. I knew that I would have to overcome different things. But I'd say, it's the little thing that you don't expect. It’s the things you have to just surrender to God and say, Okay, God called me here and he will help me to adjust. We see the world through the lens in which we were raised. We all have the cultural lens that we see the world through.” What has been the most rewarding part of your journey? |
I Will Pray --- The Reward of Growth
“The most rewarding thing is seeing God moving in the lives of the students. I worked mostly with students while I was in Nicaragua. So anytime I saw God giving them a breakthrough that was probably the most rewarding thing for me.
One of the things that I remember was trying to teach the kids how to pray. A lot of the deaf there have never had the opportunity to express themselves fully. They live very much internally because most people don't know how to sign. There's not a lot of communication between families. So, teaching them to express themselves in an outward fashion like praying to God could be very challenging. It probably took me six months or so before I was able to get my students to volunteer to pray and to know how to pray. This is without having to copy a prayer that I was praying and they were responding to.
I remember the first day, after asking my students, who was going to close us in prayer after class, a kid in the back jumped up and shot his hand in the air. ‘I will pray,’ he said. Seeing him pray and be able to express himself to God, I think that was one of the most rewarding moments. Just to see that growth from where they were to where God brought them throughout the two years. I was there watching their faith grow.”
“The most rewarding thing is seeing God moving in the lives of the students. I worked mostly with students while I was in Nicaragua. So anytime I saw God giving them a breakthrough that was probably the most rewarding thing for me.
One of the things that I remember was trying to teach the kids how to pray. A lot of the deaf there have never had the opportunity to express themselves fully. They live very much internally because most people don't know how to sign. There's not a lot of communication between families. So, teaching them to express themselves in an outward fashion like praying to God could be very challenging. It probably took me six months or so before I was able to get my students to volunteer to pray and to know how to pray. This is without having to copy a prayer that I was praying and they were responding to.
I remember the first day, after asking my students, who was going to close us in prayer after class, a kid in the back jumped up and shot his hand in the air. ‘I will pray,’ he said. Seeing him pray and be able to express himself to God, I think that was one of the most rewarding moments. Just to see that growth from where they were to where God brought them throughout the two years. I was there watching their faith grow.”
The Greatest Need
“I think that my greatest need is probably prayer. I mean, I also need financial support because we do raise a hundred percent of our budget. We do that mostly through monthly pledges and some cash donations. We have to raise a monthly support budget in order to be able to leave for the field. I'm about halfway there. Prayer is really important. Missionaries need prayer. I don't think I understood how much we need prayer until I became a missionary. There are certain situations that you get yourself into sometimes or that come to you. It's like I just step back and I just see how God works for my |
protection. I see how he will work out so many different things to help me to be able to do ministry. I need God's protection on my life because things are not always calm in other countries, you know.
We've had to experience living through protesting. Most of the time that I've been on the field has been peaceful. There was protesting in the country where I was living. I know that I need God's protection. I know that people were praying for me during that time. Prayer was definitely very instrumental in God's hand there protecting me. I think you need prayer. You need a lot of prayer. But we also need financial support. So I would say those are probably my two greatest needs.”
You're 27. Do you see yourself always in this walk of ministry and connected with this? How about marriage one day?
You're 27. Do you see yourself always in this walk of ministry and connected with this? How about marriage one day?
Beyond 27 ---- Ministry, Marriage, God’s Will
“I see myself being in missions for as long as God continues to lead me in that way. I personally see myself staying in missions for the rest of my life, but I can't predict the future. I don't know what God will do in the future. I do see myself staying in ministry and missions long-term.
I would like to get married. I haven't met anyone who, I think, shares the same calling and that is looking to do missions. I think, if God brought someone into my life, I would love to get married. I would love to have kids. I would love to have a family. If he does not do that, I will continue to obey him. I don't think our obedience to God is conditional upon him meeting our demands.
So I would love to have a family, but all in God's timing. If he opens the door for that…great. if he doesn't, then that's also great. We'll just keep following God because he knows what's best for us. And, he has the best plan for our lives as we follow him. God knows what I need. So, if he thinks that I need to have a husband and a family, then he will bring that to me in his timing.”
In your bio, you talk about the impact of youth programs in your life. There's a program called Missionettes. Do you think that more programs are needed to reach the youth or do you think that the church is doing enough of this right now?
“I see myself being in missions for as long as God continues to lead me in that way. I personally see myself staying in missions for the rest of my life, but I can't predict the future. I don't know what God will do in the future. I do see myself staying in ministry and missions long-term.
I would like to get married. I haven't met anyone who, I think, shares the same calling and that is looking to do missions. I think, if God brought someone into my life, I would love to get married. I would love to have kids. I would love to have a family. If he does not do that, I will continue to obey him. I don't think our obedience to God is conditional upon him meeting our demands.
So I would love to have a family, but all in God's timing. If he opens the door for that…great. if he doesn't, then that's also great. We'll just keep following God because he knows what's best for us. And, he has the best plan for our lives as we follow him. God knows what I need. So, if he thinks that I need to have a husband and a family, then he will bring that to me in his timing.”
In your bio, you talk about the impact of youth programs in your life. There's a program called Missionettes. Do you think that more programs are needed to reach the youth or do you think that the church is doing enough of this right now?
Train Up A Child
“I absolutely think there needs to be more programs and more teaching for kids. We need programs like Sunday school and Missions. Missionettes, I'm pretty sure it no longer exists. It was in the programs that I learned the scripture. We did scripture memorization. We studied the Bible.
It's through those kinds of youth programs, I was able to ask questions about God, have people challenge my faith, and have things explained to me. Its where my faith grew and how my understanding of God was formed. It was formed when I was a child---as I grew and studied the scripture. But I only had those tools because I had really awesome teachers---Sunday school teachers and Children's Church teachers like Miss Janette---teachers that came and poured into my life. And, I think that is vital. I think that's how faith should be formed. It’s a command in the Bible for us to teach our children. So, I definitely think that churches need to really focus on that too because children need to know.
The things that I learned when I was a kid helped me even when I was a teenager. You know, when you get into your teens, most teenagers fight a spiritual battle, whether they realize it or not. They have to make a decision. If they're raised in the church, like I was, they have to decide whether they are or not going to follow God and continue in that. So, they need to be equipped with the tools to be able to do that. They have to have the faith to fight those battles when they come. They learn those things when they were a child?”
“I absolutely think there needs to be more programs and more teaching for kids. We need programs like Sunday school and Missions. Missionettes, I'm pretty sure it no longer exists. It was in the programs that I learned the scripture. We did scripture memorization. We studied the Bible.
It's through those kinds of youth programs, I was able to ask questions about God, have people challenge my faith, and have things explained to me. Its where my faith grew and how my understanding of God was formed. It was formed when I was a child---as I grew and studied the scripture. But I only had those tools because I had really awesome teachers---Sunday school teachers and Children's Church teachers like Miss Janette---teachers that came and poured into my life. And, I think that is vital. I think that's how faith should be formed. It’s a command in the Bible for us to teach our children. So, I definitely think that churches need to really focus on that too because children need to know.
The things that I learned when I was a kid helped me even when I was a teenager. You know, when you get into your teens, most teenagers fight a spiritual battle, whether they realize it or not. They have to make a decision. If they're raised in the church, like I was, they have to decide whether they are or not going to follow God and continue in that. So, they need to be equipped with the tools to be able to do that. They have to have the faith to fight those battles when they come. They learn those things when they were a child?”
Alexandra, from my hearing, was a poster child for Proverbs 22------not only was she still active in the Kingdom of God. She was raising up others as well. Her passionate answer about the faith of youth being developed at a young age was a segway into a more personal expression of her own faith Jesus. Take a deep breath. I posed her for the interview's last question. Aside from the ministry, who is Jesus to you, and in your life as a person.
The Jesus Question “Jesus is my friend. Jesus has always been there for me. Ever since I was little, I felt like God was there. He’s my constant, my constant friend. My constant companion. He’s my health. Whenever I've face battles. I went through some health issues when I was a teenager with my immune system and that was really scary for me. I know that if it wasn't for God and having that relationship with him, having that time of prayer, feeling like he was there and speaking to me, I don't know how I would've gotten through that. |
I would say ultimately God is, Jesus is, is my friend---that's kind of who he is for me. I mean, he's also my Father. God is all-powerful. He is all. He’s omnipotent, omniscient. He's also all loving. His character is good. And so, I would say in my life, God has really been there for me as a Father, but also as a friend. Him just showing his love to me. I honestly have no idea where I would be if it wasn't for God and my relationship with him. You get that through prayer. But if you don't learn to pray, if you don't have someone to teach you, which I think is important. You know, I can't take credit for my own thing.
I know that God has always been there for me, but it's because I have always sought him. Ever since I was a kid, my parents taught me to read the Bible. They taught me to pray. They were involved with me in Christian things. And so, I was able to really grow a deep faith, but that is because of their support. It’s also because God met me as I sought him. So, I can't, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without Jesus.”
We concluded the interview in a discussion of ministry callings, ordinations, titles, and tags. Our resolution, the fruit would bear evidence. As for us, we would call each other family and friends.
I know that God has always been there for me, but it's because I have always sought him. Ever since I was a kid, my parents taught me to read the Bible. They taught me to pray. They were involved with me in Christian things. And so, I was able to really grow a deep faith, but that is because of their support. It’s also because God met me as I sought him. So, I can't, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without Jesus.”
We concluded the interview in a discussion of ministry callings, ordinations, titles, and tags. Our resolution, the fruit would bear evidence. As for us, we would call each other family and friends.
Connect
Pastor Missionary Alexandra Bishop will spend the rest of the year in the States before her new assignment in Colombia. Please join us as we will be praying for her. To support her ministry financially and or to have her as a guest at your church or ministry. You can connect with her at-----
Alexandra.Bishop@AGMD.org
Phone 272. 200. 8356
Account #2962348
www.agmd.org/u/AlexandraBishop
Pastor Missionary Alexandra Bishop will spend the rest of the year in the States before her new assignment in Colombia. Please join us as we will be praying for her. To support her ministry financially and or to have her as a guest at your church or ministry. You can connect with her at-----
Alexandra.Bishop@AGMD.org
Phone 272. 200. 8356
Account #2962348
www.agmd.org/u/AlexandraBishop