During the Civil War a Union soldier from Ohio was shot in the arm. His captain saw he was wounded and shouted, "Gimme your gun, Private, and get to the rear!"

The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after gong only about two or three hundred yards, he came upon another fire-fight. So he ran to the east, and found himself in another part of the battle. Then he ran west, but encountered more fighting there. Finally, he ran back to the front lines shouting, "Gimme back my rifle back, Capt'n. We're in this fight to the end...there ain’t no rear to this battle nowhere!"

I recently visited an inner-city church in North Philly with my boys. The pastor's sermon was taken from Isaiah 52:2, 3  Pastor Smith pointed out the fact that many people in attendance that morning were, perhaps, in wrong relationships out of convenience, or in wrong relationships out of need; but in every wrong relationship, the vulnerable one was being "sold for nothing!" women were giving up their bodies, or being used out of marriage, for a place to live, or some extra money.  Men were connected to women to fulfill desires that were meant to be satisfied in marriage alone.  A woman in that meeting had returned that morning because she received a healing from prayer for her feet when she came to the church for a loaf of bread.  

Hearing the sermon and the testimonies that morning reminded me that there are people all around us, perhaps near us, and maybe it is "us," who are fighting for their lives every day.  Whether it is because of decisions they've made in the past, or because of circumstances, or economics,  they're in desperate daily need, both physical and spiritual.  They're hungry in body and starving in their spirit.  They are living the reality that we are in a spiritual fight for our lives.  There is no safe place from the enemy of our soul.  There is no "front line" and no "rear line," it's just all a battle.  

Those of us who have been in the habit of 'taking it easy;" those of us who have been on R & R (rest and recuperation) in our spiritual lives, have found it easier to stay in the back and ignore the realities and horrors and hardship of battle.  But thank God that there are some who are still fighting it every day, in the trenches, ...no retreat, no running to find the rear, no laying down.   ... But they're in it to the end, "fighting the good fight of faith," and with the help of the Holy Spirit ....pushing the enemy back!

Isaiah 52:10,  "The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God."

The Philly Deaf Annual Christmas Dinner is Here

Place:   Philly Deaf South, 3301 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19145 Time:   5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Date:   Saturday,  December 5th, 2009

To Bring:  A salad, side dish, or dessert to share.  Drinks/Meat provided by Philly Deaf



    It's the only Philly Deaf event during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday

  We believe in family, and God supports the family unit.  The Bible is clear about that. So, Philly Deaf leadership has planned to give families more time during the important and meaningful holiday season.  The season in which we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.  The way we've planned the give more time to families, is by not planning any church events during the busy holiday season, and by planning a single holiday dinner together at the beginning of December instead of at the busiest time when families traditionally get together.  So, enjoy your time together; enjoy the family; enjoy celebrating the real reason for the season; enjoy celebrating the Christ child.  

Philly Deaf South, 3301 South 20th Street,  Philadelphia, Pa 19145
Video Phone: 215-600-1976 | Website: www.phillydeaf.com | Email: office@phillydeaf.com

 2009 Impact Prayer begins with the encouragement of the Word of God...  "PRAY!  I will answer!" the Lord says.

With approximately 17 people in attendance, almost every NF Deaf region is represented by attendees.  From Minnesota, to Oklahoma; from Oregon to Maryland.  All have come for one purpose; to touch the heart of God for Deaf people and Deaf ministry leaders in America!

One of the attendees of the 2009 "Philly" National Impact Prayer meeting, Emory Dively, made a comment that..."we often refer to Impact Prayer by it's initials "I. P."  When you think about it, that's right, because when, in the tech world you refer to an "ip address," you're often referring to a web, email, or vp contact address; it's the address someone else uses to contact you. " 

Heaven's IP Address:     Pra.yer.24.777

Impact prayer, 2009, was just that...contacting heaven on behalf of ourselves, God's people, God's church, and lost Deaf souls.

  The final morning of the 2009 Impact Prayer gathering in Philly was capped-off by sharing our "Dreams" for NF.  What can God do through us if we'll let Him; If we'll cooperate; if we'll know His will and direction; if we'll Just Do Something too big for us and perfect for Him to handle?


We spent the morning in worship led by Marva Petrus, and an extended, spontaneous prayer afterwards before we began throwing out ideas of what God might do in our local ministries, and in NF, through us. 


Next year's location was discussed but not decided on.  Locations on the West Coast, South, and Midwest were discussed.  The East coast wasn't offered since the IP was hosted on the East this year.  The location will be posted at the Impact Prayer link by February of 2010.  A concerted effort will be made, also, to invite and get a commitment from more of our pastors to join and share together in this most important event.

Philly Deaf Care Leaders: Pastor David, Grace Bishop, Antoine Robinson, and Trina Herzog are spending this weekend of Nov 6-8 in NJ at a retreat location to spend time devotions, discussions, and dreaming.  It's our annual PD Care Leader's Retreat where we non only look at the calendar in order to coordinate plans for next year's events at Philly Deaf, but we look at ourselves, look at the ministry and ask God where He wants us to be; where He wants us to go.  


So, please pray for your Philly Deaf ministry leaders that we will understand the will of God and have heaven's wisdom to make great plans for our 2010 Philly Deaf Ministries.


Thank you,


Pastor David
Philly Deaf
Care Pastor