Services begin for deaf, Hispanic

Local News

July 27, 2007

By Ronica Shannon The Richmond Register Fri Jul 27, 2007, 10:08 PM EDT

Building Richmond’s new Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses was not easy, thanks to Mother Nature, but it is now complete and expanding services to accommodate the Hispanic and deaf communities.

“One weekend a storm came and it blew the trusses off,” said Brad Bates of Lexington’s Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We had to redo it, but it worked out well.”

The building was built in three weekends of the fall of last year, finished in October, all by volunteer labor all around Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. We had to redo it, but everything worked out well.”

The new building, located at 661 Hampton Way, is home of three services: one in English, one in Spanish and one for the deaf.

“It’s working out well in this area,” Bates said.

Both services for the Hispanic and the deaf have a congregation of about 60 people. English services draw in about 120 people, he said.

Elder Mike Gellar oversees the English services, the Spanish services are directed by Elders Bates, James Miller and Jose Benitez and Elder Larry Goss directs the sign language services.

“We have people come from as far away as Louisville,” he said. “The next closest sign-language group of Jehovah’s Witnesses is in Ohio.

However, most of the Hispanic congregation was gathered from going door to door, Bates said.

“As Jehovah’s Witnesses, a large part of our ministry is going out and actually talking with people about the Bible,” he said. “The challenge is finding out where they live. Another way to find them is to ask English-speaking people if they know of anyone who speaks Spanish.”

The Hispanics who attend the services appreciate the fact that the entire service is done in Spanish, rather than it being translated into Spanish following the English version, Bates said.

Miller and his wife had been attending the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Danville until they heard about the Spanish services being conducted in Richmond.

The two recently returned from living in South America and were excited to get a chance to attend the Spanish services, Miller said.

“We enjoy getting to speak to the Spanish people,” he said. “It’s interesting to find that some of the ones who come from Latin America, they seem to have more of a curiosity about the Bible and are wanting to learn more about it. Sometimes, it’s even easier to talk to them about it (opposed to those of an English-speaking culture). It seems that most people who come from Latin American countries are more open to talk about the Bible.”

All services combine the adults and children, and no monetary collection is taken, Bates said.

The English-speaking congregation meets Sunday at 10 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Spanish-speaking service is Sunday at 2 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The deaf congregation meets Saturday at 2 p.m.

Call 624-3008 for more information.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.

Text Only

Local News

Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.

About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.

February 6, 2012
Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
The trial for a Berea couple accused of human trafficking involving their daughters has been delayed.

Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.

February 6, 2012
Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)

A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.

February 6, 2012
Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.”

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org.

February 6, 2012 2 Photos
Occupational therapy dept. at EKU offers program for adults with memory loss
For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus.

February 6, 2012
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200.

February 6, 2012
Tea party setting sights on state legislature
Nearly a dozen tea party candidates, including one of Kentucky's most recognizable fiscal conservatives, have set their sights on state legislative seats up for election this year.
Louisville businessman Phil Moffett, who finished second in the GOP's three-way gubernatorial primary last year, delivered candidacy papers last week to run for a House seat, hoping to bolster the tea party's foothold in the state Capitol.
Such a move has been slower in coming to Kentucky than other states.

February 6, 2012
Trial date set in murder case
The attorney for a Berea man accused of murder has had his client evaluated by an “expert” witness, he said Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
A report of the evaluation of Mitchell Ray Turner, 34, has been shared with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, attorney Brian Barker said during a pretrial conference in the case.
“The commonwealth would like more information before they decide if they want to do their own evaluation,” Barker told Judge Jean Chenault Logue.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
State financial actions putting strain on MEPCO
State government’s efforts to cut its spending and shift more of its financial burden to local governments, school boards and public agencies is beginning to take its toll on MEPCO, the home health organization run by the Madison County Board of Health.
Last week, MEPCO, which serves residents of Madison, Estill and Powell counties, reported a $455,500 deficit at the midpoint of its fiscal year.
The deficit was recorded even after MEPCO has cut expenses by about $383,000.

February 6, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Services begin for deaf, Hispanic

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Site Map