WHY DEAF CHURCH??
Austin, Texas is a fast-growing city with the big Texas School for the Deaf, good job opportunities and social services, and big problems! We hear that nearly 100,000 Deaf/deaf and hard-of-hearing persons (that use ASL as their first language) live in the Austin metro area! Every week, we hear about more and more Deaf persons moving here! A very small percentage of these people have really made a commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what many Christian churches have a great burden for -- to continually share the gospel with a lost and dying Deaf world! Deaf Ministries are truly "pioneer ministries" as we seek Jesus for ways to improve and reach out!
Rev. Debbie Stiles was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was only 9 years old. In her strong Christian family, she is the oldest of 3 daughters. Debbie accepted the Lord at age 5, but really came to understand more about salvation at age 8. After a supernatural call of God to His ministry in 1976, she went to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Debbie was blessed to be taught by excellent teachers and immersed with many wonderful Deaf Christians. Debbie graduated from Central Bible College in 1981 - with a major in Bible and a minor in Deaf ministries. She then returned to Arizona.
As a single woman pastor (never married), God has used her for the past 40+ years in various Deaf Ministries. She has pastored two different Deaf Church groups in Arizona, led annual short-term mission teams to northern Mexico, was the district (state) director of Deaf Ministries for 16 years in Arizona, has spoken at several workshops and retreats, and just loves Deaf people! In 1998, Debbie was ordained under the Assemblies of God. In 2006, God said she would move out of Arizona, and He began leading her toward Texas! So with a big step of faith in the summer of 2007, Debbie moved to Austin and felt strongly that God wanted her to plant a Deaf Church - such a great need in this town to come and partner alongside other Deaf ministries...
Since moving to Austin, Texas = Debbie has worked as a professional interpreter and minister. After more than 3 years of building up the ministry through the support and prayers of the interpreted ministry at the Church of Glad Tidings (now called "GT Austin"), then God began to strongly show that it was time to start a new Spirit-Filled Deaf Church in Austin!
Many miracles happened, and in November 2010 were the initial steps toward the start of "Austin Spirit of Life Deaf Church" (ASLDC). We strongly follow the Bible, and welcome all people to come and learn what God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can do in our lives daily! For accountability, this church is affiliated with the National Assemblies of God, the Assembly of God Deaf National Multi-Cultural Fellowship (NF), and the AG North Texas District Council.
We want to thank our three former church locations, Heights Assembly of God, Journey Church, and El Buen Pastor Assembly, for allowing us to rent part of their buildings. Each Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM, we are now meeting at the Southwest Family Fellowship Youth Hall, 8203 State Hwy 71, Austin, TX 78735. We are believing God's promise that as we become stronger as a core group of Deaf Christians, God will lead us to even greater things! Come join us as we worship together, fellowship, and learn how to better walk in the power of the Spirit of God!
