Graduation for Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School on May 7 was especially meaningful for Bruce Persons, who became the first deaf person to earn a master of divinity degree from Beeson in the school’s 27-year history.
Persons, who has been deaf since early childhood, graduated not only with a diploma and the Bible that Beeson graduates traditionally receive, but with the deep respect of Beeson faculty, staff and students.
Prior to commencement Persons received the school’s Distinguished Student Award in recognition of outstanding and holistic achievement in scholarship, Christian spirituality and ministry involvement.
He was chosen by unanimous vote of the faculty, said Beeson officials, because of “how well he encompasses all that we hope to see in our graduating students. His deafness has not hindered [his] pursuit of excellence in the slightest.”
Persons, who hails from Maryland, served as Beeson’s 2014–15 student body president. Although his immediate career plans are fluid, he knows his calling.
“I am called by God to preach the gospel and minister to the deaf and hard of hearing community — the fourth largest unreached people group in the world. Only 2 to 4 percent of this population know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior,” said Persons, who hopes to minister in a church with a deaf congregation or train and equip ministers of the deaf “to make disciples of all nations.”
He pursued his Beeson studies with the assistance of a devoted group of interpreters for the deaf. He said together they found some classes — such as Greek, Hebrew and history and doctrine — more difficult than others because of the often unfamiliar theological and linguistic terminologies.
“It was always challenging for me to find ways to bridge communication gaps between me and my hearing peers and professors, but I was always able to find ways to overcome our communication barriers through written and electronic means,” Persons said.
“Deaf people already have the tools they need to communicate with other people who do not know sign language, and they really appreciate it when hearing people are willing to use the tools they have to communicate with us,” he noted. The tools he refers to include paper and pen, email, texts and communication via other devices.
Persons identified one word, patience, as the key to overcoming barriers and situations that could have been problematic.
“People respond to this trait very well and you will get more accomplished when you are patient toward others at all times. When someone is patient, he or she is more inclined to demonstrate kindness toward other people and treat others in a more favorable manner,” he said.
“Patience will help you accomplish more not only in your ministry, but also in life.”
Persons lost his hearing at a young age from meningitis. Growing up in a hearing household, he attended a deaf school that advocates a bilingual education utilizing American Sign Language and the English language.
Later he was often the only deaf student in hearing colleges. Because he lived in both hearing and deaf worlds, Persons said he is comfortable living and interacting with people in both cultures.
God’s calling
He was 15 when God “lovingly got ahold of me,” Persons writes on his website: www.brucepersons.com. Called to full-time Christian ministry during his senior year in high school, he has served deaf people in various functions and roles ever since. He preached his first sermon at age 19.
Persons attended a community college before earning a bachelor’s degree in management from Hood College in Frederick, Md. He enrolled at Beeson after working for almost two years as an employment specialist at Maryland School for the Deaf.
(Samford)
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