The Crim is an annual race/fundraising event in Flint that supports the health of children and families. This year there is a Deaf section of the greater Flint area Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents who will either walk or run in the Crim. Represented among these aspiring athletes and health enthusiasts are members of the Healthy You Me (HYM) group that meets every Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flint. HYM is a partnership between St. Paul and the Communication Access Center, an advocacy agency that supports the Flint Deaf community with interpreters and related services. Healthy You Me recognizes that God has made Deaf people both physical and spiritual creatures who need to be cared for spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Deaf people join weekly meetings consisting of dinner and a presentation by Rev. Thomas Dunseth followed by discussion. The weekly presentations are interactive PowerPoint lectures based on one of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps, with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism as a foundation. Sometimes there are presentations about nutrition and exercise.
Participation in the Crim is an opportunity to train and care for the body physically, while at the same time caring for others besides ourselves. The Deaf Crim athletes meet weekly at different parks in Genesee County to train for the Crim event coming up on August 26.
Healthy You Me is a faith-based outreach program to a marginalized community that has no access to such services in its own language. HYM is the first of its kind in Michigan. It has come into existence with the Lord’s blessing and is currently looking at opening a second location for Deaf people in northern Genesee County.
To learn more about Healthy You Me, contact Rev. Dunseth.
Did you know that the Michigan District has other Deaf Ministry resources available on its website? To access them, click here.
Photos courtesy of Rev. Thomas Dunseth
