Rodney Richard Rynearson

1. 6/1/1935, Omaha, NE USA

 

Spouse/Family

Wife: Rhoda Jean (nee Ryan), b. 9/4/1934, m. 6/22/1958, d. 7/21/1997

Velma (Lubbert, nee Math) b. 10/5/1934, Aitkin, MN, m. 11/19/2000

Children: Timothy John (1959), Stephen Paul (1961), Peter Mark (1965); Stanley

Charles Lubbert (1948), Steven Paul Lubbert (1957), Stuart James Lubbert

(1959)

 

Dates of Service Field Call Assignment

1959-1967 Spokane, WA; MT; ID Parish Pastor, deaf congregations

1967-1975 Rochester, NY Alpha Lutheran Church Chaplain, National Institute for the Deaf

and Rochester Institute of Technology

1974-1987 Detroit, MI Director, Lutheran School for the Deaf

1987-1997 Blind Missions (BFMS) Counselor

1987-2000 Deaf Missions (BFMS) Counselor

 

Biographical Summary

Rodney graduated from seminary in 1959, and the Rodney and Rhoda’s first son, Timothy, was born in the same year.  Rodney was called as a pastor to several deaf congregations all over the northwest.  He traveled in Washington, Montana, and Idaho conducting worship services, preaching, and performing pastoral duties.  Because he could only visit each congregation about ten times a year, he brought together lay leaders from eight towns in Montana to teach them to serve in worship leadership for their congregations.  Rodney did still continue to write sermons each week to be read by lay leaders, which meant that he prepared every sermon two weeks in advance in order to get them in the mail!  His training of lay leaders was effective, and it laid the groundwork for what would later become the Deaf Institute of Theology.  Rhoda maintained the Rynearsons' home and family life and served as support and critic for Rodney in his work.  During these years, the family’s second and third sons, Stephen and Peter, were born.

 

In 1967, after eight years in the northwest, Rodney received a call to Rochester, New York to serve Alpha Lutheran Church, also a deaf congregation, as well as to be chaplain for the National Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology.  Both positions were full-time, and besides spending 80 hours a week working, Rodney also wrote and preached two different sermons each Sunday – the Lord had a lot of work for him to do!  Rhoda worked as a preschool leader from 1969-74 and continued to support and encourage Rodney in his ministry.

 

Rodney’s acceptance of his call in 1974 to serve as director for the Lutheran School for the Deaf in Detroit happened to fall on the 100th anniversary of the school.  As director, he supervised a staff of 100.  Rhoda, meanwhile, served as librarian of the school from 1982-87.  The school had 115 deaf students who came from all over the country and all over the world, since it was a registered school with the Air Force and children of Air Force members hailed from many different nations.  Additionally, one student was from Nigeria.  At the time Rodney was called, the school was a residential boarding school.  Classes were taught beginning with preschool and ending approximately at the age of confirmation, so the students ranged in age from 2 to 14.  Rodney notes that when he arrived, current practice was that students graduated and left the school once they were confirmed.  However, this led to a belief among the younger children that once a person was confirmed, he or she simply disappeared!  Therefore, it was decided that the school should begin the process of confirmation earlier and keep students on for a year after they were confirmed, in order to dispel the idea that confirmation led to mysterious disappearances.  Once students did graduate from the Lutheran School for the Deaf, the skills they had gained allowed them to excel in public high schools.

 

During the time that Rodney served at this school, it underwent many changes.  It became a non-residential school and broadened its scope to become a school for special education, changing its name to Lutheran Special Education Ministries.  Now, students in need of special education are taught at the school, and teachers are also hired and trained to go out and teach in any number of Lutheran parochial schools in need of special education programs.  Through this teacher-training program, Lutheran Special Education Ministries touches as many as 600 students, from New York City to Detroit to Chicago to California.

 

Rodney continued as director of Lutheran School for the Deaf/Lutheran Special Education Ministries until 1987, when he received another call, this time to administrative work with the LCMS.  He served as counselor (director) for Lutheran Blind Missions from 1987-1997 and in the same position with Lutheran Deaf Missions from 1987-2000.  His work for Blind Missions included both national and international components.  Rodney visited Ghana (four times), India (four times), Ethiopia, and China to work with blind ministries in those countries.  He showed the need to organize blind Lutherans to meet for fellowship, noting that “blindness can be a lonely disability” because of the difficulties a person who is blind can have getting around; therefore, intentional opportunities for fellowship are very important.  As part of his leadership role, Rodney also oversaw the Lutheran Library for the Blind, which is the second largest library for the blind in the world and sends books printed in Braille all over the country to blind people who write to request them – about 1000 people use the service.  In addition, volunteers for the library transcribe sixteen magazines into Braille, including Portals of Prayer and the LWML Quarterly.  Rodney has been involved in transcribing and placing Braille Bibles through his advisory membership on the board of the Lutheran Braille Workers and has traveled internationally to place Braille Bibles where they are needed.

 

Rodney’s concurrent position with Lutheran Deaf Missions gave him the opportunity to continue his ministry to the deaf on a wider scale.  He assisted the districts of LCMS to assess and improve their deaf ministries and facilitated communication between the synod and its districts in these matters; traveled to other countries to advise those doing deaf ministry; upon request of a district president, would act as a de facto district president for the deaf churches in that district; and visited nearly every deaf parish in North America to better acquaint himself with each and every Lutheran congregation serving the deaf and better assist them in their ministries.  Moreover, he served as pastoral advisor as well as representative from BMS with the Lutheran Deaf Association; its ministries included leadership training, projects to assist those who are deaf worldwide, and fellowship gatherings for the deaf.  Sadly, Rodney’s wife Rhoda died of complications from cancer in 1997.

 

One of the most lasting accomplishments that came out of Rodney’s ministry was the formation of the Deaf Institute of Theology.  From the beginning of his ministry, it seemed to him that there was no reason deaf people could not take leadership of their own congregations.  However, problems arise when a deaf person attends an already-established seminary to study for ordination.  Besides possible communication issues, which can be solved, there is the problem that in going to seminary, the person who is being trained is taken out of his deaf culture, and when he returns he may not be able to relate to a deaf congregation as easily as before.  The DIT allows those who are deaf and want to be ordained to study from their own homes using distance-learning materials.  The course of study remains theologically and dogmatically sound, and both men and women can study, with men earning a certificate of ministry and becoming ordained while women can train to become deaconesses using slightly different materials.  This program allows deaf people to be trained for leadership while remaining at their homes and within their culture, so they can effectively serve as ministers when their training is complete.

 

Shortly before Rodney’s retirement from his position with the Board for Mission Services, he became reacquainted with Velma Lubbert, whom he had met briefly during a trip to India.  When Velma began working with the Board for Mission Services in 1999, the two began seeing each other; they were married in November 2000.  In the same year, Rodney retired from his position with BFMS, but his contributions did not end there; he became more heavily involved in deaf ministry overseas, visiting India, Ghana, and Ethiopia to work with government and church organizations that work with the deaf.  Rodney has also consulted with schools that serve the deaf in India; Hong Kong; China; and Brazil.  The Hong Kong School is the largest Lutheran school for the deaf in the world with 600 students, and amazingly, this school is supported in its work by the government of the People’s Republic of China.  Besides this, Rodney has traveled to and made connections in London and Sri Lanka.  He served as an advisor for LCMS deaf ministries from 2002-2006 and continues as an advisor for blind ministries, as well as continuing to transcribe Portals of Prayer into Braille.  In 2008 Rodney also served as vacancy pastor for a (hearing) church of 1000 members – his first experience as pastor of a non-deaf church – until a new pastor was called in August 2008.

 

New and exciting things continue to happen in LCMS deaf and blind ministries, many of which Rodney has a hand in.  Two ministers from abroad have graduated from LCMS seminaries in the U.S. and have undertaken deaf ministry in their home countries: an Australian who graduated from Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, and a Norwegian who graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.  Both remain in contact with Rodney.  The Deaf Institute of Theology is moving towards using newly-developed video phones for communication.  And Rodney began in March 2008 working to create a Deaf Missions Society, which will oversee deaf ministries in the U.S. and internationally, do leadership training for the deaf, and help districts of the LCMS do planning and evaluation as well as fundraising for their deaf ministries.  God continues to bless the LCMS, its ministries with those who are blind and deaf, and blind and deaf people who are training or serving as church leaders through the Spirit-led work of Rev. Rynearson.

 

Nota Bene

 

Ed.D in Philosophy of Education from Wayne State University in Detroit (12/12/1985).  Dissertation topic is The Significance of John Rawl's Moral Theory for the Mainstreaming of Hearing Impaired Students (5/15/1985).

 

The Cristus Primus award from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI (5/7/1988)

The Ephphatha Award given by the Lutheran School Special Ministries for innovative delivery of services for Special Ecudation Students in Congregational Schools (2000)

 

Missionary Veteran honoree at the 2007 LCMS Synod Convention

 

Phase 2 Information

Biggest missiological issue faced?

As is true for all mission work, blind and deaf ministry, whether domestic or foreign, must find ways to train and equip “indigenous” leadership.  Rodney found in his ministry with deaf people that “missionaries are in the business of helping deaf people know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and helping deaf people serve Jesus in their daily lives.”  Though there is a place for social ministry and physical care for those who are deaf or blind, the role of missionaries is primarily that of spiritual care: spreading the Gospel and equipping those to whom they minister to serve Jesus and share the Good News.  For true spiritual leadership in a community, indigenous leaders are essential.

 

A current issue facing blind ministries in particular is that of creating worship services that can really speak to those who are blind.  Although blind people can attempt to fit into a non-blind congregation, without materials printed in Braille they will not be able to participate fully in worshipping God.  Blind people need to be trained to lead services for the blind.  Rodney notes that the LCMS has had blind pastors (although many were not blind at birth but lost their sight later in life), but it is difficult for a blind person to be trained at seminary.  Therefore, a task that remains for blind ministries is to develop a theological training program similar to that of the Deaf Institute of Theology, through which a blind person can train for ordination from a distance using materials and learning styles that are appropriate for his culture and abilities.

 

Most significant contribution during missionary service?

Many of Rodney’s services and contributions continue to make possible the work of LCMS missions with the blind and deaf.  Besides his contributions mentioned above, he has helped create materials that blind and deaf communities can use presently and into the future.  He has transcribed hymnals as well as the Lutheran Service Book into Braille and has used computer programs to put into Braille the whole Bible quickly and accurately.  The Lutheran Deaf Mission Society will help organize and promote deaf ministries across the LCMS.  Finally, Rodney has undertaken translation work from one language to another, translating the Bible into Twi, an indigenous language in Ghana.

 

Connection to today’s mission?

Many of Rodney’s services and contributions continue to make possible the work of LCMS missions with the blind and deaf.  Besides his contributions mentioned above, he has helped create materials that blind and deaf communities can use presently and into the future.  He has transcribed hymnals as well as the Lutheran service book into Braille and has used computer programs to put into Braille the whole Bible quickly and accurately.  The Lutheran Deaf Mission Society will help organize and promote deaf ministries across the LCMS.  Finally, Rodney has undertaken translation work from one language to another, translating the Bible into Twi, an indigenous language in Ghana.

 

Lessons Learned

During his ministry, Rodney “learned what he already believed”; that is, he learned that deaf and blind people have no limitations except those that are placed on them by others.  He notes that he continues to use the word “handicapped” to describe those who are deaf and blind because of what the word “handicap” means in horse racing – the best horses have their saddles weighted to slow them down and make the race more interesting.  Those who are handicapped by God by their lack of sight or hearing may very well be the best, who need to be slowed down in order to make the playing field even.  “There is no reason not to go as far as possible” to have deaf and blind people do everything that hearing and seeing people do.  The training and ordination of deaf people through the Deaf Institute of Theology demonstrates that any limitations the deaf have exist only in the human imagination, not in God’s.

 

Best Practices

Missionaries should operate always out of respect for those they serve, and not out of prior assumptions about what is or is not possible.  Best work occurs when missionaries understand that all people are children of God and ask how Jesus can come into the lives of all they serve.

 

Phase 3 Information

Inspiration for entering foreign missions?

Always the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.  Rodney became interested in working with the deaf early on, because he had an aunt who was deaf.  She did not know sign language but communicated well through lip-reading; nevertheless, she influenced his desire to learn sign language.  Besides this initial inspiration, Rodney had an interest in drama from an early age and found sign language to be a way of expressing himself dramatically.  He also enjoys and is proficient in languages, having learned to read 18 or 19 languages, and sign language was a new language to learn.  In all of this, Rodney credits the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for sparking his interest and motivating him to learn the skills he would need to assist deaf and blind people to receive and spread the Gospel and take on leadership roles in the church.

 

Quotation by/about or brief story:

• While serving in Rochester, Rodney periodically had to drive 115 miles to Rome, New York to visit a deaf school.  In the same area there was an institution for the mentally retarded, and when he visited the institution he found there were 60 or so deaf people there, so he asked the supervisors of the institution if he could teach the deaf people there.  Receiving permission, he set up times to speak with the group about Jesus.  Initially, the task of sharing the Gospel and asking those with whom he spoke to listen was a difficult one.  After five years of work, however, when he was called to a new assignment, the deaf people with whom he’d had these conversations said goodbye by telling him about their experiences and relationship with Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit had touched their lives through their conversations.

 

• Rodney recalls an experience he had while traveling between several churches in Montana.  On the ninth day of a trip through Montana in winter, he landed in Missoula with a head cold in air of -41 degrees Fahrenheit.  Because of the extreme cold, he took a cab to the church, but along the way he noticed an elderly lady moving slowly (though probably as fast as she could go) along the snow-covered sidewalk.  Arriving at church, he turned the heat on, and he waited and waited alone in the building.  Finally, the same older lady came in the door for the church service, and the two of them had an informal service of conversation about the Gospel of Christ.  When it was time to leave, the woman reminded Rodney that he had forgotten the offering!  He admitted that he didn’t have an offering, and she took out money and gave it to him.  “Why did you not take a cab to church since you had the money to do so?”  She replied that the money was not hers, but the Lord’s.

 

• “Deaf culture is full of storytellers.  A deaf person can put on a one-act play that would amaze you, based on a deep understanding of a Bible story.  Often we think it’s necessary for a pastor to read the Gospel out loud in church, but in a deaf church that’s a silly thing to do, because a deaf person using sign language can turn the Gospel into the best story ever.”

 

• One winter’s day in Jamestown, NY, no one showed up at church services because of a blizzard.  Rodney decided he’d go instead to visit a deaf parishioner who lived nearby.  However, when he arrived, although she came to the door to speak with him, she refused to let him in, saying that she had started her prayers and didn’t want to stop until they were done.  “May I sit in the car until you’re finished and come in to talk with you then?” She again refused, saying that prayer would take her three hours!  Rodney asked what she prayed for, and she said, oh, a lot of different people.  “Could I look at your list of who you pray for?”  The parishioner agreed and brought out a small pocket notebook whose pages were filled with name after name after name, including Rodney’s own.  The spiritual strength and faith of this woman gave Rodney further insight into the fact that everyone has the capacity to serve God in incredible ways, whatever their abilities.

 

• When Rodney visited Ghana for the first time, its communist government had just lost power.  Rodney visited with one high-placed government official and asked what could be done to help.  The official responded that some of his employees had gone blind due to an illness caused by the bites of the black fly, and they needed to learn to read Braille.  Therefore, when Rodney came back to the States, he enlisted the help of his colleague David Andrus to develop a curriculum for teaching people who had become blind as adults to read Braille.  Their curriculum, based on the Gospel of St. John, was adopted by government of Ghana, giving those who had gone blind a chance both to learn Braille and to learn the Gospel.

 

• Rodney quotes Exodus 4:11: “The Lord said to [Moses], ‘Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?”  Also John 9:3, in which, when asked whether the man born blind or his parents had sinned to cause his blindness: “ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’”  These two passages colored all his ministry.