UWS History

In the summer of 2000, God laid it on Sister Etta Ween “Lisa” Eady’s heart to bring the Deaf Ministry   the Lord entrusted into her hands at New Birth- Miami to Atlanta to visit the Deaf Ministry at New Birth-Lithonia.

 New Mercies Christian Church-Lilburn, GA was added to the Fellowship in 2003 under the direction of Deacon Franklin Eaves after moving his membership. It was during the same year that Sister Rosa Shelton (now Rosa Patterson)’s church, Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church -Columbus, GA, was also added to the Fellowship. It was also in July 2003 while in Miami that the Lord allowed another church to join the Fellowship.  

We were so excited to have New Hope Missionary Baptist Church- Hollywood, FL under the direction of Deaconess Jamie Brown to join the Fellowship.

Since the Lord was adding churches to the Fellowship, the leaders decided there needed to be a name for this annual gathering. In October 2003 it was decided the best way to select a name befitting the Fellowship was to poll each respective church Deaf Ministry members and select the name that best represents what the Fellowship is all about.

Two names were presented from each ministry. During a conference call on October 14, 2003 it was decided that “UNITED WE SIGN,” (U.W.S.) presented by Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church best represented who we are and what we do.

To that end, we have had workshops by such greats as Mark Mitchum, Rev Paul Ellis, the late Samuel Franklin and others.  In 2007, Community Christian Church- Tamarac, FL was added to the U.W.S. Fellowship after Lisa Eady moved her membership. We also have had great picnics and fellowships with a cruise to the Bahamas in 2008 where we were able to add two other churches, Restoration Praise Center, Lanham, Maryland with Sister Barbara Laws and Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church- Washington, DC with the late Samuel Franklin.

In July 2009 the Georgia Team decided to join in tandem with Deaf Nation World Expo to celebrate our U.W.S. 2010 Fellowship in Las Vegas Nevada. This was done in order to take advantage of the four (4) year International event hosted by Deaf Nation.  We had an experience of a life-time in Las Vegas. The prayer of Jabez was made manifest as we were able to meet Deaf people from literally around the world and make life-long relationships.  We were able to learn new signs used by native signers from their home countries such as Jordon, Egypt, China, Philippines, Panama, Mongolia, France, Thailand and so many more.  There were several Christian Ministries represented there whereby we were able to fellowship with and exchange information (not to mention the wonderful Las Vegas shows and dining that was made available to us).

Also in 2010 U.W.S. leaders convened and welcomed Church Without Walls-Tampa, FL under the direction of Tanesh Smith to the U.W.S. Fellowship.