Liberty hosts Virginia’s first Deaf Field Day

Liberty University hosted its inaugural Deaf Field Day on Friday, welcoming nearly 100 middle school and high school students from Virginia and neighboring states for a day of games, food, speakers, and special sessions about attending Liberty. 

The event was highlighted by the appearance of well-known deaf actor and artist Warren Snipe, who goes by the stage name WaWa. Snipe made history by signing the national anthem and all of the halftime music for the last two Super Bowls. His lively performances have gone viral. 

Snipe delivered a motivational message about his own calling to use his talents for God’s glory. An interpreter spoke his message verbally through a microphone. 

“I just wanted to use the skills that I’ve been given,” he said. “God’s given me these skills…should I use them or do nothing with them? I want to share with others so I chose to share (my skills) with others because God’s given me these skills. And that worked up to where I am now.” 

Many students lined up to meet him after his talk. 

The field day was coordinated through Liberty’s Division for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity and was created to promote the university’s deaf culture for both deaf and hard of hearing students. Many students from Liberty’s ASL courses were involved in the day’s events. 

“As Christians we want to be inclusive and involve everybody,” said Shon Muldrow, Executive Vice President of Inclusion Diversity & Equity. “This is the first event of its kind in Virginia, and we’re glad that Liberty University could host it. We want this community to know that Liberty is committed to creating an environment that affords them every opportunity that any other student might find here. This was our founder’s vision; he wanted to include all people.” 

Junior theology and apologetics student Josh Adams volunteered at the event.  He commented about the event.  “I love just seeing them actually get to be the focus of (the day),” he said about the visiting students. He said reaching the deaf and hard of hearing is a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. “Liberty really is about that. They want people to know about Christ, and they do that in every way they can.” 

Sophomore graphic design student Grace Forsberg, who is hard of hearing, was excited to see so many ASL interpreters at the event. While many of the interpreters were Liberty ASL professors, some came from around the area. 

“For many in the ASL community, there’s a communication barrier…I have a hard time communicating with other people, and so it is encouraging to see interpreters out here encouraging Liberty students to learn ASL,” she said. 

The day’s theme of engaging with the disabled community was also carried out in Friday morning’s Convocation, which field day guests had the opportunity to attend before they were provided lunch and participated in games on the academic lawn. The main speaker was Dan Hall, a quadriplegic pastor who currently lives in Mississippi, encouraged the Liberty student body to minister to others like him who often feel “invalid” and “invisible.” 

“I couldn’t look at 9,000 young people who love Jesus and want their life to matter and not speak to you about this, challenge you to see us (the disabled community),” Hall said. “It’s a tough community to reach, but that’s what makes us worth it. We are the largest unreached people group in the country, representing 25 percent of the population here in America. Today this is my mission, to present (myself) to you and invite you to a world of ministry.” 

Deaf Field Day stemmed from a resolution passed by Liberty’s Board of Trustees in 2018 to foster a diverse and inclusive educational environment that reflects the body of Christ.  

Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity plans to make Deaf Field Day an annual event.