Sunday 5 July 1998

My prayer to attend Mission didn't fall on deaf ears

Colette Wallingford
The Ottawa Citizen

I decided to go to the Corel Centre to see Billy Graham for the first time. I arrived two hours early, thinking I had lots of time to find a seat.

As I approached the centre, I saw buses and thousands of cars. I was shocked and wondered if I would even have space to park. Everything was so well organized. Parking attendants were abundant.

There were hundreds of chairs outside but I walked by them all and proceeded to the doors. I was politely stopped and informed that the centre was packed.

I explained that I was hearing-impaired and I relied on lip-reading, sign language and a special shortwave system to bring the speaker's voice to my hearing aids. They refused to place my tiny microphone on the podium. Twice they confirmed that the deaf section was full.

I sadly turned away thinking that God had not heard my prayer earlier as I parked my car. I had asked to know what Billy Graham was preaching. I just wanted to hear about God. Tears filled my eyes as I walked toward the many aisles of chairs by then almost all filled.

Who am I to expect God to find me a seat among 20,000 people, I thought. This meeting was too big and too special for God to have time to hear my request.

After all, there were more than 20,000 people who were also eager to see and hear Billy Graham. These people too all yearned and craved for God.

I sat between two ladies facing the huge screen outside.

I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thought that it would just be wonderful to feel the joy of the many hundreds of people around me, even though I would not be able to hear anything.

I thought to myself that I would just try to observe the screen and the people to try and figure out what God was all about there.

After about 25 minutes the lady on my right asked me if I knew sign language. I nodded yes. The lady on my left bounced up and went to a counsellor.

That counsellor came back 10 minutes later and signalled me to follow him.

We wiggled between hundreds of people and finally arrived at the door. They let me inside. I found the deaf section and a kind counsellor directed me to a seat.

I was deeply touched. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to compose myself. I was seated directly in front of a small screen, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired.

I could read every word that was spoken and I could even read the songs that were sung.

My prayer had been answered.

Colette Wallingford

Orleans