Hey everyone! A few weeks back, for our Multicultural Worship Leaders Training Event at Bridgeway Community Church in Maryland, I worked on an ASL interpretation of this song, “Jesus at the Center” by Israel Houghton. I love the song, love the passion, but some of the words were hard to figure out what they really meant. (In order to interpret something, you first have to dig deeply into the meaning…) So, I asked several of the worship leaders who were singing the song, “What does it mean for you when you sing ‘From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the center.’?” I took their ideas and amplified that section of the song. You will notice that I don’t sign the same thing every time that phrase repeats. In ASL it is common to expand a thought, to sign it a few different ways to get at the meaning from a few different angles, so to speak.
I had the opportunity to sign this song on Sunday morning of that weekend at Bridgeway’s regular Sunday services. Their middle service is interpreted for the Deaf. I have several friends who are part of that ministry. So, before that service, I found the interpreter and asked if I could interpret that specific song for the Deaf when it came time. She graciously agreed. So, when it was time for that song, I left my place on the praise team, stepped over to where the ASL interpreter usually stands and got to lead that section of beloved people of God in worship. It was such a joy and an honor. Afterwards, one of my friends said to me, “You did not just interpret that song, you led us in worship today!”Ā For me, that was the best thing she could have said…that was what my heart desired that morning. Such a joy.
If you have questions about any of the signs, or thoughts, or ideas about how I could make this interpretation better, feel free to post below! I would love to hear from you!
2 thoughts on “Multilingual Worship Song: Jesus at the Center”
Great job, Josh! Your skill has really improved since I last saw you. I saw so many features of ASL naturally incorporated. Your signs are crisp, accurate, and smooth. I can tell you’ve been practicing! š
I love that you get into the music — so many people (myself included) don’t use the body to show the music but it’s so much more expressive to do so and provides such a better worship experience for the Deaf the same as the crescendos do for us hearies.
One thought I had that might be more in keeping with Proskuneo is to sign LANGUAGES for “every tongue.”
Thanks for sharing! It opens possibilities for my own interpreting when I watch others.
Dianne, thanks so much for the encouragement. I have been practicing. You are right. And I am really enjoying the interpreting music especially. I can really get into it… š I like that idea of “every language” for “tongue”- I will try that next time I get the chance to sign this one! I ALWAYS appreciate your input and insight.