Texas Baptist Conference of the Deaf    June 10-12, 2011     Conference Pastor, Jim Walterhouse McAllen Baptist Temple Church Songleader, Julianna Gomez San Antonio

Jim was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1956. He had a normal childhood until an event occurred that would affect his life forever.  When he was 5 years old he became severely hearing-impaired due to a high fever. He continued his education in public schools relying upon lip-reading and copying notes from other students.

Upon graduation from high school, he continued his education in a community college where he experienced an event that would change his life for eternity--he was confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although he prayed to accept Christ at that time, it was not until he was a student in Bible College (Tennessee Temple University) that he truly came to know Christ as his personal Savior.

While he was at Bible College, two more things happened that would change Jim’s life.  He discovered the deaf world, and he married his sweet wife Deborah. Jim became immersed in learning Sign Language and Deaf culture. Debbie was born deaf so that made his transition much easier.

After graduation from the college, Jim and Deborah moved to Florida where they started deaf ministries in hearing churches and trained church interpreters. Then another life-changing experience occurred when the Lord called them to go to Mexico to start a church for the deaf. In 1999 they moved to Mexico and planted ‘Iglesia Bautista El Faro Para Sordos’ (Lighthouse Baptist Church for the Deaf) in Tampico, Mexico. They also trained hearing Bible College students there in Mexican Sign Language. In December of 2007, the church was organized under a national pastor and Jim and Debbie began to seek God’s will for the next step in their lives.

In February of 2008, Jim was called to Baptist Temple of McAllen, Texas to be the pastor to the deaf. Jim and Debbie have a great desire for the deaf of the Rio Grande Valley to know Jesus and to grow in grace as His disciples.

Julianne Gomez Conference Song Leader     Julianne was born deaf in East Los Angeles, California.  At age 10 1/2 she moved to San Antonio, Texas.  She attended Sam Houston High School where she was involved in the deaf choir, performing many songs during the Christmas program.  There she met her husband, Robert.  They have three children. In 1986 She and her family started attending Town East Baptist Church where she and Robert first sang in ASL accompaning a singer.  She and her family have been going to Woodland Deaf Camp in Woodland, Texas every summer for five years where she uses her talent for singing.  She also taught her children and other deaf and hearingt o sing in sign language during their church services.