“Why Was Jeff Deaf?”

Several years ago, Jeff Bracken laid in bed pondering possible answers to that question, which spun from the common saying, “What Would Jesus Do?”

The Lexington junior was born with a bilateral hearing problem and faced many challenges growing up, such as being teased and not being accepted in social groups. Although he tried to fit in through playing sports, attending church and excelling in academics, he was angry and confused about why he was born hard of hearing.

In high school, though, Bracken turned to his faith and found his answer written in the Bible. After reading John 9:1-3 about a man being born blind so that God could be displayed in his life, he said he knew that was the same reason he was born hard of hearing.

“I was changed from then on,” he said. “I knew God was using me through my impairment.”

Bracken turned his life around with this new outlook. He advocated for a Senate bill in Frankfort at age 15, speaking about the benefits of health insurance covering hearing aids. The bill was passed unanimously.

When he got to Western, he took sign language classes so he could communicate fluently with those who have faced the same, or harder, challenges he has. Bracken’s mother, Lyn, said she wasn’t surprised when he took up signing.

“Because he could hear, he never had to rely on sign language,” she said. “But I always felt there would be a time when he would like to communicate with others who are similar to him. He’s found a place that he feels he can make a difference in because of it.”

In August, Bracken began a deaf ministry crusade with Western’s Baptist Campus Ministry. He worked at two deaf Christian camps over the summer and used what he’d learned there to devise an outreach plan for campus. He decided to organize and lead weekly Bible study groups and to have volunteer interpreters sign at the BCM’s weekly worship service to spread his message.

Bracken’s vision quickly became reality, and Lexington junior Bryant Blodgett, Bracken’s longtime friend and roommate, said his crusade has been remarkable since it began.

“It’s a great program,” Blodgett said. “He always has deaf friends over to the apartment, and it’s amazing how he can relate to them. He’s really touching the deaf community in Bowling Green.”

Bracken said he has ministered to seven deaf and hard-of-hearing students on campus so far. He said he hopes to continue to help others discover the fulfillment he’s found through religion.

“I hope people can see Jesus in my actions and in my smile,” he said. “I grew up in a hearing culture but have an understanding of deaf people, and I have the ability to connect the two. All Christians can fellowship together – I want to help point the way.”

Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.