Hayden Daum: A Deaf Man’s Perspective on Jesus That Will Challenge Your Faith | JPP Episode 72

Summary

Jesus People Podcast — Episode 72

Guest: Hayden Daum | Host: Ryan Miller

Title: Hayden Daum: A Deaf Man’s Perspective on Jesus That Will Challenge Your Faith
Date: May 5, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the extraordinary faith journey of Hayden Daum—a deaf Christian content creator and missionary—whose testimony and insights challenge both hearing and deaf communities to reevaluate their perspectives on identity, inclusion, and calling within the body of Christ. Host Ryan Miller and Hayden discuss the often overlooked realities faced by the deaf community, the spiritual and social barriers they encounter, and practical steps for the church to engage and support deaf individuals. Hayden’s story reveals deep struggles with identity, profound moments of spiritual encounter, and a message of hope rooted in Christ.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Deaf Community: Most Unreached People Group

• Hayden highlights that the deaf community, with over 75 million people worldwide, is "the second most unreached people group on the planet" ([00:05], [01:04]).
  • Only 2% of deaf people have been reached with the gospel ([00:00], [33:41]).
  • There is an acute lack of Christian resources and teachers for this group ([00:00], [33:41]).

“If you literally went to a pastor and you said, hey, the second most unreached people group on the planet are walking amongst you right now, they would go crazy.”
— Ryan Miller ([00:05])

Hayden’s Calling and Burden of Stewardship

• Hayden reflects on the weight and responsibility of reaching the deaf community, describing it as a "beautiful burden" ([02:03], [38:43]).
• Social media has amplified his reach, but also increased his sense of accountability.
• Struggles with discerning God’s direction and ensuring obedience while stewarding an influential platform ([02:09]).

"It's a burden because...there's just so many people who are not being reached about Jesus Christ. The deaf community especially."
— Hayden Daum ([01:27])

Unique Culture & Challenges of the Deaf Community

• Deaf culture is distinct, tightly knit, and deeply empathetic among its members ([06:57]).
• There is a broad spectrum of deafness—cochlear implants, hard of hearing, mixed hearing families—with varying communication needs and cultural ties ([07:30]).
• Life barriers are constant: from missing safety announcements in public to lack of access in churches and events ([08:37]).
• Critical issues: anxiety and a crisis of self-identity, especially for those who are both deaf and Christian ([10:44], [10:58]).

“It’s anxiety and self identity. Self identity is in a huge crisis. I went through that personally.”
— Hayden Daum ([10:46])

The Complex Relationship with Identity

• Deaf individuals can wrestle with seeing their deafness as their core identity, at times “worshipping deaf” rather than finding ultimate identity in Christ ([11:55]).
• Hayden discusses the tension between accepting his deafness and being open to healing, while prioritizing God’s purpose over personal comfort ([12:51]).

“If there was a button for me to be hearing, I don’t know if I would press it...That's who I am. That's where I identify in.”
— Hayden Daum ([11:57])

Barriers to Inclusion in the Church

• Most churches lack interpreters or adequate accessibility tools like live captions ([10:37], [31:15]).
• Many in the deaf community experience “dinner table syndrome”—never feeling fully part of family or church conversations ([14:35]), leading to lasting disconnection and affecting their spiritual relationships.

“Dinner table is almost the only time that you just sit down, you talk with each other...as a deaf person, you don’t really get that connection as often.”
— Hayden Daum ([15:18])

Hayden’s Testimony: A Supernatural Encounter with God

• Shares a dramatic and life-changing spiritual experience while at Gallaudet University ([20:05]-[24:27]).
  • Under spiritual oppression and drug use, Hayden collapsed, experienced an out-of-body vision, and heard God’s audible voice.
  • God told him: “Now do you understand what I want from you?...This pain that you went through, it’s being paid for. It’s done. You don’t need to go on this path anymore.” ([24:26])
  • Upon waking, he physically behaved as if aware of spiritual reality (hands raised, praising Jesus)—a moment confirmed by friends ([26:01]).

“I heard this most terrifying but yet the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in my life...Now do you understand what I want from you?”
— Hayden Daum ([24:26])

The Enemy’s Attack & The Deaf Community’s Spiritual Potential

• Hayden and Ryan discuss the spiritual warfare targeting the deaf community, noting its unique capacity for joy and witness if reached with the gospel ([28:41], [29:31]).
• The “superpower” of silence: Hayden describes how silence enables deeper intimacy with God, becoming a spiritual asset ([29:51]).

“If the deaf community can find the joy of the salvation of the Lord, it’s going to show the rest of the world that even though you can hear better than me, I’ve got more joy than you. So what do they have?...Silence.”
— Hayden Daum ([29:31], [29:51])

Practical Steps for the Church

• Simple but vital: add closed captioning and/or live transcription in all services ([31:08]).
  • The lack of these keeps many from participating in church life.
• The need for sociocultural understanding and intentional community-building.
• Churches should platform deaf voices, invite deaf leaders, and consider safe, inclusive spaces for deaf individuals ([35:15], [36:12]).

“Closed captions will be amazing...even a live captioning in their screens, like, even for me...It's really cool. But, yeah, live caption...[it’s] so simple.”
— Hayden Daum ([31:08])

• Ryan urges the hearing community to recognize this opportunity and act:

  “Invite [Hayden] to your church...the honor and the gratitude is all mine. Thank you for what you’re doing. You are a titan in this lane of the kingdom of God...Go to your pastor and tell him very simple things like do we have a small group for deaf people? Do we have closed captions on the screen?”
  — Ryan Miller ([40:37]-[42:28])

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you literally went to a pastor and you said, hey, the second most unreached people group on the planet are walking amongst you right now, they would go crazy." — Ryan Miller ([00:05])

• "It's a burden because...there's just so many people who are not being reached about Jesus Christ. The deaf community especially." — Hayden Daum ([01:27])

• "I heard this most terrifying but yet the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in my life...Now do you understand what I want from you?" — Hayden Daum ([24:26])

• "If there was a button for me to be hearing, I don’t know if I would press it." — Hayden Daum ([11:57])

• "Dinner table is almost the only time that you just sit down, you talk with each other...as a deaf person, you don’t really get that connection as often." — Hayden Daum ([15:18])

• "It’s anxiety and self identity. Self identity is in a huge crisis. I went through that personally." — Hayden Daum ([10:46])

• "Silence...that's powerful because I can be in a concert, I can be in an airport, and I can just switch off and be in silence with God and just have a solid time with him." — Hayden Daum ([29:51])

• “Closed captions will be amazing...so simple.” — Hayden Daum ([31:08])

• "Go to your pastor and tell him very simple things like do we have a small group for deaf people? Do we have closed captions on the screen? What ways can we create a safe community within our church to meet this unreached people group living among us in America." — Ryan Miller ([40:37]-[42:28])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00–02:38] — Discussion of the deaf community as one of the world’s most unreached groups; Hayden’s platform and calling
• [06:51–10:37] — Insight into deaf culture, barriers, and spiritual challenges
• [13:36–19:17] — Hayden describes his faith journey, challenges with identity, and dinner table syndrome
• [20:05–26:23] — Hayden’s supernatural encounter and radical turning point
• [28:41–31:04] — Spiritual warfare, the unique gift of silence, and the deaf community’s potential impact
• [31:08–36:12] — Concrete advice for churches: accessibility, inclusion, and the urgent need for practical action
• [39:26–42:28] — Direct gospel message to the deaf community and final exhortation to the hearing church

---

Hayden’s Gospel Message to the Deaf Community ([39:26])

“If you feel not connected with people, Jesus wants all of you. He wants all of you. He has all the answers...You just surrender to Christ, you surrender to God, and you live in peace with him because he’s the Way life and truth. And that’s all he wants for you, is that peace with you...God has everything to offer to you. And so all you have to do is just run to him.”
— Hayden Daum ([39:26])

---

Takeaways for Listeners

• For the hearing community: Understand the enormity of the spiritual void in the deaf world and the practical, simple ways to break down barriers—closed captions, inclusion, support for deaf leaders, and prayer.
• For churches: Actively include deaf individuals, create accessible spaces and services, and recognize the missional opportunity right within your community.
• For the deaf community: There is profound love and belonging in Christ—a place where suffering and barriers do not preclude purpose, and where identity can be rooted in something eternal.

---

This episode is a clarion call to see, value, and act on behalf of the deaf—one of the world’s largest and least-reached people groups living in plain sight.

Transcript

[Hayden Dom]

Two percent of the whole deaf people. There's 75 million. Only 2, no teachers.

[Podcast Host]

And to understand that it's the second most unreached people group on the planet, and they're living among us. If you literally went to a pastor and you said, hey, the second most unreached people group on the planet are walking amongst you right now, they would go crazy.

[Hayden Dom]

I went to Gallaudet, and this is where I heard God audibly. And all of a sudden, I just collapse. Then I heard this most terrifying but yet the most beautiful voice I've ever heard in my life.

[Podcast Host]

And he said, guys, welcome to the Jesus People Podcast. We have the honor of having Hayden Dom on the pod. Thanks for flying into Texas, man.

[Hayden Dom]

Thanks for inviting me, bro. Of course.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. We were talking earlier, and I was just. I was saying it's really cool. Like, you've exploded on social media the last year, and you've probably become one of the foremost missionaries to the most unreached people group on the planet, or one of the most unreached people group on the planet, the deaf community.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. And like, the second most unreached group in the world. Yeah. What's number one? Deaf people. Yeah, deaf.

[Podcast Host]

Deaf people are number one.

[Hayden Dom]

Or the number two. Behind. I'm not sure was number one, but number two is.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Hayden Dom]

Deaf. Yeah. Deaf kids.

[Podcast Host]

That's incredible.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

How do you deal with that? Like, now you are. I mean, you were just telling me you're. You're going to these different conferences and stuff, and people are coming up to you, like, hey, you've changed my life.

[Hayden Dom]

Yes. Yes. So, I mean, I. It's a. It's a burden because, you know, it's like a burden of the return of Christ. And it's like. Like, I am like, oh, my gosh, you know, there's so many people that we need to reach. And, you know, it's. It's okay to have a posture of, you know, like, Jesus coming back. You know, Jesus is coming back, and that's good, you know, for your heart and how you preach the gospel and how you reach to people, and that's good. But it's a burden because it's like, you know, there's just so many people who are not being reached about Jesus Christ. The deaf community especially. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Does that weigh on you quite a bit?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, it is.

[Podcast Host]

Like anxiety or how does that manifest?

[Hayden Dom]

No, not anxiety. It's just like, because I, you know, care about how I live my life and making sure that walking obedience and that's. It's weighing on me, because, like, I can't sometimes, you know, Sometimes I can't, you know, choose where. Which direction, like, you know, hardcore is. Okay. This is the thing that I'm doing. I'm just like, God, what do you want me to do with my life? And I want to make sure that I'm doing everything right for him.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Hayden Dom]

So that's. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

It's the burden of stewardship.

[Hayden Dom]

Yes. Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Because your platform's grown to hundreds of thousands in less than a year.

[Hayden Dom]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

And what percent of those followers are in the deaf community?

[Hayden Dom]

That's a good question. I don't know. I don't know. I'm not sure. I plan to make a poll on Instagram, like, hey, who are. Who's deaf and who's not? And I have not done that yet, so that'd be cool. Yeah, I really want to find out. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Here. There's a scripture the Lord gave me from a friend. This was last week, I think would be really cool for you, too. So Psalm 50. So I was feeling really burdened. I just told you I'd gotten back from Nigeria and just saw horrific things. Right. And just feel. Feeling like the burden for these people. And, you know, like, I. I wasn't sleeping well. Like, I was, like, dreaming about Nigeria, and I'd wake up and I would just instantly go to my phone and, you know, the people that are getting canceled, these pastors getting canceled in Nigeria, and just feeling, like, so deeply, like, what. What should I do? And just feeling like, almost like this frantic, like. Like burden. And my friend. Well, I was. I was making content. And the Lord highlighted Psalm 50, which I've never preached on Psalm 50. It's not like John 3, you know, like, not a lot of people going to Psalm 50. But it says in Psalm 50:23, the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me to the one who orders his way rightly. I will show the salvation of God. That word, salvation of God is Yeshua. So I'll show Yeshua to the one who orders his way rightly. And what stuck out to me was that Thanksgiving is a sacrifice that glorifies God. And if you order your way rightly, he's going to show you the Lord. And my. So I preached on that in a little video. Didn't go viral. You know, whatever. And two hours later, my buddy comes over and we're hanging out, and he's like, hey, I was a little annoyed by you the other day. Like, you weren't being present with your kids. You weren't being present with me. This is one of our few times to hang out. You were just on your phone, and I know you're doing stuff for Nigeria and all this stuff, but he's like, the verse the Lord gave me for you is Psalm 50. And I'm like, dude, you gotta be kidding me. And basically what he was saying is he's like, listen, you're just called to live in gratitude and to just order your way rightly, to step it out, to be present with your wife, to be present with your kids, to make the content that the Lord puts on your heart. He can use someone else, just like he can use someone else in my lanes of ministry. He can use someone else for the deaf community. But if we have gratitude to enter in, it's. And then. Then my friend went on to tell me to remind me of a story where every time I go back to my alumni baseball game for high school, I just hit home runs. It's like, every time. And I never hit home runs in my career. Like, from college to professional baseball, I never hit home runs. And then now I go back to my alumni game, and just because I'm loose and I'm swinging away, and he's like, I feel like the Lord wanted me to remind you to just swing away. Just, like, even though it's big, even though it's Nigeria, even though it's a deaf community, order your way rightly, live in gratitude, and then just go for it. Like, just swing away. Because he's the one doing it through you. And I hope that encourages you, because I've been feeling that lately, too. It's like this burden of, like, wanting to be pure before the Lord on social media and being like, wait, we reached 2 billion people in the last four months. Like, what. What is happening? Like, that's. That's crazy. Or 2 billion views. Like, that's crazy.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But then to just be like, we're just going to have fun with this, Lord. We're going to swing away. We're going to keep going. This is you doing it through us. And we're just grateful for the platform.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. Wow. Love that. Yeah, I love that. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Because it's only been eight months of you doing this.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. Of. Of just scripture reading. But yeah, at the beginning, it was like, I started, like, as a different content. It was fitness. But yeah, two months in, the Lord really brought to my heart, say, hey, man, just read the word and just sign the message and reach the deaf community. Because it's such a need. It's A huge need. And. And I've been enjoying it so much. So much. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Tell me about the deaf community. What is the culture of the deaf community? What are the, what are the people like? To be honest, I don't know. A lot of deaf people.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, yeah. So the deaf community. Oh, that's a, that's a good. I mean, not to say it's a broad question, but it's a whole different culture, right? It's a whole different culture. It's a culture of like, like we just, we only resonate with each other. And it's like you're the only person that understands me. Not these people. Not these people. The deaf community. And they really connect and they stay connected and like they just value each other so much. And you know, that can go in the wrong way, that can, you know, come into, you know, peer pressure and all these things, but it's a whole different culture. And it's like when you are. So there is. So this is a shoe spectrum what deaf is, right? There's cochlear implant, there's full on deaf. There is, you know, hard of hearing or wearing hearing aids, who don't wear them and have a low of a hearing. And then there's also, also like families who are hearing and a person who. Or a kid, a child who is deaf. And that's me, I'm the only deaf child in my hearing family. While there is a family that is, you know, they're all like generation to generation, they're all deaf. So there's a culture for that. And it's a huge spectrum. So it's very different in all areas in communications, in, you know, in their belief, in their just culture. Really.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

And yeah, it's. It's huge. It's like something that you have to talk about for hours, you know, pretty much, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What do you feel like the deaf community understands that the hearing community does not.

[Hayden Dom]

That's a goon. Yeah, I think they understand like the barriers in life and they have compassion on people who are going through like just barriers, you know, throughout their life, which, you know, that could be in a restaurant or in a family or just, you know, just anywhere in their life. Just getting a taxi car or just getting in a plane and you can't hear, you know, what's going on. Like, why did the gate change? And that can really just change your whole entire day. Because you didn't hear that the gate change in the airport. And that's just one example. That's like minor micro events, but major events. Could be just not understanding anything at all what's happening in the world. And so when you have people who connect with each other in such a deep level of, hey, it's okay, like, I'm with you in this, like, I don't understand either, you know, I don't know. I don't know what's happening out there.

[Podcast Host]

What's happening in the world. You mean like current events?

[Hayden Dom]

Just current events or, you know, like if you were just walking on campus and there's, you know, let's say, you know, a guy under the tent just talking about the gospel. Yeah. Like Charlie Kirk, you know, stuff like that. And it's like a type of person would never have the opportunity to hear anything, you know, it's just like, that's just not, it's just not in there unless there's an interpreter right next to him. But usually there's not. So that's very difficult in concerts or church, you know, oh my goodness, the church is huge. And there is like such a small amount of interpreters in churches. Like, do you have an interpreter in your church?

[Podcast Host]

I don't even know.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, I mean, usually it's like right in front of the stage. Yeah. Yeah. Like in the corner.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

And my church doesn't have an interpreter because I don't need one. I can hear the pastor, you know. Thank God.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

But man, you know, just that's, and that's just one thing, you know, just the church, there's concerts and there's, you know, big events and you have to find accessibility in all things, in all areas.

[Podcast Host]

It sounds anxiety producing.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Is that, is that a big problem in the deaf community?

[Hayden Dom]

With what?

[Podcast Host]

Anxiety?

[Hayden Dom]

Oh, yeah, it's huge. It's huge. It's anxiety and self identity. Self identity is in a huge crisis. I went through that personally. It's. It's huge.

[Podcast Host]

What do you mean by self identity?

[Hayden Dom]

So it's like, so when you're a Christian, you, you probably have a more chance of having a self identity crisis because it's like, like, okay, God, like, who am I? Like, you create me this way. And yeah, I'm going through these struggles and you created me. Like I have no one else to blame, so I'm gonna blame you. And so when I blame him, it messes up my, you know, who I am in Christ. Because if I view him as distorted, I views, I view myself distorted as well. And so that's really heavy. So as a Christian perspective, it's hard to find your self identity in Christ when you as a Deaf person. But. And the other side of it who doesn't, you know, believe in God or anything. They have self identity as deaf. Like, they worship deaf.

[Podcast Host]

Like, interesting.

[Hayden Dom]

They have a button to be hearing. No. Like, whoa, I'm gonna stay deaf. That's who I am. That's who I am. That's where I identify in. That's who I worship. I worship myself as a deaf person. And that's the, that's the culture. And you know, if you, if you ask me if, if there was a button for me to be hearing, I don't know if I would press it. It's crazy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Well, that makes sense.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

In a way. Like, you know, we had Jamie Carrington on obviously different disabilities, but do you know Jamie. Jamie Carrington, he's in a wheelchair.

[Hayden Dom]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And I don't think he'd change it. Maybe he would, but like, he, like he realizes that this has given him his mission.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And it sounds like that's. That's similar when it's rightly ordered. And it sounds like you're maybe wrestling with. A lot of deaf people are identifying their core identity is in the fact that they're deaf.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And so it's hard to break through that for the gospel. Is that what I'm hearing?

[Hayden Dom]

Yes, yes. It's really hard. And it's almost like, you know, if we want to go back to the button thing, it's like, you don't want to press it because you don't want to be your own God. You, you just, you'd rather just have God take care of me. And it's like, hey, if you want to be. If you want me to be hearing and that's going to further your kingdom, do it. You know, heal me, do it. Yeah, but if not, then, yeah, I'm fine, you know, I'm okay. I'm going to continue to glorify you through this suffering, through this burden that I'm having. Because that is when he speaks the loudest. Right through our suffering. It's, you know, through our trials, is through our, you know, just struggles. Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

How'd you come to know the Lord?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, So I came to. So I grew up in a Christian home. I was with. So my dad and my mom are strong Christian family. And my two brothers, I'm the middle. So I have two brothers. I'm in the middle child and they're all hearing. But I grew up in a church and obviously I was not really understand the message. There was an interpreter there, but I didn't learn ASL when I was younger. My parents didn't learn ASL as well. They thought it was best for them to teach me how to speak orally and then learn ASL later.

[Podcast Host]

Do you agree with that decision now?

[Hayden Dom]

Well, I know they do with all with. With their best decision, and they do with. But I think it could have maybe gone differently. Sure. If, you know, if I learned ASO first. Okay. And that if they learn ISO, I think it would have really, really, really. I don't know. I don't know.

[Podcast Host]

Was that tough, though, like.

[Hayden Dom]

Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Have you heard of dinner syndrome? Dinner table syndrome? No, It's. It's. It's only in the deaf culture thing, but it's when you're sitting at a table every single night with your family and you're never, never connected with them. Never. It is hard, especially young age. And sometimes, like, when they're making a joke and you want to ask them and say, hey, what do you say? And it's funny because I want to, you know, get into another story. But, yeah, when I miss a joke or just have a conversation and I'm like, hey, mom or dad or my brother's. What did you say? And they're just laughing. They're just in the conversation. Right.

[Podcast Host]

They're present.

[Hayden Dom]

Right, Right. And they're present, and they don't want to stop and tell me what's going on. And. And after that, it gets awkward. But funny enough, because I did that with my wife. When we're in a deaf setting, deaf people, and we're just telling jokes, I'm laughing and I'm connecting with them, and my wife's like, hey, what happened? I'm just like, hold on. Like, I'm present with them. And that really thought me. I was like, oh, wow. You know, my parents and my brothers were really trying to hurt me that. That I thought they were trying to. You know, it's really changed the whole perspective. But that is a dinner table syndrome. You go through that a lot. And because, you know, dinner table is almost the only time that you just sit down, you talk with each other, and you're having a great family time outside of that school. It's homework. It's, you know, it's bedtime, it's getting very bad, or, you know, it's just dinner time is where you connect. And so as a deaf person, you don't really get that connection as. As often. So having connection with people have been very, very difficult. So that caused my connection with God, because How I saw my dad is how I saw God. It's like, okay, he's. This is how he is. Because that's all I got. You know, who. Who else can I rely on? Who? What? Like, yes, there is the word of God. But the way I experience really, really affected the way that I, you know, have a relationship with God and even, you know, get upset with him. It was more of, like, I didn't believe him, but it was more of like, this is your fault. This is your fault, God. Like, you created me this way. And you're saying, you know, go and disciple and baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I can't do that. I can't talk to anyone. I can't talk to anyone. And. And I used to hate the verse Exodus, chapter 4, verses 11, where, you know, Moses is like, begging God, God, don't send me to talk to or speak to Pharao, because I started and guys like, who made you deaf? Who made you move? Who made you hear? You made you see? Who made you, you know, do all these things? Is it not I, the Lord? And usually before I would look at that verse, as in, like, yeah, you did, Lord. Like, you created me this way, and you want me to go out and spread the gospel. I can't even talk to anyone. Yeah. But now it's my favorite verse. It's crazy. It's like, one of my favorite verse because, like, when you really, really just trust in God, like his character and who he is, and you deny yourself. Yeah. And you just walk in there, it's like, oh, yeah, God created me this way. Because limitation does not block him. It does not block the way that he wants me to do. You know, it doesn't block anything. But, yeah. So how I got saved is when I was 18 years old, this is where I kind of, like, fell off track. I fell from the Lord. I was doing drugs. I was, you know, doing girls, and just all kinds of stuff really, really fell from the Lord. And when I was 18 years old, I was in Dubai at the time, and there was this spring break event at Galu University, which is, like, deaf. A deaf university. And so at this time, I was like, I'm done with you, God. Like, I believe in. I believe you exist, and I believe that you have, you know, amazing plans for people, but not me, because I have no use. Like, you can't use me because I can't even talk to people out in the street like Bryce Colfor is doing, you know, yeah, just going out or you are and going to Nigeria and you can understand kids. Yeah, I can't do things like that. And so that's where I was going through. And so I went to Gallaudet and. Sorry, I'm kind of, like, talking a lot.

[Podcast Host]

But there's a podcast. If you are struggling in your anxiety, in an addiction, in your marriage, in your parenting, if you're just looking for someone to come alongside you, the Bible says, in wise counsel, you will see the victory. We have a mental health nonprofit where we want to pair you one on one with a coach, a coach that loves Jesus, that will pray with you, that'll point you to the kingdom of God, that'll help you understand. Why am I thinking what I'm thinking? Why am I doing what I'm doing? Why am I feeling what I'm feeling? To learn to express your emotions, to take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. I believe it's a brave step to say I need some support in this area. If you're looking for this, you can go to sharethestruggle.org or click the link in the show notes and connect with someone Today. Join up with a coach who loves Jesus, who wants to point you to the kingdom of God, and I believe you'll find rest for your soul.

[Hayden Dom]

And so I went to Gallery Debt, and this is where I heard God audibly. And, you know, people can, you know, interpret it wherever they want. This is how I interpret it. I was at the time, was doing drugs, and right at that moment, this is just like, regular marijuana. Okay. And what happened was something came in my body. Something heavy, heavy. And I was in the room with four of my friends. One of them was my best friend.

[Podcast Host]

Is it a Christian event?

[Hayden Dom]

No, no, no, no, no. This is, like, dark, dark place. I mean, deaf universities are dark. Like. Yeah, most of them are really dark. Wow. Even more darker than Florida State. It's, like, really dark. Yeah. Party and sex. And it's just like they have, like, a bowl of condoms in the dorm in front of the. Death is like, wherever. You know, it's just a regular thing, but really dark. But. So my body was, like, possessed kind of. Okay. But it was like, this weight. And all of a sudden, I just collapse. Just collapse. And what happens when I hit the floor? Everything froze. And I'm so. Oh, gosh. Like, I fell down. I'm on the floor. I couldn't move. I couldn't get up. I couldn't feel anything. I was like, what is happening? So this crazy, crazy experience I was having. And to make a really, really short story of that whole dream, because this whole dream is long. Like, it was like 30 minutes or an hour, two hours. It was really long. But to brief it to, like, two minutes, I was frozen. Okay? I couldn't move. I'm not seeing my friends helping me out. And this is like, maybe three minutes past. Okay? And I'm like, am I dead? Like, am I dead? Is this. Is it? Because I remember somebody made a joke about, like. Or not joke, but, like, somebody brought up this torture in hell where every person would experience different torture, like, in a different, you know, different level or whatever. Yeah, yeah. I was like. I don't even know if that's in the Bible or anything, but it was frozen. And all I saw was the corner of the room, and that's all I saw for, like, three hours. That was it. It was disposing. I could feel anything. I couldn't feel anything. And then I heard, like, a mischievous laugh. Whoa. Like, I got you. Like, I have. You know, I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like, I remember when I was nine years old, I accept. I accepted Jesus in my heart. Yeah. But that was it. I accepted. I cried. I was like, wow, Jesus died on the cross for me, and he paid for my sins while he actually did that for me. And I would think back, I'm like, wait, did I really accept him, though? And I'm, like, doubting. I'm like, oh, my gosh. Maybe I didn't really accept him in my heart. And so it just froze. And so there was a mischievous laugh. And I got you. And it kept making worse and darker and darker. And so to brief it, I went through just different bad experience. I was getting shot, and I would die and then come back alive and get shot again. And just, like, dreams. Yeah, just dreams. Yeah, yeah, dreams. And then. And I was on this path of not being obedient, right? And what that life looked like. So, yeah, there was a list. This life was ugly. It was not pretty. And I started to break down, cry, and I was like, God, I thought I accepted you. I thought I got saved when I was nine years old.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

And I thought you had me, God. Like, I know you're real. I know you're there. I just didn't want to do anything with you. I didn't want to. And. And it kind of, like, backtracked. And this is like six hours later, and I'm still seeing this room. It's still frozen. Just nothing happened. Can't move, can't breathe. Nothing. Just. Yeah. And you know, people can call it blackout, and it's just like, just the last thing you saw. But then I heard this most terrifying but yet the most beautiful voice I've ever heard in my life.

[Podcast Host]

Audibly.

[Hayden Dom]

Audibly. And he said, now do you understand what I want from you? Do you understand? Because this is what we feel. This pain that you went through, it's being paid for. It's done. You don't need to go on this path anymore. And it start kind of like going rewind or just like this weight started lifting. Yeah. And I heard singing. Just singing behind me, like, audibly. Just singing like angels were behind me or this army of God was behind me and just saying, oh, my God, it was so beautiful. And it was just like. And I was in fear, but like a clear fear, you know, Like. Yeah. Like just before the lore. And I was just approaching and I saw this light coming up and I was like, I knew, I knew, I knew I'm going to heaven. I know, I know. Because I got saved when I was 9 years old and I started running to the light. And bam. Woke up in the room that I was in, not from the floor. I got moved like, somewhere else. And the crazy part is that I was talking to this friend, my best friend. He was like, bro, what happened to you? What is going on? Yeah. And I was like, what happened? What's going on? And he, like, showed me a video, and I have my hands raised. Whoa. This whole time, just walking and I pick up a piece and just eating piece of him praising Jesus just this whole entire time. And I was just walking around. I'm like, no, no, no. Like, I was laying on the floor and it was insane. It was insane. Wow. And you weren't.

[Podcast Host]

You weren't on drugs.

[Hayden Dom]

You weren't. I was. And I was like, smoking, you know, casually. And then I was just like, casually go in the room. And then bam. That happened. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But it's not like you did ayahuasca.

[Hayden Dom]

No. Right? Yeah. No, no. Wow.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. And. And so when he told me, I was like, I'm done. Yeah. So I packed my things. This was like. It was supposed to be like a week long.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

This was like a second day. I packed my things, flew back to Dubai where my parents were, and I ran to my knees and cried. I was like. Because I was being really hard on them. Cried and cried me a hug. And I know my parents remember this moment because I just cry all the time. But but, yeah, it's. It's been an insane experience. And ever since then, I was like, okay. Like, okay, I'm gonna try be obedient. And obviously, you know, I'm 29 years old. This was 10 years ago. Yeah. So I went through rocky times just because of. Because of the identity I was struggling with. Identity. Because I was like, yes, God, you created me this way. But now it's like, okay, what do you want me to do with this? What can I do to glorify you with this struggle? Right, right. Wow. Yeah. And that's when I met. Well, I met knitting a few years before that.

[Podcast Host]

Wife is in the room with us here.

[Hayden Dom]

Yes, yes, yes. My wife, she. She did not like me as a person. And so. But then when I went through that experience, I came back to Dubai and we were on a missing trip within, like, maybe two months. And Nidhi, my wife, came to me, was like, something happened to you? What is going on? I was like, whoa. Did my mom tell you something? Yeah. Yeah. But now she just saw the spirit, like, just a different face. How I spoke, it really, really changed the course of my life. Yeah, it was awesome. Sorry for so much.

[Podcast Host]

But, yeah, well, dude, that's why you came. It's fascinating. I'm so curious. It seems like Satan in this, in a. In the same way or similar way, but a distorted way, loves pursuing broken people. Satan loves to go after broken people. The deaf community, the outcasts, the. The people who had a rough upbringing because he wants to manipulate and he wants to give them death. And Jesus wants to heal. Right. But from your perspective, why is the enemy attacking the deaf community so hard? Because what you said is the deaf community is a very dark community.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. I think it's attacking because we do have the potential, huge potential, like, to really shift this, like, just the world itself, like, who God is. Because if. If there is so many deaf people that can overcome this and still walk in obedience. Oh, my goodness.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

People will be like, why are you still walking, Joy? What do you have that I don't have? Yeah. And they're going to talk about Jesus. So I think that Satan is really trying to, you know, destroy that. But God is more powerful, so it's gonna come. I don't know. In my lifetime, I'm not sure. But it has to come. It has to.

[Podcast Host]

Amen.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. So what I'm hearing you saying is, even though the deaf community cannot hear or is hard of hearing, if the deaf community can find the joy of the salvation of the Lord, it's going to show the rest of the world that even though you can hear better than me, I've got more joy than you. So what do they have?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, so they have, well, silence. And that's powerful because I can be in a concert, I can be in an airport, and I can just switch off and be in silence with God and just have a solid time with him. Just like, if I go through, you know, anxiety, I don't have to be like, oh, I have to push through this. And then at the end, go with God.

[Podcast Host]

No, actually, because we're so noisy.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, yeah, so noisy. And just be like, I'm in a room, you know, close my eyes and I'm just in a closet and just having a war room with him, you know, and wrestle with him, you know? Yeah. So that's. I think that's very powerful that we have. It's a superpower. It really is. And like, when you really, really feel in your heart and you hear with your heart, then you just know more so than like audibly or hearing these voices. And you just know your heart and you rely on your heart more than the sound. Because people are yearn for voices from God. But we deaf people are like, well, I mean, I can't have that. So I gotta rely on my heart and rely on, you know, what the signs. And so I think it's beautiful. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What do you wish the church would know about the deaf community?

[Hayden Dom]

What would the church. What I wish the church would know about the deaf community in order to

[Podcast Host]

reach them, in order to love them and serve them, to include them.

[Hayden Dom]

Closed captions will be amazing.

[Podcast Host]

Closed captions is very practical.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. Simple and simple. Yeah. Just even a live captioning in their screens, like, even for me. Oh, my gosh. Because like, you know, sometimes, you know, the pastor would give a message if I miss one word, like, hey, honey, what did he say in this part? And sometimes my wife will be in the middle, in the, you know, in the middle of the message. Right. And try and listen. But my wife still, you know, tells me what the pastor said or trying to find a particular word that I miss because, you know, it's hard to pinpoint, like, what word did I miss?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Hayden Dom]

And once she tells me, it's like, oh, yeah, now where we. Where are we at with the message? Because he's already, like, said, you know, four sentences after. Yeah. You know, the composition. So closed caption. Because I have a phone and I'll put in my lap and it's not perfect, you know, it's not perfect because it's so far from the speaker, but I have a phone that's like a live caption. And sometimes, like, if I miss a word, I would like to my laptop. I only started that maybe like two weeks ago because it's like a new app thing. Yeah, yeah. It's really cool. But, yeah, live collapsing. And I know and I understand it's hard to find interpreters because it takes their time, and usually they don't pay their interpreters to, you know, interpret it in church, and so it's really difficult. But live caption, which is so simple.

[Podcast Host]

So simple.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What about, like, from a. The standpoint of just understanding the plight of deaf people? Because what you explained to me was there's so many things, like, I didn't understand the dinner time. What'd you call it? The dinner time syndrome.

[Hayden Dom]

Oh, dinner. Yeah. Dinner time syndrome. Yeah. Dinner table syndrome.

[Podcast Host]

Dinner table syndrome. I didn't. I didn't even even. Like, I see for me, like, I have no context for that, but I. That, like, almost made me cry because I'm like, that's heartbreaking.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What do you wish the church would understand about the deaf community in order to reach them? I'll never forget Billy Graham said that he wish he would have taken sociology because that would have given him. Sociology is the study of different cultures. It would have given him an ability to proclaim the gospel to different cultures more effectively. What do you wish the church would understand about the deaf community that would help them preach the gospel?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And to understand that it's the second most unreached people group on the planet and they're living among us.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. Yeah. It's. It's only 2%. 2% of the whole deaf people. There's 75 million. Only 2, no teachers, only 2. It's. It's a very sad, sad number. And that's what I mean by, you know, I just feel so much burden. But it's a good burden. You know, it's like, I'm excited for what God has planned for me. And I'm praying and praying like, okay, what can I do to best. Best? Like, you know, the question that you were asking, you know, what can church understand about the deaf community to help them spread the gospel to them is like, honestly, I'm trying to pinpoint that too. You know, it's like, I'm trying to figure that out what can really ship. Because, you know, the hearing culture in America, we're on a revival, like, huge revival. It's insane. But Definitely the deaf community is just stuck. You know, we're just not moving so much, maybe with my platform and I'm using my platform to glorify him. And this is God's platform. And maybe this is shifting a little bit, you know, and so maybe, maybe more people can use their platform to spread the gospel. Because it's so difficult with churches. And I just feel like maybe if you could try to create like a safe space for at church where you can just invite deaf people. But that's even a hard reach too, because it's like. Yeah, it's difficult.

[Podcast Host]

Well, what you're doing is you're cutting past all the barriers.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Through the algorithm. Yeah, the algorithm is finding the deaf community through you.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So I think another thing that the church can do is platform more deaf voices, platform more Hayden doms who are able to reach those people that I'm not able to reach. They're not going to follow me.

[Hayden Dom]

Right, right.

[Podcast Host]

They're going to follow you.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And if they're the second most unreached people group on the planet and they're living among us, if you just told that if you literally went to a pastor and you said, hey, the second most unreached people group on the planet are walking amongst you right now, they're here, they're in your stores, they're in your churches, they're in your coffee shops, you can reach them. They would go crazy. They'd be like, what? How do we. How do we do that? If you're truly an evangelist, you would. You would get fired up at something like that. But why is it that we don't have. I don't feel that fire to reach the deaf community.

[Hayden Dom]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

Why do you think that is?

[Hayden Dom]

I think it's because you have a different calling, you know, because, like, right now you're doing Nigeria. Right, Right. And I think that there are people who have that fire. But it's just we can't seem to pinpoint how to shift this generation of, you know, young generation. Like, we need to go to a deaf church right now. I don't know how many deaf churches there are in America right now. Not a lot. But you go into them, you're more likely just only see older people or older, much older people. But there's no younger generation, is just stuck, you know, just stuck. Mainly because of school, you know, because of college, being so dark and such a dark place. Yeah. So I. That's a good question. You know, I'm not sure why there's not more hearing people Hearing people have that fire towards the deaf community. Like, just more. You know, there is a pastor in San Antonio. I don't, I forget his name, but he planted a deaf church in San Antonio because they didn't have any. And so he planted for this deaf pastor. They're amazing. And there's a huge movement in Texas right now in San Antonio. Wow. It's amazing. So maybe more of that. Maybe that's the direction that we can try to take. God has not called me to be a pastor yet, but if he wants me to be a pastor, I will, but.

[Podcast Host]

Well, you're certainly pastoring.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

To millions, which is really cool to see. And I think you have one of the coolest callings on your life of any calling I've ever heard in my life. Like, you think about that. Like, you're in Atlanta, Georgia, reaching an unreached people group who, you know their culture, you know their community. That's insane. Do you understand that? Like, do you, do you recognize that? That, that is one of the coolest things I've heard on this podcast.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. I was, I was actually flying on the way here with my wife, and I was just looking over dirt, and I was just like, this is, this is crazy. You know, Like, God is using me to like me, this guy who I wanted nothing to do with God, and now I'm just, like, I'm excited for what he would, how he would use me. Yeah, Yeah. I, I, I've been recognizing that for sure. Yeah. Just. Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Hence the burden you're feeling.

[Hayden Dom]

Yes. Yeah, yeah. And it's. It's a beautiful burden. It's a beautiful burden. Yeah. It's beautiful. Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Amen, man.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Well, what would, what, what would be the message you would give to the deaf community that maybe doesn't know the Lord or maybe, like, you grew up in a Christian home and heard the gospel, but then the struggle of not being able to hear has kind of left you jaded or left you burdened or whatever words you want to use, left you angry, Maybe even. Could you just sign a message to the camera? Could you just look directly at the camera and just, Just share the gospel? Just give them the message? What would you want to share with the deaf community right now?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah. So I. So if you feel not connected with people, Jesus wants all of you. He wants all of you. He has all the answers. You don't need to figure out yourself anymore. You just surrender to Christ, you surrender to God, and you live in peace with him because he's the Way life and truth. And that's all he wants for you, is that peace with you. Because I understand. I understand the struggles that the world offers and is not beautiful at all times. But God has everything to offer to you. And so all you have to do is just run to him. And it's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to not understand what you're supposed to do in your life. And it's okay that there are barriers in life and that they are ugliness in the world, because God has everything to offer for you, his internal life with him.

[Podcast Host]

Amen. Amen. And I would say to the hearing community out there that we need to understand what an opportunity we have to platform voices like Hayden. If you're listening to this as a pastor, invite him to your church. If you're listening this as in a mom pray for the deaf community. They're among us. There are neighbors, there are grocery store clerks, and there are baristas. And we need to understand the pain that they're experiencing, understand that they often don't feel included. And that's exactly who Jesus reached out to. Jesus went after those who felt marginalized, who felt outcasted, who felt like they didn't relate to the rest of society. And this is why largely they have not found Jesus is because they don't think there's a place for them with Jesus. And we are the body of Christ. We are the salt and the light. And so I would encourage the hearing community that we need to have a greater and a more robust desire to reach this unreached people group that speaks English, that looks like us, that we don't have to go to North Korea to share the gospel with. And you might not be able to do that. Hayden is so platform voices like his. Pray for his ministry, pray for revival within the deaf community and go to your pastor and tell him very simple things like do we have a small group for deaf people? Do we have closed captions on the screen? What ways can we create a safe community within our church to meet this unreached people group living among us in America. It's. It's very, very easy to do. This is not complex stuff. So.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

What gets you emotional about that?

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, it's. It's just. Thank you. Just, you know, thank God for you, you know, for your platform and you're. Yeah, just really thankful. Just so much gratitude in my heart, you know, just so much gratitude. Thank you. Yeah. Amazing.

[Podcast Host]

Well, dude, the honor and the gratitude is all mine. Thank you for what you're doing. You're an inspiration. You are a titan in this lane of the kingdom of God and you're going to lead in it for many, many years. That's why the Lord's chosen you. That. That's why the Lord gave you that experience in the darkness. And it's just. It's crazy to me to think that the deaf community is medicating with fool's gold and you tasted and saw that the world was not good, that the fool's gold was fake. And you have now chosen the better portion and you've chosen the authentic because you've spotted the synthetic and that is the anointing the Lord's given you. So God bless you, Hayden. God's got so many big plans for you. So thanks for being with us today, man. Means a lot.

[Hayden Dom]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Guys, continue to pray for Hayden, his. His. His ministry, his platform, and the deaf community as well. Thanks for tuning into the Jesus people. See you guys next week.