Rev. Marva Petrus is the pastor to Cornerstone Deaf Churches at Bethalto, IL, Belleville, IL and Salem, IL. She has been married to her husband Tedd for 39 years and they have 3 grown hearing children, Rachel, Kevin, and Daniel. Also 6 grandchildren.
I was raised in a strong Christian family and attended the Methodist church. I accepted Christ in 1983 at Revival meeting and was baptized in the Holy Spirit soon after that.
I began attending Oak Brook Community Deaf Church in 1992, and eventually became a worship leader, Sunday School teacher, and ministry assistant for Pastor Lloyd Couch. I also taught Bible studies for 18 years at Silent Cooperative in Chicago and taught Bible studies to Deaf inmates at Dixon, Illinois for 6 years. Also involved in the Homeless Ministry for 9years.
In 2001, I attended International Center for Deaf Ministry with Fred and Linda Crews in California. The Lord began to touch my heart to be a pastor for the Deaf. Since May 2002, I became the Pastor of Oak Brook Community Deaf Church.
January of 2011, God called me to be a Pastor in the St Louis area. We started the deaf church at Godfrey, IL. in March of 2011, 2nd deaf church in Belleville, IL. in May of 2012, and 3rd deaf church in Vandalia, IL. in January of 2013.
My goal is to Connect Deaf People to God in the St. Louis area, by breaking down denominational and cultural barriers and simply presenting the story of Jesus and how people can experience a relationship with him.
