Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Mustain.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an almost native Houstonian. My family moved here when I was in the 2nd grade. I went to Fondren Elementary, Fondren Middle School, and Westbury High School. I met my wife in the 9th grade and we married at Westbury United Methodist Church in 1978. I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior in 1982. My wife was already a Christ Follower. God called us to the ministry in 1988, and with 3 young kids, we moved to Iowa for Bible College. In Bible College, we learned about the Deaf Community and the need to take the Gospel to them in their language, ASL, and culture. We began an incredible journey in the Deaf Community and have served God there since 1992. We learned ASL and Deaf Culture in the Bay Area of California, then moved back to Houston. We started the Southwest Baptist Deaf Church in Stafford, TX and later our little church merged with Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church. I was on staff at Houston’s First Baptist Church, serving at the Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church campus for 11 years. Now I am pastoring the Deaf Heart Church in Sugar Land. We have a great congregation and I’m so happy to be serving the Lord in the Deaf Community. There are a lot needs and blessings as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Learning a new culture and language has some struggles. It has some rough areas, but also some funny and rewarding times. Our time as missionaries to the Deaf in California, our little church in Stafford, and our time at Woodhaven Baptist Deaf Church has been very profitable. Establishing Deaf Heart Church has been very smooth. It has been amazing how God had established this Deaf Church and is leading for the future. God has brought very faithful and skilled workers to this ministry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share about myself. I have been in the Deaf Ministry for the last 33 years. I have been a missionary to the Deaf in California and worked in the Houston area in Deaf Ministry for 25 years. My wife, Linda, and I are hearing, but God called us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Deaf Community. Right now, I am Pastor of Deaf Heart Church in Sugar Land, TX. We are a new church and experiencing tremendous blessings. Here is a brief history of Deaf Heart Church: PART 1. We began having occasional Bible Studies and Game Nights in our home after Covid 19. These times were enjoyed by all and the Deaf began to discuss establishing a new church in our part of town. PART 2. A decision was made by the Deaf folks to see about organizing and forming a church. Legal documents were filed and approved. Constitution and Bylaws were approved. The official start as a church was Palm Sunday 2023 in the home of Dan and Linda Mustain. PART 3. (Starting October 1, 2023) We move to Sugar Land Baptist Church. They offered us a room to use, and we gladly accepted. Our first baptismal service was on March 24, 2024. We went to Jamaica in June 2024 to hold a Vacation Bible School in one Deaf School and do some renovation at the Deaf Village. PART 4. We outgrew our room at Sugar Land Baptist and have moved to a larger room. We moved to the larger room on August 10, 2025. God is moving. God is working. Outreach is happening. In our short history, 8 have been saved and 10 baptized. I’m most proud of our Deaf leadership. These beautiful group of people set us apart. God is using their talents for His glory. John Wunsch became the first staff member as Life Care Director on September 21, 2025. We have community outreach often. We have Thanksgiving and Christmas events, BBQs, pickleball, game nights, restaurant events, and go to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys games. We try to give back to the community through helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing teachers with school supplies. We are also livestreaming our Worship Services and Faith Builders Classes on our Facebook Page. Our website, deafheartchurch.org, has our announcements, many pictures, videos, sermons, and Bible Studies in ASL. We want to build community relationships and witness for Jesus Christ. We are a no judgment zone where people can come visit, worship, and learn about the Lord in a non-judmental way. Deaf Heart Church is a grace zone for the Deaf Community. We also offer ASL Classes for those wanting to learn Sign Language.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in God’s master plan. We are all made in the image of God and He gives each of tasks to do for His glory. Since I became a Christ follower in 1982, I have tried to be a good servant in His harvest fields. I went to Bible College as a married dad. I graduated in 1993 and, since then, my family and I have been working hard to learn American Sign Language and the needs of the Deaf Culture. God has opened every door for us to put us in this current ministry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deafheartchurch.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deafheartchurch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551115869434
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeafHeartChurch
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/deaf-heart-church-sugar-land
Image Credits
There were taken by myself and other people at Deaf Heart Church.
