2023–2025 Mission Grant #14
Enhancement of Deaf Ministry and Outreach
Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society, U.S. — $47,000
About This Mission Grant
There are an estimated 500,000 deaf users of American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States, 95% of whom are unchurched. There are 124 local or congregational deaf ministries in the LCMS; however, there is a severe shortage of Lutheran resources and interpreters. Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society (ELMS) is dedicated to serving and supporting the deaf and hard of hearing community with the Gospel.
This grant will help provide interpreters and resources to spread the Gospel message to deaf people in the United States by allowing ELMS to expand its Church Interpreter Training Academy to several satellite locations, potentially training more than 100 new interpreters. It will also allow them to continue ASL translation work of the Lutheran Service Book settings 1, 2, 4, and Matins for the benefit of all those who are deaf.
Mission Grant Resources
to be featured August 2024
Resources not yet available.
Updates and Articles
Mission Grant article — Church Interpreters for the Deaf
ELMS translation of LSB Divine Service Setting III into ASL being recorded
More Mission Grant Photos
ELMS translation of LSB Divine Service Setting III into ASL underway
CITA session
CITA practice in the Concordia Theological Seminary Chapel
ELMS Director Rev. Thomas Dunseth interpreting for LWML Gathering in Michigan in 2022
