A Cultural Perspective; A Spiritual Heritage  

Ministry with Deaf teenagers is tough! Once a youth worker is able to cross the language and cultural barriers between the hearing and Deaf worlds, there awaits a microcosm of all societal ills. Deaf and hard of hearing teenagers face all the same temptations, dangers and sins as other teenagers but without many of the supports available to their hearing peers. They are few in number and in most cases, scattered due to educational mainstreaming. For a number of reasons, the Christian faith has almost been extinguished within the Deaf community for younger generations.

The great news is that God “wants His people back” and is actively working across the nation through ministries reaching the scattered population of deaf and hard of hearing teenagers. A revival in the Deaf community is spreading across the country and primarily through youth ministry. This rapidly spreading impact on a new generation of young deaf and hard of hearing people is created by God through various ministries being willing to work together. Many Deaf teenagers across the nation are coming to Christ, maturing in faith and knowledge, and finding opportunities to develop leadership skills through service and missions.

This network is committed to the concept that ministry with deaf and hard of hearing teenagers is cultural ministry in the context of a language group. Although there are a number of sub-cultures and language variations within the Deaf community, the common experience of deafness creates a cultural identity. Yet the defining cultural identity of a Deaf Christian is that of a follower of Jesus. The Deaf community has a rich and vibrant Christian heritage that dates back for centuries yet has been largely forgotten in recent decades. Those in ministry with Deaf teenagers are committed to creating an environment where young deaf and hard of hearing people discover and grow in faith. We want them to recognize themselves as "created Deaf in the image of God."