2023–2025 LWML Mission Grant #14: Enhancement of Deaf Ministry and Outreach — Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society, U.S. — $47,000

On Sunday, October 6, Michigan District President Ruth Steele presented the Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society (ELMS) with the check for LWML Mission Grant No. 14: Enhancement of Deaf Ministry and Outreach at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flint, Mich. 

Pictured left to right. Rev. Brant Engel, Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society President, and pastor at St. Paul, Flint, MI. Kaye Wolff, Michigan District Deaf Advocate, (grant writer). Ruth Steele, Michigan District President. Rev. Thomas Dunseth, Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society Vice President, and pastor at St. Paul, Flint, MI.

Ruth Steele and Kaye Wolff speak during the worship service. Rev. Thomas Dunseth translates in ASL for the 9 Deaf members in attendance.

This $47,000 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 enable them to continue interpreting the Lutheran Service Book settings 1, 2, 4, and Matins into American Sign Language for the benefit of all those who are deaf.

ELMS is dedicated to serving and supporting the deaf and hard-of-hearing community with the Gospel, especially to the many who have never been evangelized in their language. 

For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

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