Rev. Mark Eichler, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Emporia, Kansas, says, "There is a great mission need to reach out to the deaf. About 10 percent of hte populatioin is deaf, and about 90 percent of those do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord."
The Mission of the Kansas District Deaf Ministry Task Force is to encourage and expand deaf ministry in Kansas.
Goal #1: Identify needs for deaf ministry in Kansas (financial, personnel, demographics)
Goal #2: Develop the position of Missionary with the Deaf
Chairman: Pastor Mark Eichler, Faith Lutheran Church , Emporia
Members: Kathy and Chuck Weidner, Wilma Phillips, Esther Zimmerman, Glenda Haefner, Deb Hale, Janet McDougal, Ernie and Nila Haefner, Pastor Mike Herzberg, Pastor Paul Tessaro, Ann and Lisa Erickson
District Staff: Rev. Mark Frith
Summary of Activities
1. Annual Deaf Ministry Workshop
In the Fall of each year, a congregation of the District hosts a day-long workshop. In the past, a two-part workshop was held. A portion of the workshop focused on how hearing congregations can reach out to the deaf. A second portion of the workshop focused on how the deaf can reach out to the deaf. More recently, the workshop has been a "Witness Workshop for the Deaf and Friends." the them has been to encourage the deaf to reach out and witness to their deaf friends.
2. Create a network of churches and ministries who are reaching out to the deaf with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A chat-room was established on the internet allowing churches and those individuals who are doing "deaf ministry" to share ideas, to offer support and encouragement to each other, and be a place where questions might be answered by others. It has not been maintained because it was not being used. Currently, a couple of times a year a Deaf Ministry Task Force meeting is held, allowing for this networking to occur, as well as to plan the annual Deaf Ministry Workshop.
3. A matching-funds challenge grant has been established to support deaf ministry in Kansas. A generous gift was given to fund this challenge. Gifts given to the Kansas District Deaf Ministry Fund will be matched, until a limit of $10,000 has been matched.
SING-N-SIGN WORKSHOP
Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
June 24-27, 2008
Information
Registration Form
Links
Deaf Lutheran Mission Society: www.deafjesus.org
Deaf Institute of Theology: www.deafleaders.org
LCMS Deaf Ministry: www.LCMSdeaf.org