Mission Statement

Deaf Streetlight’s mission is to connect Deaf individuals with community, families, Jesus and his church.

• Informing People About Deafness
• Teaching Sign Language
• Developing Interpreters
• Encouraging People (Deaf & Hearing) to train in our Bible Colleges who Specialize in Deaf Ministry Training
• Establishing and encouraging deaf ministries in our Churches of Christ/Christian Churches
• Serving the Deaf Community

• The United States has 38,000,000 hearing-impaired people, with more than 1,000,000 of them being deaf.
• American Sign Language (ASL) is the fourth most used language in the United States.
• A hearing man in Africa has a greater opportunity of being introduced to the gospel than a deaf person in the United States.
• We provide programs in schools, churches and other organizations to promote better understanding of the needs and abilities of the Deaf.
• Each church requesting a Deaf Institute mission presentation will see how God can use them and others to reach the Deaf with the good news of Jesus.

If we communicate in a language deaf people understand, the message is clearer and more personal. We teach basic sign language classes in various settings, encouraging people to learn ASL. Learning to communicate is the first step toward overcoming “deaf-related” barriers. Jesus took the time to communicate with the deaf man (Mark 7:31-37). Will you?

Would you go to a church where you did not understand the language? Most deaf ministries get started as the result of a need like this. Interpreters are a vital part of deaf ministry. Cecil introduced the Deaf Ministry Program at Cincinnati Christian University. It is now an Interpreter Training Program in cooperation with Cincinnati State College.

We help with ministry training for deaf and hearing people through teaching, student recruitment for Bible Colleges, interpreting assistance and scholarships.

The Mission provides scholarships for Deaf Camp, Deaf Leadership Training, Interpreting Seminars, and Specialized Workshops.  We provide Bible College scholarships for Deaf Ministry students through the Bennett Scholarship Fund, as funds become available. You may be able to assist us through your employer’s Matching Gifts Program.

The Deaf Institute is involved in starting and encouraging deaf churches and deaf ministries. We also provide help for deaf ministers so they can serve more effectively. Our Good News Fund helps to support Deaf ministries with Deaf preachers.

The Deaf Institute sponsors Deaf & Family & Friends Camp annually.  It is run by the Deaf with advice and support from our mission.

To reach deaf people, you cannot restrict yourself to a church setting.  Our goal is to share Christ’s love with deaf people. We do this by serving the Deaf in the following ways:

1. Raising community awareness of deaf needs and abilities:
   • Everybody Counts Programs in the schools
   • Involvement in deaf-related organizations
   • Presentations for community organizations
2. Working with parents of deaf/hard of hearing children:
   • “Gifts of Hope” bags are given to families who find out their child is deaf. Included in these bags are books, articles, and gifts to encourage families.
   • The Shared Reading Program helps families with deaf children understand ASL and English while reading together.  A deaf tutor brings book bags into the family’s home and teaches them how to read books together with ASL.
   • We partner with GE Volunteer Organization and others to be more effective.
3. Arranging for Sign Language classes and other educational opportunities in community organizations.
4. Making referrals to other organizations.
5. Providing a lending library of DVDs, videotapes and books.

“Before people can trust in the Lord for help, they must believe in Him. And before people can believe in the Lord, they must hear about Him. And for people to hear about the Lord, another person must tell them.” – Romans 10:14 (EVD)

The Bible tells us God “can do more than we ask or imagine”. We need your prayers to help us reach God’s goals for our mission. Several goals have been met through the power of prayer: the Deaf Institute’s building, car, and assistance with deaf ministers in the field. Pray for the mission, the staff, and deaf people who need to be reached with the Good News.