Brief Profile

Although as much as half of deafness has genetic causes, fewer than five percent of Deaf people have a Deaf parent, so Deaf communities are unusual among cultural groups in that most members do not acquire their cultural identities from parents. Historically, Deaf culture has often been acquired within Deaf schools and within social clubs for the Deaf, both of which unite the American Deaf into communities with which they can identify. Becoming Deaf culturally can occur at different times for different people, depending on the circumstances of one's life.

While Deaf Americans may be found in churches whose predominant focus is to the hearing community, there are also churches focused specifically on ministry to the Deaf. More churches are needed to minister specifically to the unique needs of the Deaf, as well as to pass on a passion for missions to Deaf peoples around the world.

Prayer Points

• Pray for the gospel to continue to spread in the Deaf American community.
• Pray for God to raise up Christian leaders from within the Deaf community to work in the harvest.
• Pray for Christians in the Deaf American community to start new churches and ministries for the Deaf.
• Pray for Deaf American Christians to catch a vision for reaching out cross-culturally to other Deaf groups around the world.