HISTORY
Deaf Missions is truly a story of God at work. Its history and work demonstrate the belief that Deaf people are included in Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20a. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Watch Deaf Missions’ 50th year Celebration (56 minutes)
Duane King, Founder of Deaf Missions, first met Deaf people while serving as minister at First Christian Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. During the Christmas season of 1966, Duane was askedto deliver an anonymous cash gift to some Deaf people in the community. From this firstmeeting with Emery and Louise Booth came the challenge to reach them and other Deaf peoplewith the Gospel of Jesus.
By 1970, God’s call was so strong on Duane’s heart and mind that he knew he had to minister with Deaf people full-time, and on March 28, 1970, Deaf Missions was born. Deaf Missions was officially incorporated as an Iowa non-profit and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service asa tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3)of the Internal Revenue Code in November of 1970, allowing all financial gifts to Deaf Missions to be tax-deductible.
Even before Deaf Missions was incorporated, Duane began teaching Bible classes with Deaf children. For many years these after-school classes were taught at Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and at Nebraska School for the Deaf in Omaha, Nebraska. Also in the early years, Deaf Missions began two important areas of ministry. Christ’s Church of the Deaf wasestablished in Council Bluffs in July of 1971. And Deaf Missions welcomed Deaf people andtheir families and friends to an annual Bible Camp for the Deaf from 1971 to 2014.
From 1977 to 2015, Deaf Missions hosted the Extension Class Program which granted students from various Bible colleges up to 16 hours of college credit for completing studies that focusedon ministering among Deaf people. From 2011 to 2019, the Deaf Missions Training Center, atwo-year program, equipped both Deaf and hearing people for Deaf Ministry. Deaf Missionshas also conducted other training programs through the years, including God Loves Deaf Peopleseminars and Building Better Families workshops. And for many years Deaf Missions hastrained leaders and interpreters through its conferences which are generally held every two years.
In 1979 Deaf Missions printed the first issue of Daily Devotions for the Deaf. From that time until December of 2020, Deaf Missions published a devotion for every day of the year. For several years the devotions were also signed in American Sign Language (ASL). Many of thesesigned devotions have been archived and can be viewed on the Deaf Missions website.Through the years,
Deaf Missions staff members have served at many hearing camps, Vacation Bible Schools and conventions and shared the news about Deaf Missions with countless numbers of churches. In 1982 Duane and his wife, Peggy, began Operation SERVE where they traveled across America, towing their fifth-wheel trailer and telling people about Deaf Missions.
Volunteers have always played an important role in the success of Deaf Missions. Hundreds ofvolunteers from the area gathered for many year to assemble devotion book and to prepare mailings. And many volunteers came forward to help complete the JESUS movie.
The enormous project of translating the Bible into ASL was conceived in 1981. Dr. Harold Noe was recruited to lead that project. After 23 years the New Testament in ASL was completed. In2016, years later, thanks to a large grant, Deaf Missions was able to hire additional translatorsto speed up the process. The ASLV, the entire Bible in sign language, was completed in 2020and may be viewed on the Deaf Missions website and app. The ASLV now serves as a model forBible translations into other sign languages around the world.
Deaf Missions has produced many Christian videos through the years, including The Finger FoodCafé and Big Bible Stories. Also, in partnership with other ministries, they have completed 65episodes of Dr. Wonder’s Workshop for Deaf children, their families and friends. Theseepisodes are now available on various Christian TV networks as well as the Deaf Missions website and app.
Deaf Missions’ latest project has been producing and promoting a “For Deaf By Deaf” full-feature movie about the life of Jesus. The JESUS movie premiered in April of 2024. Several ministry partners worked with the Deaf Missions staff to create curriculum to follow-up with Deaf people who view the movie and make a decision to follow Jesus.
A board of directors is actively involved in the ministry of Deaf Missions, meeting at least fourtimes a year. The board consists of Christian men and women who have experience and skills inbusiness, church leadership, management, Deaf culture and finance. All of the board membersadhere to the goal of restoring the church to the pattern that the New Testament describes,and they strongly believe that Deaf people are to be included in the New Testament church.
After 37 years of leading Deaf Missions, and at the age of 70 in November of 2007, Duane turned over the leadership of Deaf Missions to Chad Entinger. Chad is Deaf and highly regardedby both Deaf and hearing people. He grew up in the Christian Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota. Duane continued to be involved in the work of Deaf Missions, serving in public andchurch relations part-time until his death in 2022. Even with the change of leaders, Deaf Missions’ focus and purposes remain the same — to effectively reach Deaf people with theGospel of Jesus Christ.
With roots in the Restoration Movement, Deaf Missions is committed to practicing unity in the body of Christ with the Bible as its sole authority. Because of its history, Deaf Missions paysspecial attention to mobilizing churches of its heritage, but also seeks to work with believers ofevery background, all who are able to unite around obeying God’s Word and making it accessible to Deaf people. Today Deaf Missions bridges the gap between the church and Deaf people who do not know Jesus — translating the Word and distributing resources in ASL and thereby transforming lives for eternity.