The WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing seeks to help congregations share the gospel of Jesus Christ with members of WELS and others who are deaf or hard of hearing.

It is estimated that loss of hearing affects more than 500 million people worldwide. One in three people over 65 years of age and one in two over the age of 80 have a hearing loss. Ninety percent of hearing losses can be helped with hearing instruments, and 10 percent can be treated medically and/or surgically. Yet fewer than 5 percent of those who could benefit actually use a hearing instrument.

The Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers resources to aid ministry to people who are deaf or have any degree of hearing loss. Churches that desire to help people with hearing loss participate in worship services and other church activities can obtain information on assistive listening devices (hearing loop, FM system) or sign language interpreters and VRI (Video Remote Interpreting). See our access directory below for a full listing of WELS churches with hearing loops, signed services and captioned sermons.