In any country, Deaf people represent an under-reached people group. Many Deaf children around the world grow up in families that know no sign language. These kids communicate with their parents and siblings only through pointing or basic gestures. When government-run schools are available, Deaf children often receive only a basic education. These children learn to sign but often still cannot communicate with their families. Even Deaf children in Christian families often miss important spiritual foundations. Without sign language, church is just another place where people sit and stand and speak. Deaf children sit and watch without any comprehension of the meaning. Limited literacy poses another barrier to salvation and spiritual growth. Many Deaf people cannot read and understand the Bible.

Ministries like Iglesia Bautista Maranata de Sordos (Maranatha Baptist Deaf Church) exist to answer these unique needs of Deaf people. Through the church and school, Missionaries Raymond and Anita Bradley are changing the lives of Deaf people. Their church is unique—it is a Deaf church with a hearing ministry. Both Deaf and hearing people are fully integrated together. All services are signed in Ecuadorian sign language with voice interpretation into Spanish. The church runs a school where Deaf children and their hearing siblings can receive a high-quality education. Often, Deaf students come to the school with no communication at all. A new student systematically learns sign language vocabulary sign by sign, word by word. Before long, he is communicating fluently and able to learn all the other subjects. Students graduate from the Bradleys’ school with a solid spiritual and academic foundation.