DeafYouth Ministries was established in 2000 by Bob and Kathy Ayres as a 501(C)3 ministry specifically for deaf and hard of hearing teenagers and their families. The primary outreach model developed by DeafYouth Ministries is Deaf Teen Quest (DTQuest ^_®, DTQ ^_®) which is now a ministry of Youth for Christ/USA in partnership with DeafYouth Ministries.

With this partnership in place, DeafYouth Ministries is emerging with an expanded focus through a new collaboration with Deaf Missions (Council Bluffs, IA). DeafYouth Ministries has always worked closely with church-based Deaf youth ministries but recently launched a new way to serve churches: Deaf Teen Connect (DTConnect ^_®). As part of launching DTConnect ^_®, we have established the Deaf Teen Connect Ministry Association for promoting program excellence and sustainability.

Our mission has a new dimension as we work with other ministries in innovative ways for program efficiency and excellence. DeafYouth Ministries desires for all deaf and hard of hearing young people to have the opportunity to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, develop a love for scripture as authority in their lives, and build leadership skills through service and missions.

DeafYouth Ministries foundation for understanding ministry with deaf and hard of hearing young people in the 21st Century is Deaf Diaspora: The Third Wave of Deaf Ministry (iUniverse, 2004) written by Bob Ayres. This book provides a framework for relational ministries with Deaf teenagers to help them understand and mature in the Christian faith. CLICK HERE to learn more about this valuable resource.


"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:8