ELMS is a mission society of the Michigan District whose purpose is to establish Lutheran mission outreach to Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons. The society was founded in 2003 for the purpose of bringing the good news of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. The society’s goals are to establish Lutheran Deaf congregations, to create and gather educational resources specifically suited for the Deaf, to encourage participation from LCMS congregations, to publish and distribute deaf ministry resources, and to raise funds in support of these goals.