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Deaf Institute Staff
bryan_1 Bryan and Pam have 6 children, including Nathaniel, who is Deaf. Bryan started learning Sign Language to be able to communicate God’s love and his own love with Nathaniel. The Deaf at Western Hills Church of Christ asked Bryan to teach a Bible School class while the Deaf taught him sign language. Later, Cecil Bennett, founder of the Deaf Institute, asked Bryan and Pam to be part of the mission team of the Deaf Institute. For 6 months, they prayed and watched God remove Bryan’s excuses and learned that with God all things are possible. Bryan had previously earned a Bachelors of Music degree from Univ. of Miami (FL) plus an MA and M Div from Cincinnati Christian University.
pam_1 Pam joins Bryan in ministry through the Deaf Institute.  She enjoys many memorable moments with their six adult children and their spouses/friends and (two grandchildren).  She fondly looks back on the unexpected, yet rich journey learning the new dimension of deafness in the midst of family life.  God brought many wonderful teachers and friends, both deaf and hearing, into their home and hearts.

Pam is the Family Ministry Representative, which gives her many opportunities to connect with families who have deaf and hearing members.   She received a Bachelor of Theology with music major from Ozark Christian College and a Masters in Religious Education from Cincinnati Christian University.
kim_1 Kim Irwin became interested in learning Sign Language as a freshman at Cincinnati Christian University, when she lived across the hall from Linda Leddington (CCU’s first full-time Deaf student).  Linda started her training with a personal crash course.  Later Kim was able to join Cecil Bennett’s sign classes and to study interpreting with Nancy Latimer.

As a student, Kim sometimes traveled to churches with Cecil Bennett as he informed people about deafness and helped to establish deaf ministries.  She served as a student interpreter at CCU, under the guidance of Nancy (Latimer) Basil and Pam Richards.  After graduation, she continued interpreting for a few years and later joined the Deaf Institute staff as Cecil’s Administrative Assistant.  She has been here ever since.

Kim is married to Roger and they have a teenage daughter, Tegan.  Kim is involved in Children’s Ministry at LifeSpring Christian Church in Harrison, Ohio.