There are over 400 known sign languages in use around the world today. Yet not one of these has a full Bible in their language – and only 5 percent of sign languages have Bible translation work started.
This is according to DOOR International, a non profit faith-based organisation which partners with deaf believers worldwide to develop sustainable church planting movements.
The deaf, DOOR International revealed in its recent report, are one of the largest unreached people groups with an estimated .2% reached globally and only 2%-4% in the US reached with the gospel of Christ.
Some Deaf people that have been to church have quickly turned away due to unobliging programs. The Deaf community does not always see their deafness as a disability, but rather a different way to navigate the world.
“Communication is a basic human need. Language is the primary way to communicate, but its expression is different between the hearing and Deaf communities. Spoken languages are expressed through oral and aural means—spoken with the voice and heard by the ears. Signed languages are expressed gesturally and visually—signed by the hands and face and seen by the eyes,” Deaf Bible Society says.
Deaf Bible Society this month introduced the Deaf Bible app to help persons with hearing impairment experiences the Bible in their sign language for the first time.
The app helps users experience Sign Language Bibles in an interactive and easy to use interface with 25+ sign language translations featuring skilled signers in sharp, close-up, color video.
International Mission Board which partners with churches to empower limitless missionary teams who are evangelizing, discipling, planting, and multiplying healthy churches, and training leaders revealed in 2017 that most of the 70 million deaf people around the world have never seen Jesus’ name signed in their language.
“But worldwide, the deaf are hungry for the Word and they desperately want to share the gospel with their communities,”
Stories from Uganda
During an interview with Deaf Bible Society, Brenda, who was not raised in a Christian home, but attended a Christian vocational school for the Deaf, told the organisation that her family didn’t know sign language, so they could not communicate with her about what they believed.
“Growing up it was difficult for me to understand the religious book my family used. It was at a vocational school that I first saw the Gospel message in my sign language. It was then that God’s Word took root in my heart and I learned about Jesus and understood why He came to save us,” Brenda said.
“A small group began meeting at the school to learn more about God in our Ugandan Sign Language. As the group continued to grow, we launched a Deaf church in our local community. Our original pastor recently passed away, but our church continues to grow, and the school group continues to meet and grow as well. God is so faithful,” she continued.
“I have tried to read the Bible, but it is very difficult and I understand very little. When I see Scripture in my Ugandan Sign Language, see my pastor teach us in Ugandan Sign Language, and see my brothers and sisters in Christ discuss it in Ugandan Sign Language, I know this is best. I understand God’s love for me. Others can see and understand it as well…I can see it in their eyes,” she explained.
Brenda told the Death Bible Society, that deaf people who are not Christians come to her church because they want to be around others in the Deaf community. “They are exposed to Jesus and see the changes in people’s lives. They are drawn to the goodness Jesus is growing within us,” she said.
