International (MNN) — Exact statistics are hard to come by, but up to 98 percent of the global Deaf population lacks Gospel access.
DOOR International trains Deaf Christians and sends them out in pairs to reach Deaf communities. One believer is gifted in evangelism, while the other excels at teaching. Modeled after Christ’s approach in Luke 10:1, DOOR’s “2-by-2” program currently supports 40 teams worldwide.
Deaf pastor Allan Orozco oversees DOOR’s global 2-by-2 ministry from his home in Costa Rica. Speaking to MNN through a female interpreter, he says that when an evangelist shares Christ in a Deaf community and people show interest, “We begin a Chronological Bible Study.”
The Deaf community requires outreach tailored to its needs. In other words, unreached Deaf people need to encounter the Gospel through Deaf missionaries and Deaf methods.
“Many deaf individuals grow up in hearing families and don’t have the context [because] they’re language-deprived,” Orozco explains.
“They’re not taking in the (Bible) stories like a hearing individual would. We use the Chronological Bible approach to help them better understand and give context to what’s in Scripture.”
How to grow a Deaf church
When 2-by-2 Deaf leaders enter new communities and share Scripture in sign language, Deaf men and women encounter Jesus and form believers’ fellowships. These are similar to what the hearing world terms “small groups” or “Bible study groups.”
“In the Chronological Bible teaching approach, these two workers see some being saved in the community and continuing in that journey of discipleship with them, teaching and training,” Orozco says.
“I never thought that Deaf people could become pastors or leaders,” said *Joseph, a young Deaf believer from *Slibar.
“I realized that God had given us gifts just like He had given hearing people. The ability to access His Word and to fellowship with believers in my language has been life-changing.”
*Pseudonyms
(Photo, caption courtesy of DOOR International)
Over time, believers’ fellowships grow and mature into Deaf-led churches. The 2-by-2 team helps these churches select and train new leaders. Some take over church leadership, while others are sent in pairs to neighboring communities. The original 2-by-2 team then starts work in a new location.
Planting and growing Deaf-led churches can take longer than in the hearing world. “In levels one through three, the time could vary, but it’s usually around nine years,” Orozco says.
Depending on the location, “A 2-by-2 worker would identify one of four levels that an area would best align with, and then we serve them based on these criteria,” he continues.
“Level one means there are no churches. There are no known believers, and so we have to send a missionary. Level two is that there seems to be some semblance of Deaf Leadership, so we could send one missionary to support and raise up the 2-by-2 workers in the country.”
In level three, “There are some Deaf churches, potentially some Deaf leadership that would simply require some recruiting, training, and then sending them out as 2-by-2 workers in their communities,” Orozco says.
“Level four is a completely autonomous, established [Deaf Church.] Chronological Bible training is happening, [new Deaf churches] are happening, Deaf leadership [training], and we’re simply supporting and encouraging them.”
The end result is worth all the hard work. “There are a lot of potentially-accessible churches that are hearing-based that a Deaf person could be a part of,” Orozco admits.
“We long to see a Deaf Church with indigenous leadership to communicate and worship in their way, according to their Deaf culture.”
Find your place in the story
DOOR currently has 40 Deaf 2-by-2 teams trained and deployed worldwide. Meanwhile, millions of Deaf individuals wait for Gospel access. Pray that the Lord will connect Deaf Christians with Deaf people who need to know Jesus.
(Photo courtesy DOOR International)
“Like the Bible says: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to provide more workers for His harvest field.’ That is our prayer: to raise up more Deaf leaders to go out to the harvest,” Orozco says.
Second, “Pray for the 2-by-2 workers who are currently evangelizing and working in Deaf communities,” Orozco requests.
“It’s stressful. There’s a lot on their plate, navigating the spiritual tensions of the work that they do, as well as their own family demands. [Pray that] they’re engaged and strengthened in their work.”
Finally, if you know a group of Deaf Christians, consider connecting them with your local church. “A (hearing) church opening up space for the Deaf community to use for their own worship and gathering would be so valuable,” Orozco says.
Header and story images courtesy DOOR International.
