The American Sign Language Version (ASLV) and was primarily translated by Deaf people, for Deaf people. Deaf Bible Society helped propel this translation project over the last 38 years along with Deaf Missions, American Bible Society, Deaf Harbor, DOOR International, Pioneer Bible Translators, The Seed Company, and Wycliffe USA.

Chantel Pagan with Deaf Bible says, “It’s been years and years in the making. So it’s such new ground to say, yes, we have every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in American Sign Language — the first sign language of many, many that are still waiting.”

(Photo courtesy of Deaf Missions)

Deaf Bible is also celebrating the ASL Chronological Bible Translation (CBT), recently completed with a coalition of Deaf ministries. The CBT consists of 119 biblical stories from Genesis to Revelation and is more intended for Deaf individuals who are unfamiliar with the Bible.

Deaf Bible’s website and app are easy ways for Deaf individuals to access sign language Bible translations. Deaf Bible works diligently with its partners to get these translations as soon as they are available and publish them on their digital platforms for distribution.

With the completion of the ASLV and CBT Bible translations, over three million Deaf individuals now have access to all of God’s Word in their heart sign language for the first time in history.

Pagan says, “We believe that providing access is really what can…create an opportunity for individuals to live a life that’s biblically-centered and where they can have culturally relevant conversations within their communities centered around the Gospel.”

The ASLV Bible is available now at DeafBible.com and the Deaf Bible app, and Pagan says they hope to have the CBT translation up as well by the end of the year.

(Photo courtesy of Deaf Missions)

“For Deaf individuals, what we see often is they say it’s the Bible coming alive… To them, it’s signs being shown in video format in their native language, and it speaks and it communicates directly to their heart.”

Of course, Pagan says they are far from finished with sign language Bible translations. “As we celebrate the American Sign Language Version, Deaf Bible Society is excited to share that we’re also participating in accelerating 20 other sign language Bible translation projects. This is one of many to come.”

As Deaf Christians have greater access to Scripture in their heart language, they will be better equipped to engage in a local church and the global Body of Christ.

“[Pray for] the Bible being distributed, and that Deaf people would become aware…and be open to receiving what Scripture has to offer.”

Learn more about Deaf Bible’s ministry here!

Header photo courtesy of Deaf Missions.

CEO Chantel Pagan says Deaf Bible Society marks a half-decade of ministry this summer.

“We are so excited to look back and consider all of the wonderful things that the Lord has done in and through Deaf Bible Society and our incredible partners.”

In the summer of 2015, a team within Faith Comes By Hearing laid plans for reaching Deaf people with God’s Word. Whereas only the Deaf Bible app existed previously, the Deaf Bible Society began to take shape as a formal organization. Today, Deaf Bible Society works in 76 sign language communities around the world. They’re distributing Bible content, training distributors, researching, building relationships, and funding Bible translation efforts.

See a full timeline here.

(Photo courtesy of Deaf Bible Society)

“Through the course of this five-year history, it has been so incredible to see the Lord align and set into motion new levels of collaboration to see His Great Commission take shape for Deaf people worldwide,” Pagan says.

DBS: a growing Deaf ministry

There are an estimated 70 million Deaf people worldwide. Deaf Bible Society connects these individuals with God’s Word in their heart sign languages. More about that here.

Less than five percent of the world’s 400+ sign languages have any Scripture. But that’s exactly what makes sign language Bible translation such an essential task.

“We’re doing everything we can to set into motion key strategic initiatives to see greater translation growth, as well as seeing new Deaf leaders arise and participate in the Great Commission’s call,” Pagan says.

In the years to come, “we look forward to seeing more content available and distributed to Deaf people,” she adds.

Your participation is vital to continuing this movement.

Partnership propelled the ministry so far, and it fuels Deaf Bible Society’s forward motion.

“We did not get to this point alone. Those who have faithfully contributed through prayer, encouragement, and through resources [have] allowed Deaf Bible Society to have the impact that it has,” Pagan notes.

“In the next five years, we are looking forward to the Lord taking Deaf Bible Society and our partnerships in translation, acceleration, and Bible distribution to a whole new level.”

Here are four ways you can support the Deaf Bible movement.

Header image courtesy of Deaf Bible Society.

As described here, a majority of governors have imposed statewide stay-at-home orders, and the decision to lift those restrictions remains at the state level. Experts continually debate the balance between public health and economic impact.

COVID-19 updates have consumed national headlines for weeks. See our full coverage here. Nearly every major televised address features an American Sign Language interpreter. Deaf Bible Society’s Chantel Pagan says this inclusive access to vital information is a new development. “Over the last two years, we’ve seen a wave of awareness to the Deaf community at large,” she explains.

(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

“I think that has opened up a new desire in many news outlets and government agencies to recognize the need for communication in sign languages, and to provide quality interpretation for information… especially when it comes to emergencies.”

Informing and encouraging Deaf communities

There are some sign language platforms focused solely on Deaf audiences, but they are few and far between. “[DPAN.TV] is a sign language channel that focuses on providing access to interpretive content, updated news, and other resources as well,” Pagan says. Check it out here.

In this unprecedented time of nationwide isolation, Deaf Bible Society connects Deaf people to the most important information of all: God’s Word. “One of our core desires is for the Deaf community to be engaged with God’s Word and encouraged with God’s Word in community,” Pagan says.

Since “many states have opted into ‘stay in place’ orders, this led us to encourage others to be refreshed by the Christian community through technology,” she adds.

“We want to make sure that our fellow Deaf… have an opportunity and an access point to be encouraged by the Church and refreshed by God’s Word.”

On its website, Deaf Bible Society keeps a running list of U.S. churches offering Deaf-led and interpreted services. Click here to see the list.

Find your place in the story

Lord, we lift up the world today in prayer. May Your peace descend as we navigate difficult times.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Deaf Bible Society via Facebook)

Using the buttons below, share this article with Deaf friends. They may be unaware of the communication outlets and resources available to them. “Join us in praying that the Lord would move greatly through the Church and with the use of technology to be a beacon and a shining light for every Deaf person,” Pagan requests.

“Though this season is one of trial and struggle, I believe so strongly that the Lord is raising up the Church at-large to be the Church from anywhere, and in this case, from home.”

Use this Prayercast video to pray globally, and use the prompts listed alongside this article to intercede for needs specific to Deaf believers. While most of Deaf Bible Society’s U.S.-based partners have adapted well to lockdown measures, that’s not the case for international teams.

“We have projects [with limited] ability to work from home, and so if the government puts a restriction in place…that can really limit our ability to work with them and see projects move forward,” Pagan explains.

Header image depicts Vice President Mike Pence meeting with the White House Coronavirus Task Force Principals on Monday, March 2, 2020, in the White House Situation Room.  (Wikimedia Commons)

Last year on #GivingTuesday, Deaf Bible Society raised nearly $2,800 to fund Scripture engagement training in Uganda and the surrounding region. “We saw such a generous outpouring,” says Deaf Bible Society’s Chantel Pagan.

“[It] was just so encouraging to us that this year, we said ‘what more can we put in front of the giving community?’ What are the remaining languages that just haven’t received that much notice?”

This year, Deaf Bible Society is “upping the ante” on #GivingTuesday. Pagan says the group wants to raise $28,000 dollars to train Deaf leaders worldwide in Scripture engagement.

Why do the Deaf need Scripture engagement training?

(Graphic courtesy of Deaf Bible Society via Facebook)

There’s a critical need for sign language Scripture; less than 50 of the world’s 400+ sign languages have any portions of God’s Word. No sign languages have a complete Bible, and only American Sign Language has a complete New Testament.

Providing sign language Scripture is a great first step, but ministry efforts cannot stop there. Deaf Bible Society identified two additional necessities during “the last five years of… intense survey and research with [Deaf] communities around the world,” Pagan says.

First, Deaf need to see Bible content in their heart sign language. Second, “there needs to be some encouragement for Deaf communities [to] take ownership of that Scripture,” Pagan explains.

“For so long… the hearing community has impressed upon the Deaf that… printed text is superior and trumps a Bible in other languages, like [a] visual format for the Deaf.”

The training begins with correcting misperceptions, Pagan says, then moves on to “various factors that have impacted the Deaf community, owning and accepting Bible in their heart language, understanding how to use that and apply Scripture to our daily walk; also, how can I as an individual share that with others?”

Learn more about Deaf Bible Society’s Scripture engagement training here.

How to support Deaf on #GivingTuesday

(Graphic courtesy of Deaf Bible Society via Facebook)

#GivingTuesday is coming up on December 3. According to NonprofitsSource.com, the charitable movement has grown each year, rising from $10.1 million in 2012 to $380 million in 2018.

You could wait until December 3 to get involved – Pagan says there’s a matching gift for every donation on that day – or, you can take action now. Visit Deaf Bible Society’s #GivingTuesday page for more information or to make an online donation, Pagan suggests.

“Prayerfully consider [supporting] our efforts so that no Deaf person would be without a Bible in their heart language.”

Header image is a free resource courtesy of #GivingTuesday.org.

Deaf Bible Society’s Chantel Pagan says 28 sign languages now have Bible portions available 24-7 on the Deaf Bible App and website. Learn more about Deaf Bible Society here.

“It’s just been astounding to see God align strategic partnerships with translation organizations who are physically and actively working to excel in translations for sign languages around the world and provide that content to our Deaf Bible platform,” says Pagan.

“We’ve just been so astonished to see God’s hand at work amongst the Deaf community at large.”

Celebrating progress…

Deaf communities around the world use more than 400 distinct sign languages. Having God’s Word in 28 of them may not seem like a big deal. However, this number is significant considering Deaf history.

(Photo courtesy of Albert Gonzalez Farran/UNAMID)

American Sign Language – and the hundreds of other sign languages that exist worldwide – only gained recognition as a “real” language during the past century. Some governments still don’t officially recognize the sign language used by their Deaf communities.

Furthermore, sign language Bible translation work didn’t begin until the introduction of mainstream video recording tools. Many of the translations on Deaf Bible’s platform were created in the past 20 years.

Additionally, the Lord gathered 1,100 people from around the world to join Deaf Bible’s prayer movement during the past fiscal year. Find more details in Deaf Bible’s annual report.

“Everything that’s been accomplished this past fiscal year… has been accomplished because of partnership — not only partnerships with other organizations, but partnership with people who are advocating to see the Deaf community know Christ.”

It’s great progress, but there’s still a lot of work left. This is where you come in.

…with eyes on the horizon

(Photo courtesy of Deaf Bible Society)

In addition to the advancements described above, God grew Deaf Bible Society as an organization. The ministry’s headquarters relocated to another state, Pagan shares, and they added a new department. DBS also launched a new Deaf Bible platform “that is engaging the Deaf community in a more Deaf-centric way,” she describes.

“Those [developments] have helped to spur [us on] and encourage us to cast ‘God-sized’ goals this year.”

Pagan lists several goals Deaf Bible Society is aiming for in the coming fiscal year:

• 30 active sign language Bible translation projects;
• at least 40 sign languages with Bible content available on the Deaf Bible app and website;
• 544 Deaf individuals trained and equipped to engage their local community with God’s Word in sign language;
• 1,000 devices per sign language pre-loaded with content and distributed in Deaf communities;
• 20,000 active users regularly engaging with God’s Word in sign language; and,
• 1,500 prayer advocates.

“We know that God is able to help us achieve these goals,” she says, adding that the total cost of these objectives hovers somewhere around $8 million USD. Click here to help cover that sum.

“[Readers] and listeners of Mission Network News, we’re excited to have you partner in the ways of advocacy, but also in the way of ‘allyship’ – to come alongside Deaf people who have a place in the Kingdom.”

Header image courtesy of Deaf Bible Society.