“When we think about, as Christians, how saturated our lives are with God’s Word, many Deaf people do not have any access to that at all because the translation is not available in their heart language,” DOOR’s President/CEO Rob Myers says. “So because of the urgency of the Gospel, because we want to see Deaf people’s lives transformed by knowing, following, and being able to serve God with the gifts God’s given them, they have to have access to God’s Word in their heart language.”

DOOR recognizes the importance of having locals within the communities they reach be a part of the translation process and, according to their website, their goal is to “equip Deaf disciple-makers.”

“ Translations need to happen on a local level because people within a people group know their language best,” Myers says. “So that translation’s going to be accepted well. It’s going to be used by the community because it’s developed by people within the community.”

Photo courtesy of DOOR International

There are over 350 sign languages worldwide, but less than 10% of them have any Scripture translations. “Sign language Bible translation is a critical need for us to be able to see the Great Commission happen in our lifetimes,” he says.

The American Sign Language (ASL) is the only sign language to have a full Bible translation, and that just happened this Fall. Since sign language is a visual language, the translations are done on video.

Many spoken languages have various resources available to aid them in the translation process, but for those in the Deaf community, that doesn’t exist. DOOR and Deaf Harbor’s new partnership is hoping to change that.

“We’re going to be partnering with them, getting some of their own perspectives and expertise, and trying to produce some translation resources,” Myers says. “Our hope is that that really will help accelerate the translation process.”

Even though acceleration is the goal, accuracy will still be key. “[Accuracy] is very close to the heart of DOOR in terms of producing God’s Word,” he says. Myers says that two values that are key within the organization are the “urgency of the Gospel” and accuracy.

“This is God’s Holy Word and so when we translate it, we’re actually setting theology for these communities for generations to come. So if we don’t do that well, we can actually be damaging some of these communities,” he says.

Bible translation is such a major component of getting the Gospel to the world, yet there’s still a huge need for it.

“There are whole people groups that are dying right now not having access to God’s Word in their heart language, and those include Deaf communities, so there’s an urgency to get God’s Word out to these communities as quickly as possible.”

Feature photo courtesy of Pixabay

(Graphic courtesy of World Federation of the Deaf)

Each of the seven days has a specific focus, and IWD aims to raise Deaf awareness and advocacy among the wider hearing community. Read past IWD stories here.

There are approximately 70 million Deaf people worldwide who use more than 350 unique sign languages. Until this summer, no sign language had a complete Bible. Today, U.S. Deaf believers rejoice as the first to have all of God’s Word within reach. Watch the ASLV Bible here.

“There has been a tremendous and exciting reaction from the U.S. Deaf Christian community,” Deaf Missions President Chad Entinger says via email. Earlier this month, the first-ever ASLV Bible “went live” on Deaf Missions’ app after 38 years of labor.

“Doing sign language Bible translation with video drafts takes longer than text or printed drafts,” Entinger explains.

“Our patience was tested at times as this journey was a long marathon, not a sprint.”

“The amount of technical skill needed is so much more than what we need for written translation, so it is a bigger task. It often takes longer,” Wycliffe USA’s Andy Keener says.

In 2016, Wycliffe USA joined American Bible Society, Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Harbor, DOOR International, Pioneer Bible Translators, and Seed Company in a new collaborative effort to help Deaf Missions cross the finish line.

“Four years ago, [Deaf Missions] said, ‘we’re about 16 years from completion.’ Several organizations got together and said, ‘if we had the resources, could we do it in four?’” Keener recalls.

Entinger adds, “thanks to God’s provision through the generosity of Deaf Missions donors and funding partners, we were able to overcome funding challenges and onboard more translators to accelerate completion of the Bible, thereby finishing in 2020 instead of our original projection of 2033!”

Find your place in the story

Now that you know, what will you do? You could move on with no further action, or you could celebrate Deaf ministry in four ways on IWD using the suggestions below.

(Photo courtesy of Deaf Missions)

First and foremost, pray. “Spend time in prayer for the sign language Bible translation projects currently happening, and for future projects. [Pray] for sign language Bibles to impact Deaf Christians more than ever before,” Entinger requests.

Second, consider investing in the work of Deaf ministries like Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Missions, or DOOR International. “These are organizations ministering with and to Deaf people worldwide. Get to know them; come alongside one of these organizations, and help them carry out the ministry that they’re engaged in,” Keener suggests.

Third, help raise Deaf awareness by sharing this article using the buttons below. “The Church is [relatively] new to this whole world of sign language Bible translation,” Keener observes.

“Raising that awareness helps make sure we’re connecting well with Deaf people, and they’re not left out, especially in the message of the Gospel.”

Fourth, learn more about Deaf culture in case you cross paths with a Deaf individual. “Learn a few signs; be prepared to greet someone and let them know that you care. There is a cross-cultural aspect to engaging with Deaf people,” Keener says.

“Take your cell phone, go to wherever you get your apps and look for the Deaf Bible app. Find the American Sign Language version of the Bible. Have it on your phone when you meet a Deaf person [and share it with them]. Many Deaf people don’t even know that the Scriptures are available in sign language.”

Header image courtesy of Deaf Missions via Facebook.

Rob Myers of DOOR International says that’s about to change.

“In October, they’re holding a celebration for the first sign language [with] access to the full Bible.”

A labor of love

A few weeks ago, Deaf Missions announced they completed filming the final portion of Scripture in their decades-long project. Now, the translation will undergo editing, community checks, and consultant checks before a final version is released in the fall.

“Deaf Missions is the oldest running [sign language] Bible translation [organization] out there. They started in the early 1980s and have been persevering, even through various changes in technology,” Myers says.

“They began some of their work using VHS tapes. But, with the advent of new technology, they were able to speed up their work.”

The world’s 70 million Deaf people use an estimated 350+ sign languages. None have a complete Bible, and less than 50 have any published Scripture. Learn why Deaf people use different sign languages.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

“DOOR has been in partnership with Deaf Missions on this project to see American Sign Language be one of the first [sign] languages to have full Scripture access,” Myers notes.

Next steps

DOOR is also working with Deaf Harbor on a Chronological Bible Translation in American Sign Language. More about that here.

“The Chronological Bible Translation [is] more for communities that have never engaged with Scripture before,” Myers explains, “and that’s also going to be coming out at the same time [as] Deaf Missions’ version.”

Praise God for these developments! Learn how DOOR uses Chronological Bible Translation in tandem with Deaf-led church planting efforts. Plus, find ways to pray for Deaf ministry on a monthly basis.

Header image depicts Deaf Missions’ final day of filming on the American Sign Language Bible. Photo credit Deaf Missions.