Every week, your family goes to a building where people stand up and sit down multiple times. Then, one man stands up to talk for what feels like forever. There’s a picture in that building of a man broken and bleeding, nailed to a wooden structure.

You have so many questions about that picture, but no way to ask them. You want to know who the Man is, why He’s been abused, where and when this crime took place, and why the picture is in this building – yet with nowhere to turn with those questions, you set them aside unanswered.

This is what church is like for many Deaf people. “Deaf people can be sitting in church. They can be part of a Christian family that tries to do devotions every evening,” DOOR International’s Rob Myers says.

“They can be very near to the Gospel, but if there’s no access to the Gospel in sign language, they’re incredibly far from it.”

Knowledge barriers

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Deafness is the only disability that creates a separate language – sign language. Most Deaf communities are cut off from the Gospel because it’s not available in a sign language they understand.

“Globally, there are about 300 or more sign languages, and less than a third have any verse of Scripture translated,” Myers says.

You can help Deaf people know the Good News by partnering with DOOR International. Learn more about that here.

“Because one of the biggest issues facing the Deaf community right now, in terms of Gospel access, is a lack of awareness in the global church, one of the biggest steps that people can do is spread the word,” Myers says.

“If this is your first time recognizing that Deaf people have had barriers to the Gospel, take an opportunity to share this story with other people.”

Use the buttons at the bottom of this page to share this story on your social platforms. Most importantly, pray. Ask the Lord to use DOOR’s “I Want to Know” campaign to educate hearing believers about Deaf needs and encourage them to support Deaf ministry.

Header and story images courtesy of DOOR International. 

“Deaf friends of mine have talked about the experiences they had in Deaf schools where their hands were tied behind their backs, and their hands were beaten so that the children were not allowed to sign in class,” Rob Myers of DOOR International says.

“Thankfully, that’s changed significantly, but the (Deaf) community is still reaping the repercussions of over 100 years of that happening within their community.”

Similarly, Deaf communities today are cut off from the Gospel because it’s not available in the language they understand best.

“Access to sign language means access to information,” Myers explains.

“You have to have access to information in order to have access to the Gospel and to understand who Jesus is.”

DOOR International meets this need by training Deaf missionaries and translating Scripture into sign languages. More about that here. As a Deaf-led organization, DOOR creates Gospel access by the Deaf, for the Deaf.

“DOOR has about 230 staff globally, and 85 percent of our staff are Deaf,” Myers says.

A Deaf Gospel worker and Deaf students in Burundi.
(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Instead of imposing methods that work best in a hearing context, Deaf leaders at DOOR International teach other Deaf Christians how to share the Gospel in a Deaf way.

“We as hearing people have thought that Deaf people, because they can see, can read easily. Therefore, we just need to give them a written Bible for them to have access,” Myers says.

“[Instead,] they need access to God’s Word in their heart language, in sign language. They need somebody who is Deaf, who is trained to share the Gospel in a way that meets their language, culture, and context perfectly.”

Visit DOOR’s website to learn more about the needs of the global Deaf community, and consider partnering with DOOR International.

“There’s some great information from Deaf leaders in the field about how to effectively share the Gospel with Deaf people. There’s access to Scripture that’s been translated in case you run across a Deaf person and want to allow them to see Scripture in their own heart language,” Myers says.

“Deaf leaders across our organization would love for you to come alongside and partner with them in this amazing, effective work that they’re doing in over 30 countries.”

Header and story images courtesy of DOOR International. 

Instead of using the sign language that was most natural to them, Deaf children were forced to learn using oral methods.

“Oral education is the idea of using lip reading and speech therapy rather than sign language,” DOOR International’s Rob Myers explains,

“There were only one or two Deaf people out of hundreds of delegates in the room. The [Congress] decided that sign language education needed to be stopped and oral-only education needed to be emphasized. That destroyed the access to language and information for Deaf people,” he continues.

“Over about 40 years, from 1880 to 1920, about 80 percent of Deaf schools shifted from having sign language and oral education to just oral education only.”

The decision paralyzed Deaf education for generations. Think of gaining knowledge like a chain reaction, where one event sets off a sequence of similar events, much like how tipping over the first domino in a line causes all the others to fall.

(Photo courtesy of Bradyn Trollip/Unsplash)

“In order to know anything, you need access to information. And in order to get access to information, you need access to language. That language domino for Deaf people comes from a Deaf school; it doesn’t come from their families,” Myers says.

“Education in sign language is the key domino.”

Because the Milan Congress removed the sign language domino, none of the other dominoes could fall. Deaf students couldn’t learn because they couldn’t get access to information.

Thankfully, teachers met this summer in Rome to reverse the 1880 decision. More about that here. It was a “very, very different meeting with many, many Deaf people present,” Myers says.

“Their emphasis was ‘We need to stop oral-only education, and recognize – as the United Nations has done, and as over 40 percent of the world’s countries have done – that sign language is the language of Deaf people, and they need access to it to have access to information.’”

We’ll explain the connection to Gospel work in tomorrow’s report.

“Many of us, as hearing people, want to see the Gospel come to everyone. We can make some great plans, thinking that we understand the needs of a community, when, in fact, we’re missing some of the basic needs. That’s unfortunately been true for the Deaf community for thousands of years,” Myers says.

Header image is a representative photo courtesy of DOOR International.

The apostles of Jesus understood the importance of hearing the Gospel in one’s own language — even the New Testament was originally written in Greek.

Mark Stedman from Wycliffe Associates explains,

“One of the things that we know about Bible translation is that the work is difficult and the work is rewarding, and the work certainly brings an amazing spiritual blessing to the community that’s doing that.”

The ministry provides communities with written Bibles, sign language, as well as oral and audio Scripture. “We really want to be able to provide scripture in any way that people need,” says Stedman.

Bible translation is accelerated by empowering national translators and partnering with local churches. These translators often face displacement, persecution, and economic insecurity. Supporting and encouraging them is a vital goal of the ministry. Stedman shares:

“I always tell people, how do you treat people that you care about? You talk to them. You’re engaged in their lives. You sit and pray with them, you listen to their struggles, and you try to help them.”

Old Greek Bible (photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash)

To support this work, Wycliffe Associates uses Starlink internet, sending it directly to translators or relocating it with traveling workers. Having this technology regularly and consistently available has helped shorten the distance between Bible translation groups and their supporters worldwide.

“We’ve got over a dozen units now that are in place around the world. They are in Africa, as well as in the Pacific. There’s one particular Pacific nation that has over 250 million people in it, and it’s been really helpful for them. We’ve got some in Central America. In addition to that, we also have a number of units that travel,” says Stedman.

These “traveling units” are not fixed in one location but are assigned to field personnel who travel globally to support Bible translation efforts, carrying these portable units with them.

“It helps them to upload their Scriptures, to make sure that they’re safely saved in the ‘cloud’. It also allows them to be able to make those calls,” says Stedman.

Please pray that the Holy Spirit would encourage the hearts of His people as they serve through Bible translation. Visit Wycliffe Associates to know how you can help people hear the message of love in their own language!

Header photo: Indigenous man (photo courtesy of Alva Shoot via Pexels).

When the USSR collapsed, Central Asia entered a profound historical and cultural transition. For many nations, it marked a slow but determined journey toward shaping their own national identity and reclaiming their native languages. While older generations still commonly speak Russian, younger people — shaped by a different historical reality — often long to speak in their own languages. The same is true within the Deaf community.

Rob Myers from DOOR International explains, “During the former Soviet Union times, Russian Sign Language was actually taught in countries throughout Central Asia.” But things have changed. The ministry began to see the need for a generational approach.

“There’s a desire for them to really have their own language, not just be adapting Russian Sign Language,” Myers says.

Two women (representative photo courtesy of RDNE Stock project via Pexels)

To meet this need, DOOR International is adapting its training programs to serve both older and younger Deaf generations. The organization equips local leaders and sends workers to connect with emerging sign languages across the region. “Once enough leaders have been raised up,” Myers continues, “they’ll begin doing Bible translation work in that sign language, and they’ll empower local leaders to share the Gospel and make disciples themselves.”

Still, the biggest challenge remains: how to communicate the Gospel to Deaf believers in a way that helps them understand. It’s not uncommon for Deaf individuals to attend church for years without fully understanding the message — simply because they feel out of context.

“Just having an interpreted hearing service isn’t enough,” Myers says. “Deaf people often miss information… Part of it is how Deaf people process communication — it’s different. For many hearing people, we listen to a sermon and reflect individually. But Deaf people often process information best in community.”

Myers shares a powerful example: two girls who had regularly attended church for years but never fully understood the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice. That changed when they met trained workers who spoke their heart language and spent time answering their questions.

“Both of them ended up giving their lives to Christ. The passion that came out of finally understanding, finally having access — it was incredible and contagious.”

Pray for the Deaf workers from DOOR International across Central Asia who are faithfully bridging the gap — helping both the older and younger generations encounter the Gospel in their own language and on their own terms.

Header representative photo courtesy of Thiago Baretta via Unsplash.

Mark Stedman, Vice President of Information Technology, explains, “The Deaf have largely been overlooked by the church, not through any sort of lack of care. I think it’s more just an ignorance and not understanding of the need.”

Screenshot of the Sign Language Bible app by Wycliffe Associates.

For example, Stedman says that hearing people may assume that the Deaf can read the Bible in the majority language where they live. However, this is not always the case.

“Around the globe, many Deaf people actually are illiterate in the wider language because it’s a huge lift to move from being hearing impaired into actually learning how to read in the language of wider communication,” says Stedman.

“So really, the best way to hear Scripture, and to hear preaching, and to worship is in a sign language environment.”

One of the greatest needs for Deaf believers is the Bible in their heart language. There are hundreds of sign languages officially recognized around the world, yet only one (American Sign Language) is known to have a complete Bible.

Stedman says, “We have been assisting Deaf churches around the globe with creating sign language Scripture now for close to a decade.”

Wycliffe Associates trains Deaf believers in the 11 steps of Deaf Owned Translation to produce a Bible in their own sign languages. Following this method, the translation teams have completed the New Testament in seven sign languages of African countries. The video translations were then published online at SLBible.com. By request of the Deaf churches, this year the ministry also launched an app to watch and download the translations.

Stedman says, “We have Benin sign language, Cameroon-Anglo sign language, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania and Togo. So those seven countries have all completed their sign language New Testaments, and they’re all available in the app.”

Get the app on the App Store or Google Play. Over 30 more sign language translations are already in progress.

“Our goal is always the same, which is that every single person on earth can hear and read and watch scripture in the language that speaks to their heart,” says Stedman.

“It’s important that anybody be able to encounter Christ in their own language.”

Pray for Wycliffe Associates to connect with more Deaf churches that are willing and able to engage in Bible translation. Pray for the Deaf translators working on the current projects as well. Stedman asks for prayer that the translation teams stay encouraged, focused, and filled with strength from the Holy Spirit.

Is God leading you to get more involved? Stedman says, “I would love for folks to download the app, check it out, tell their friends about it, and then think about becoming a prayer and financial partner in the work of Bible translation with Wycliffe Associates.”

Header photo is a screenshot of the Benin Sign Language Bible at SLBible.com.

“Worldwide, there’s about 70 million Deaf people. That’s about one out of every 200 people,” says Rob Myers with DOOR International. He says 90% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents. “Many Deaf people, when they get around the holidays, expect to spend a lot of time around hearing people.”

It’s not always easy. Communication and cultural barriers can leave a Deaf person isolated and unengaged in what’s supposed to be a welcoming family environment.

If that’s an experience you don’t want to repeat, here are six tips to love and engage with Deaf family and friends this holiday. The first one is simple.

If you haven’t already, start learning sign language. 

“Learning language is the beginning of really building a relationship with someone,” Myers says. He recommends an app called Lingvano to give you a jumpstart on American Sign Language. 

Make the best use of technology.

Ask questions ahead of time so you can plan for what tech might serve you best.

“It’s good to ask the Deaf person if reading is a preferred way that that they can take in information,” Myers says.

English is, after all, a second language to a Deaf person! If they are comfortable with reading, make sure that when the TV goes on, so do the captions. Then, during group conversations, consider setting up a device with a speech-to-text app and placing it in the middle of the room where it can easily be seen.  

Consider the room.

Watch out for Christmas candlelight ambiance! 

“Deaf people are really visual, and so it’s actually important for a room to be well lit,” Myers explains. “[A dim room] makes it really challenging for a Deaf person to even communicate, because it’s difficult to see sometimes.” 

When it’s time for a family game, choose visual games like charades.

Games based on sounds or words may be impossible for a Deaf person to really enjoy. Create that environment where everyone can engage in the fun.

Consider hiring an interpreter.

“If it’s a big family gathering and you have one, maybe several Deaf people there, you may want to think about hiring a sign language interpreter,” Myers says. 

“That interpreter will be a bridge and help facilitate communication — and that interpreter is not just for the Deaf people. [He or she is] for the hearing people too, because Deaf people have a lot of wisdom and a lot of great stories and things that they would love to communicate.”  

If any Scripture is going to be shared, find sign language Bible translation too.

“One of the things that is really valuable to us at DOOR is to see Scripture available for Deaf people,” Myers explains. “Download and have ready some sign language Scripture, so someone who uses [in this case] ASL can engage in that Scripture in the same way that people are listening to it in English.” 

Portions of Scripture are available at doorinternational.org. Myers says another place you can go for Scriptures is deafmissions.com.

Ask God which of these tips could help you love and serve your family best, as you seek to represent Him this Christmas.

“[These] are just some ways that you can really help engage Deaf people as part of family activities in general,” Myers says, “but really specifically ensuring that any opportunity that the family takes to talk about faith, their relationship with God, what it means to follow Jesus, that Deaf people have the same access to that.”

Connect with DOOR for more tips and resources!

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Annie Spratt via Unsplash.

Why is Deaf awareness so crucial? Many might assume that sign languages are universally recognized and supported, but the reality is different. In fact, nearly 80% of countries do not officially recognize their local sign language as a national language.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Rob Myers, President and CEO of DOOR International, highlights additional barriers faced by the Deaf community.

“There are at least 30 countries around the world that I’m aware of where Deaf people still are not allowed to drive – everywhere from Mexico to Vietnam to Egypt.”

He adds, “In Mexico, if you’re a Deaf person, you’re also not allowed to buy a house unless a hearing person will cosign the loan for you.”

Barriers for the Deaf also make it difficult for them to engage with Scripture.

“Many Deaf people, because they have very little access to Deaf education, they have challenges with access to reading,” explains Myers. “So most people who would typically think, ‘I have a Deaf colleague. I’ll just give them a written Bible.’

“For many Deaf people around the world, that doesn’t give them Scripture access. They need access to the Bible in Sign Language.”

For International Week of Deaf People, pray for Gospel opportunities among Deaf communities.

Deaf South Sudanese gather in community. (Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Also, Myers encourages, “Share this information! Share it on social media platforms, share it in person with other people. This is something that God is teaching you that’s a great way to help others to engage and learn about what God’s doing in the Great Commission.”

Connect with DOOR International here!

Header photo of a young student practicing sign language. (Photo courtesy of Assad Tanoli/Unsplash)

Speaking through an interpreter, Mark Sorenson with DOOR International tells MNN, “In the Olympics, there [were] some laws regarding how athletes could share their religion, but because it wasn’t done vocally [and] she signed it, that was sort of ‘under the radar.’”

The video capturing the moment quickly went viral. “Right after that (Leal’s signing), I saw so many shared social media posts [on] Instagram [and] Facebook,” Sorenson says.

“It was blasted all over in the Deaf community.”

Leal is a Hearing person, but recognizing sign language on a stage like the Olympics does much to encourage the global Deaf community.

“Typically, if a famous person, say a movie star or an athlete, [signs] anything, that is taken and posted throughout the Deaf community because it’s recognized [that] this person values sign language,” Sorenson explains.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Deaf believers gladly seized an opportunity to build on Leal’s boldness. “Some Deaf people [who] posted this video shared a link to where you could find a Bible translation in their signed language,” Sorenson says.

Beyond the Olympics

Leal used sign language to bypass media restrictions and share her faith at the Olympics. In a similar way, communicating via sign language gives Deaf Gospel workers an advantage in countries that are hostile to Christianity.

“I’ve heard many stories where in sensitive, hostile countries, Deaf people can fly ‘under the radar’ and share the Gospel in sign language. Government agencies don’t recognize it, and the Gospel is spread in the Deaf community,” Sorenson says.

“Often, government officials look at Deaf people with pity, or they think, ‘Oh, those poor Deaf people. They can follow any religion because they’re disabled.’”

For example, “I lived in Thailand for three years, and that was a very strong Buddhist nation,” he continues. “I met a lot of Deaf people who said, ‘Hearing people look down on us because we’re Deaf.’ They (Deaf people) are left out and forced to learn life on their own.”

While cruel, this isolation also creates Gospel opportunities. When Sorenson and his team asked Deaf people if they were Buddhist, “They say, ‘Oh, I don’t know. I follow my family’s religion, but I don’t know what that means,’” Sorenson says.

“They were primed to [receive] the Gospel because any information a Deaf person [receives], they drink that up and share it amongst the community.”

DOOR International sends Deaf church planters into unreached Deaf communities through its 2-by-2 program. More about that here. Ask the Lord to give these believers boldness and courage, and pray for open hearts among unreached Deaf communities.

Header image is a screenshot captured by Lyndsey Koh/MNN.

With the visual nature of sign language, videos and pictures are major opportunities for AI integration. However, there are many technical aspects that could make those applications difficult to actually put into practice.

Scarcity and Complexity

Effective AI pulls material from a wide breadth of information to generate new content. Rob Myers with DOOR notes that this deep pocket of online information is not available for most sign languages.

In addition, he says translating written word to sign languages is a more complex challenge to ask of AI than from one written language to another. Myers states, “You also have this issue that the technical complexity  – just if you’re looking at raw computing power – sign languages are a lot more technically complex than written or spoken languages. Even if you just consider how many megabytes it takes to send a video through email versus a picture or a bunch of text through an email, obviously, a video is much, much more complex, much thicker in terms of the technology that’s required.”

(Image courtesy of DOOR International)

Opportunities in Translation

However, despite the limitations, AI could potentially aid Bible translation work for sign languages. For instance, rather than showing a real person on a video, AI could replace the features of the signer with an avatar. This would be a much safer option for Deaf Christians in countries where it is dangerous to show their faces.

“There have been various technologies that people have tried, in order to mask someone’s identity. There’s a project connected to Wycliffe, called Chameleon that uses special cameras and does real time avatar generation. So that’s one way that this has been dealt with. But another way that it’s being dealt with is a program through a partner organization that actually uses a technology that’s a little bit like deep fake.”

Myers says that DOOR has considered using AI to generate artwork that goes with Scripture translations. Previously DOOR commissioned individual Deaf artists for each piece of art. However, they may be able to generate more art if their artists are proofing and editing the art, rather than working from scratch.

However, with any application, AI-generated material for Deaf audiences must be meticulously proofed. Facial expressions, signs, backgrounds – everything in videos or artwork needs to show the proper tone and message. This is especially true on Scripture translations where accurate understanding and proper handling of the Word is crucial.

Challenges for DOOR

Myers says that with the additional proofing, people who want to get involved in the ministry need skills beyond the language and culture requirements typical of ministry work. Deaf ministry is very specialized and continues to become even more so with the meticulous proofing now required.

Please pray that DOOR would have wisdom in how to best use AI to further the Gospel. Click here, to get involved with DOOR’s ministry.