ASL and English “have different grammar structures [and] use different syntax,” Deaf leader Mark Sorenson explains through an interpreter. As part of the senior leadership team at DOOR International, Sorenson guides sign language Bible translation and Deaf church planting efforts.

“ASL uses a different word order to create meaning. One of the most common examples is the word order of object-subject-verb, whereas English uses subject-verb-object.”

This principle applies to sign languages globally – they’re distinctly different than the spoken languages around them. That’s why Deaf communities need to see Scripture in their heart sign language rather than read it on a page. More about that here.

“There are 350 different sign languages globally [and only] one has a full Bible translation,” Sorenson says.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

DOOR works with the Forum of Bible Agencies International (FOBAI) to guarantee all translations meet the same high-quality standards.

“FOBAI [is a coalition of] over 22 Bible translation organizations that try and establish a standard for Bible translations to use across the globe. FOBAI has different subgroups, and one of them is called the Deaf Development Group, or DDG,” Sorenson says.

After discussing the latest FOBAI standards and developments, Deaf leaders on the DDG “take those standards, bring them into the Deaf community, and work on sign language Bible translations at a standardized level.”

Standardizing the sign language Bible translation process helps prevent miscommunication or misunderstandings about God resulting from poorly done translations.

For example, “If you [signed the Bible text] word for word, it’s not natural or acceptable. You can lose meaning in that poor translation,” Sorenson says, describing part of the CANA process used by Bible translation organizations like Wycliffe USA.

“[It’s] important to ensure that the Deaf community can trust the translation.”

Approximately 68 million Deaf people worldwide have no access to the Gospel. DOOR is on a mission to change that, but they need your help.

“It’s an incredible feat to translate the entire Bible, and there are so few certified translators; we’re trying to find more, and we need help,” Sorenson says.

Find your place in the story here!

In the header image, a Mozambican Deaf man signs “translate.” (Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

“[FOBAI] includes names that some readers and listeners may be familiar with, like Wycliffe USA, Seed Company, and United Bible Societies,” DOOR International’s Rob Myers says.

FOBAI also includes “organizations in ‘niche’ areas, like DOOR and Deaf Missions, Deaf Bible Society – organizations involved in sign language Bible translation.”

Members meet annually to coordinate and collaborate, and all FOBAI members work toward a common goal – getting God’s Word to everyone who needs it. “There are still whole people groups that don’t have access to any Scripture in their heart language,” Myers says.

“If they don’t speak more than one language, they’re effectively completely cut off from Scripture.”

During annual summits, FOBAI members address questions like, “How do we make sure that the translations are good quality and that the communities are well supported?” Myers says. Indigenous input on the process is equally important.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

“It’s critical that [translation is] not just a Western effort – going in and translating for communities – but that it’s built from the ground up through indigenous work.”

FOBAI works hand-in-hand with Every Tribe, Every Nation (ETEN), another Bible translation cooperative, to accomplish its Scripture access goals. Each co-op has a different focus, Myers explains. While FOBAI focuses on translation quality and standards, ETEN concentrates on objectives and progress.

So what?

These “top-level” meetings and planning matter because they trickle down to impact individual lives. See how many people now have access to God’s Word in their heart language.

Despite great progress, significant needs remain. For example, Deaf people are starving for God’s Word, the Bread of Life. Only one sign language has a complete Bible, and fewer than 50 sign languages have any completed translation work.

“We think there are about 375 sign languages [worldwide]; the official number being used right now is 374 [sign languages] that are in need of sign language Bible translation,” Myers says.

Learn how you can help the Deaf know God through DOOR International.

Header image depicts a sign language Bible translator’s workstation. Photo courtesy of DOOR International.

FOBAI is a coalition of groups involved in Bible translation that pools resources and ideas. For only the second time in its 25-year history, a Deaf believer led one of FOBAI’s plenary sessions. Read about the first FOBAI encounter here.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

“Several people in the audience said it was the best presentation out of the entire forum,” says DOOR International President Rob Myers.

“I was so encouraged to see Deaf leaders taking their place in the realm of Bible translation.”

Tesfaye Moges, one of DOOR’s Deaf consultants-in-training, led a session on the visual context of Scripture. He signed the following in a recent update sent to DOOR:

“I am thankful to God for this opportunity to explain…about the visual context of the Bible, and how that connects to Deaf translation work. As I made the presentation, I noticed that one of the interpreters was actually sobbing! She later told me how much the presentation affected her, and how she felt that now was God’s timing for the Deaf to get His Word.

“One person stood up during the end of the presentation and said how clear and eye-opening it had been. It had inspired and informed him at the same time. As we broke from the plenary session, many people – both Deaf and hearing – came up and told me how much my presentation had affected them.”

“I am so thankful for the training I am getting. It’s opening opportunities for me to serve God, to train and equip others, and to grow. At FOBAI, I also learned what is happening across the world for sign language Bible translation. It’s very exciting to see what God is doing. Please pray for this work.”

Moges’s presentation was inspirational in more ways than one. Neighbors in Ethiopia previously knew him as “the one not even God could save.”

From ruffian to DOOR leader

According to Myers, the DOOR leader who captivated people at this year’s FOBAI summit has a dark past.

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

“He was feared in the Ethiopian Deaf community, and he was known as someone you needed to stay away from,” shares Myers.

“He first got involved in Bible translation, not because he was interested in the translation itself, but because it gave him the opportunity to travel. And then, all of a sudden, he encountered the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.”

Moges had no idea what that crucifixion actually meant. However, his heart began to change as he and his teammates began translating the account into Ethiopian Sign Language. For the very first time, Moges received details in his heart language about the price Christ paid for humanity.

“In light of that amazing sacrifice, Tesfaye couldn’t do anything but surrender his life to his amazing Savior…and his life radically changed.”

(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)

Visit DOOR’s blog to read Tesfaye’s full testimony.

“I’m encouraged just even knowing Tesfaye’s story because it reassures me that no one is too far for the Gospel…and the Gospel is for everyone,” says Myers.

“It’s for the Deaf, it’s for the hearing. It’s for people who are far off from God, or the people who think they are close to God.”

For 98 percent of the world’s 70 million Deaf people, Christ is not a prophet or a teacher. He is a complete stranger because they have not seen the Gospel in their heart sign language.

Partner with DOOR International here to change that statistic.

An African child signs “I Love You” in gratitude for the Gospel DVD he received from DOOR.
(Photo cred: DOOR)

International (MNN) — The Deaf are meeting “the God beyond the page,” thanks to groups like DOOR International.

DOOR translates Scripture into sign language, and equips Deaf believers with the resources they need to fulfill the Great Commission.

“Out of the 70 million Deaf people worldwide, it’s estimated that less than two-percent of them know Christ and are following Him,” shares Dr. Rob Myers, President of DOOR International.

Myers just returned from an annual conference organized by the Forum of Bible Agencies International, or FOBAI. FOBAI is a coalition of groups involved in Bible translation that pool resources and ideas.

“For the very first time in history, not only were the needs of sign language communities mentioned, but they actually served as the common theme this year.

“It was called, ‘The Macedonian Call: Engaging Hearing Communities with Deaf Groups.'”

The theme is a reference to Acts 16:6 – 10. This passage recounts Paul’s momentary pause in Troas, when he was seeking God’s direction and had a vision of a man from Macedonia. The man asked Paul to come to Macedonia because they needed his assistance.

Deaf children in Nigeria watch the Ghanaian sign language Bible.
(Image, caption courtesy DOOR)

“In the same way, Deaf communities around the world are ready,” says Myers.

“They’re hungering for the Gospel; they’re ready for translation work to happen, they’re ready for their leaders to be trained and empowered, and equipped, to go out and serve. What they need is the Church’s help.

“All of us have a part that we can play in coming alongside them and heeding that Macedonian call.”

Heeding the call at FOBAI

Not only were the needs of Deaf communities recognized at FOBAI’s annual conference – Deaf believers led the event.

“In total, we had about 15 sign language translation organizations represented there,” says Myers. “It truly was a historic event. It’s amazing how God has raised up different organizations to bring different gifts, different talents.”

Below, Myers shares some of the highlights from the 2016 FOBAI conference:

International panel exploring the challenges and opportunities of Deaf Bible translation and Scripture engagement at the FOBAI Annual Meeting.
(Photo, caption courtesy FOBAI via Facebook)

“We want the world to understand that we are a language, a linguistic minority, not a disability group.” — A Consultant In Training (CIT) from Colombia

“We don’t want you to do this task for us. What we need is your support, your encouragement, and your prayers, to be able to do ourselves what God has called us to do, and what He’s equipped us to do.” –Paul Ngasa, DOOR Africa Director

“Deaf people have been told for years that they’re broken hearing people. But, as they live through their journey of Deafhood, they come to a new understanding of themselves, their community, and their identity. And, that understanding opens up their hearts to hear the Gospel.” –Lance Forshay, FOBAI keynote speaker and University of Washington professor

Learn how DOOR is answering the call. Then, take action.

1) Pray

“This is a spiritual battle,” notes Myers. “The Enemy doesn’t want to see Deaf people get access to the Gospel because that’s Truth, and it sets them free.

“Pray that strongholds would be broken. Pray that God would raise up leaders in the field, and raise up Deaf leaders among Deaf groups.”

2) Advocate

(Photo courtesy DOOR International)

“As you learn about the needs of Deaf people…you now have an opportunity to let other people know, ‘Wow. Deaf people are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world,'” Myers says.

“Partnering with organizations like ours financially [is helpful]; coming alongside some of the projects that we have implemented, both in the United States and worldwide.”

Our free resource kit from Deaf Bible Society will help you become an advocate for the Deaf.

3) Connect

“We partner with churches…to help them understand the needs of the Deaf, to try to introduce them to their local Deaf communities, and to try to empower Deaf people through those networks.

“As you can introduce us to more people, we can then pair those with local Deaf communities to help meet their needs.”

Contact DOOR International to learn more.