American Sign Language is a visual language using facial expressions and body language. It has its own structure, grammar use and dialects. It is widely used by most deaf and hard of hearing people in the US. Now, imagine you are deaf and you ASL to communicate, but you do not have access to a Bible in your first language. Do you see how it would be a struggle to understand and read the Bible in your second language? This is what many deaf people went through all over the world. For many years they had been limited to only attending small deaf churches which usually only resides in big cities or in areas where there is a large population of deaf people. This leaves out many of those who are not able to drive that far or keep in contact with that church. Even then, small churches are limited to one's perspective of the Bible, as everyone translates the Bible to ASL in different ways. We never had a standardized ASL translation until now. Deaf Missions recently came out with a ASLV translation of the Bible in 2020. They had worked on translating the Bible for the last 38 years. It is now accessible through any electronic device such as phones, tablets and computers. From this, many deaf people in the US now have access to understand the Word and the Gospel. This reduces the frustrations and struggles from the communication barrier and now opens up new opportunities for them to serve and lead others in Christ. My mission is to reach those out of the country who still do not have access to the Bible in their language. ASL is not a universal sign language, as every country and nation has their own version of sign language. Deaf people who reside in these countries who do not have access to a deaf church may not even know Christ and be in the dark. There are so many unreached people that need to have someone who can help translate the Bible and introduce them to the Word. I would encourage you all to look up more information about deaf ministry, provided below: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news'" (Romans 10:14-15, ASLV)!
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carey mayfield
2/2/2021 04:35:42 pm
cool
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