Imagine being in church, surrounded by people who are listening to the Word of God being read aloud — but for you, the words are silent. There are Bibles in the pews, but the written words don’t connect with your heart and you struggle to understand their meaning.

That’s what life is like for 70 million Deaf people across the globe who are waiting for God’s Word in a format they clearly understand: video. Today more than 380 different sign languages are in use, yet only one sign language, American Sign Language (ASL), has a complete Bible.

As you explore the stories of those waiting for and working in sign language Bible translation, you’ll begin to understand the transforming power of God’s Word when it’s in a language and format that deeply connects with you.

It’s More Than Just a Language: It’s a Lifeline

For someone like Pastraporn Sarakong, growing up Deaf meant being surrounded by spoken words that she couldn’t grasp. Her early years were spent in a hearing school in Thailand where she tried to read and write like her hearing peers, but it felt like trying to unlock a door without a key. “I didn’t understand what was going on,” she recalled.

It wasn’t until she learned Thai Sign Language that she could finally communicate with others fully and deeply. Today Pastraporn leads a team translating Bible stories into Thai Sign Language, determined that others won’t have to struggle like she did to connect with the Word of God.

Deaf Translators: The Heart of the Mission

The work of translating the Bible into sign language is challenging. But it’s also work that is filled with passion because Deaf translators are excited to bring Scripture to people.

Grace is a translator from West Africa. Growing up, she attended church with her family. But without a Bible in her native sign language, she always felt disconnected from the spiritual messages that brought comfort to other people. It wasn’t until she joined a small community of Deaf Christians that Grace began to see God’s Word come to life in a way that made sense to her. This experience drove her to become a Bible translator so others in her community wouldn’t feel the same isolation she did.

Grace is now part of the Alogbe Sign Language Cluster project in West Africa, which will provide Scripture to over 460,000 Deaf people across 14 sign languages. Alogbe means “talking or speaking with hands” — a perfect reflection of the heart behind this project.

The Challenges of Translation Work: More Than Words

Translating the Bible into sign language is not just about signing words; it’s about communicating God’s truth visually. A visual Bible looks different from printed Scripture. Typically, a sign language Bible video is developed by recording a Deaf translator's face, hands, body movements and expressions — all part of natural sign language. This then brings the gospel to life! Because of this, it’s no surprise that the work is often slow and detailed, requiring careful consideration about how every part of the translation looks on video.

In the Amuenoon Sign Language Cluster project in West Africa, a group of 100 Deaf people — recruited from their churches — committed to translating the Bible into their sign languages. For some, this was the first time they had ever taken on such an important role. Amuenoon means “we can do it,” and that faith has propelled their mission forward, despite the challenges. Their dedication shows that the Deaf community is not just waiting for others to bring the Word of God to them — they are leading the way themselves.

Technology: Opening New Doors

One of the most exciting parts of sign language translation work is seeing how technology is making Bible translation more accessible to Deaf people, faster than ever before. Adan Burke, a sign language partnership specialist with Wycliffe USA, knows firsthand the power of seeing Scripture in his sign language.

Deaf from a young age, Adan encountered Jesus through ASL and now works to bring Jesus and the gospel to life for other Deaf individuals around the world. Thanks to tools like Chameleon — an innovative markerless system, using multiple cameras, that facilitates the accurate recognition and translation of sign language through the use of AI — more and more Deaf communities are seeing God’s Word come to life.

This technology not only accelerates the translation process but also ensures that translators can work safely in countries where Christianity is not welcomed. Additionally, thanks to Chameleon, the focus is now fully on the message, not the person who is the signer. The use of avatars allows the Bible to be presented in ways that resonate with Deaf people from all cultures and backgrounds, without distractions from the messenger.

Adan recalled: “For years, I have worked as a signer in sign language Bible translation. People know me as the ‘Jesus guy’ or the guy who signs for Jesus. In fact, the Good Friday passage is one of the most viewed ASL Scripture, and I’m the Jesus guy telling the story of His crucifixion and resurrection. But my goal is for viewers to focus on what the Bible is saying, not on me. Chameleon offers that.”

God truly is on the move to make Himself known to Deaf communities through groundbreaking technology.

Until All Have Seen

The beauty of sign language Bible translation is that it deeply connects Deaf individuals to their Creator. As Deaf communities around the world, from West Africa to Eurasia, begin to engage with God’s Word in their own languages, lives are being transformed.

In April 2023, over 170 Deaf leaders gathered in Eurasia, representing more than 50 sign languages and 49 countries. They asked one powerful question: “How can we ensure every sign language still without a Bible translation has one in the next three years?” Their determination echoes throughout the world, as more and more Deaf people step forward to ensure their communities are no longer isolated from God.

As Karen Vergara, a mother of a Deaf child and advocate for sign language Bible translation, shared at a recent Scripture Celebration, “You can read the greatest story ever told, or you can be part of the greatest story ever told.”

We all get the chance to be part of this incredible movement — united in prayer, financial support and action until every Deaf person has seen and understood the life-changing message of God’s Word.

Join the Movement

The stories of Pastraporn, Grace, Adan and countless other Deaf translators remind us that Bible translation is about more than words on a page: It’s about reaching people in ways they can clearly understand. With each new translation project launched — whether in Romania, Liberia, Thailand or anywhere else where people are waiting for God’s Word — more Deaf people are able to understand God’s love for them, be transformed and become beacons of faith in their own communities.

As we look ahead to the future of sign language Bible translation, let’s join together in this powerful mission of bringing Scripture to life for Deaf communities as we work toward a day where every Deaf man, woman and child has access to the Bible in the language they cherish most.