Sign Roots Bible Translation Project

Our team is committed to translating the Bible into more than 300 heart sign languages of Deaf communities worldwide.

Your sacrificial giving and prayers make it possible for Deaf translators not only to bring God’s Word into their own languages, but also to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches in their communities.

Deaf Camp Leads to Gospel Multiplication. Marija* faced numerous challenges growing up Deaf in a post-communist country. She heard about Jesus in passing but was thoroughly confused.

That confusion was rooted in the absence of a Bible translation in her heart language. Without it, Marija struggled to separate truth from falsehood.

Because of the generosity of givers like you, her life changed radically when she attended a Deaf Christian camp. There she met authentic Deaf believers and heard the gospel presented clearly. As a result, Marija accepted Jesus as her Savior.

As she grew in Christ, Marija began helping translate Bible stories into her language and sharing them with others. Within two years, she helped establish a Deaf church in her city.

Marija has now translated more than 90 stories and is using them to disciple. Like starving people given food, Deaf believers in her church eagerly ask for more.

Together, this church is a dynamic force for Bible translation, discipleship, and gospel change, impacting the Deaf in their region for Christ.

Thank you for being a key part of Marija’s spiritual journey through your partnership in this ministry.

Translator Answers Tough Questions about Faith. Amina* and Sumaya* are good friends. Both are Deaf women, raised in Muslim families in West Africa. Sumaya serves as president of her country’s Deaf Association.

Amina became a believer over her family’s objections. She serves the Lord faithfully as a Bible translator, bringing Bible stories into her heart sign language.

One day, Sumaya asked Amina why she chose to become a Christian and dishonor her family in this way. Sensing the Holy Spirit’s leading, Amina explained that only Jesus offers salvation and eternal life.

Over time, Amina shared Bible stories with Sumaya about God’s deep love for all people, including Deaf peoples.

God used your gifts and prayers for the Deaf to equip Amina to share the good news with Sumaya. Today, Amina’s Muslim friends see her as a trusted source of biblical truth and seek her out for answers to spiritual questions.

Thank you for helping Amina share Jesus with Sumaya. Her translation work not only brings the Bible to those who need it but also strengthens her walk with Christ.

Discipling and Training Other Deaf. Four years ago, Ratna*, a Bible translator, traveled 13 hours by train from her home in Southeast Asia to meet with three Muslim Deaf who were open to learning about Jesus.

Within a year, through regular dialogue, the three accepted Jesus and were baptized. Ratna discipled the new believers virtually, and they are growing in Christ.

Recently, the small group has shared the gospel with a Muslim man who also accepted Christ and wants to be baptized. Praise God!

Translators like Ratna are leaders in their Deaf communities, often training other believers and modeling the Christian life. Thank you for enabling Ratna to disciple Deaf Christians.

God uses your partnership as a force multiplier, communicating Christ to one of the largest unreached people groups on Earth.

Please join us in prayer:

• Pray for Marija and the Deaf church in her city as it grows in spiritual maturity and in size. Ask the Lord to keep them faithful to His Word and direction.
• Ask God to give Amina wisdom as she translates the Bible and is an ambassador for Christ in her West African Deaf community. Pray for Sumaya to accept Jesus.
• Pray for Ratna as she disciples new believers virtually and continues translating.

We look forward to the day when, because of people like you, the 80 million Deaf worldwide have the opportunity to know Jesus and serve Him with all their might!

*Names changed.

Jacob* noticed a group of people signing to one another. “Wow! They must be Deaf like me,” he thought as he nonchalantly moved closer to the tables where they gathered.

Nelson* was leading the group in Bible translation activities at a weeklong conference when he noticed Jacob’s interest in signing. Nelson wasn’t there by accident; he was teaching Deaf to translate Scripture into “natural sign language,” understood by 85 percent of the Deaf globally.

He was there because of your generosity to this ministry.

With a warm smile, he signed to Jacob, inviting him to join the group. When Jacob rejected his invitation, Nelson left the group, went over to Jacob, and the men began talking.

Jacob shared about becoming Deaf at 13 and asking his priest to pray over him for healing, but God did not heal him. He was frustrated and hurt.

Nelson explained that God has a special plan for Jacob’s life, and God’s plan could be to use his Deafness to glorify Him. Jacob’s expression changed. He had never thought of God using his hearing loss or ability to sign.

Jacob asked to observe the group and help with the Bible translations.

Throughout the week, he saw God’s Word signed and understood it. By Friday, Jacob had seen God’s story in his heart language and chose to put his faith in Christ.

Thank you for bringing Scripture to Jacob. Because of your faithful gifts and consistent prayers, he is now your brother in Christ.

Join us in prayer:

• Pray for Jacob as he begins his new life in Christ. Pray for him to continue hungering for God’s Word and sharing it with others.
• Pray for the Deaf churches in Central Africa to be strong and courageous in witnessing.
• Praise God, the Ugandan and Congolese sign language Bible translations have begun!

Your gifts and prayers made a difference in Jacob’s life and the lives of countless others who now walk with Jesus because they can see and understand Scripture.

*Names changed