A life deeply changed and renewed by the Gospel: it’s why we do what we do. In his own words, a Deaf translator shares how the Lord is using sign language Scripture to bring restoration to his life:
There was a time in my life when I felt like I was alone in this world and no one needed me. My family was broken, and my daughter did not want to see me or visit me for long time. God blessed me with a Deaf family and we can all communicate to each other very well in sign language, but the most important people in my life were not with me.
(Representative photo)
Today, when I look back, I realize God had a plan for me and He has never forgotten me.
God remembered me and gave me the opportunity to serve him as a facilitator for DOOR’s translation team. I have been to Bible college and learned many things about the Bible, but when I began work with the sign language translation team, it was a new experience. The people mentoring the team built relationships with the translators and tried to help them. They encouraged me to build my relationship with my daughter, and they gave me the courage to take the first step.
When I came back from Kenya, I went to meet her. To my surprise, she started to share her problems with me. I could not express the joy of helping my daughter to solve her problems. The restoration is amazing. My daughter knew God as a child, but did not have any relationship with Him as an adult. I used this opportunity of re-connecting to encourage her to go to church.
Even though her attendance is irregular, it is great to know that she has started to go to church. And, to my surprise, she decided to visit me. It was a wonderful time. One of my friends, who is a missionary, happened to be with me when she came to visit. My daughter asked him questions about Jesus. We talked a lot and had a great time together.
In the midst of all of this, I realized that God had been changing me so I could be a better father for my daughter and bring little changes to our relationship. I really thank God for it. Please pray for my daughter, I want her to be in His kingdom.
In addition to lacking resources, trained leaders felt they didn’t have ground support. In order to better provide support to leaders and churches DOOR established 2×2, you can learn more about that here.
DEAF STUDENTS
1-yr. Training
Simon Maina
Rosemary Adhiambo
Wilfrad Mwiti
Anthony Munene
Cyrus Muchoki
Edward Orubo
Augustine Njuguna
Silvanus Okonji
Director DOOR-Africa Boniface Muriithi,
President DOOR International Michael Buus
Office Manager Jack Owiti,
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The old “DOOR” was involved in many different Deaf ministries activities – church planting, training, producing videos, running camps, singing tour. A small group would move to a city, survey the Deaf community, begin reaching out and establish a Deaf ministry. After about a year they would leave one staff person and move on to another city in the US.
As DOOR started to get more and more requests both in the US as well as overseas, they merged with United World Mission (UWM) to help them learn how to reproduce themselves, get more focused and stable financially.
To be more effective at reaching the International Deaf Population DOOR worked with Dr. Lovejoy to learn about the method he developed, Chronological Bible Storying.
By going out on the streets of Nairobi, mainly in the evenings and at night time, a ministry to the Deaf started with just a hand-full of Deaf who became believers and wanted to learn more about the Bible.
11 students (9 Deaf and 2 hearing) graduated from DOOR’s Deaf Leadership Training Center after completing one-full year of training to be Deaf church planters/missionaries and trainers in Chronological Bible Storying developed by/for the Deaf.
The First class of DOOR’s Deaf Leadership training program was the first of the Continent based training programs.
DOOR’s Europe location opened in Budapest to better reach the Deaf population in Europe.
The Asia Was established to reach the Deaf Population with it’s home base being in the Philippines.
DOOR’s First Africa office and training center helped to lay the ground work for the larger campus that would come later
There were 18 fellowships meeting throughout all of Kenya that started with DOOR. They wanted to organize together to better support each other and so they met and established their own Fellowship!
The Americas Team arrived in Puerto Rico to reach and train the Deaf Population in the Americas
The DOOR Americas team moved to Costa Rica. After 9-11 the Deaf people from outside the U.S. that were supposed to come to Puerto Rico couldn’t get visas so the office needed to move.
3 from Costa Rica
4 from Honduras
2 from Puerto Rico
1 from Venezuela
13 Deaf Filipino from Angeles City, Baliwag, Palawan, Tartac, Dagupan, San Fernando & San Pablo
The goal for leaders trained in each country to reach the Deaf in their country hit a snag. There weren’t materials for the Deaf Leaders to use to reproduce. The need for Bible Translations into sign languages became clear. After getting some basic training from Wycliffe each center became a center for Bible Translation and Church Planting
Stuart Thiessen and Philippe Gallant started a Church called Signs of Grace Church that was a multi site church all Deaf Organization. They started providing resources and DOOR Partnered with them for the ASL Translation. This organization became Deaf Harbor.
After much hard work the Kenyan Translation Team and the Sign Language Bible Consultants finished the first 32 stories into Kenyan Sign Language.
It wasn’t feasible to establish a full translation studio in each continent so the decision was made to focus on Kenya campus so the technology could be state of the art. Translation teams now could collaborate and integrate.
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Brance Long
Bob Vizzini
Severa Trevino
Cesar Torres, Deaf
Mike Buus, Hearing
Vickie Hosteller: interpreter
The original Strategic Framework Document was created to help DOOR determine its direction and goals and has influenced the organization to this day.
Mobilize more Deaf ministry in 2020 using the CARES Act legislation!
