Jade Star

Research indicates that more than 350 sign languages are in use around the world today, yet only one—American Sign Language—has a translation of the complete Bible! And only two per cent of the Deaf population worldwide has been introduced to the gospel.

That means that nearly 70 million people are still waiting to understand the Good News.

Through support from people like you, a community of Deaf believers is working hard to translate a set of chronological Bible stories into their language, using sign language in a video format because they are unable to read written scripts.

More than 540,000 Jade Star* sign language users live in a restricted-access country in Southeast Asia, where Christians are few and persecuted. Jade Star speakers are part of an ethnic minority and many live in conflict zones.

Worldwide, 80 per cent of the Deaf do not even have access to formal education in order to learn to read and communicate with others. Often, they are a minority within a minority. As you can imagine, this can lead to loneliness and despair. The Deaf need the hope of the gospel.

You can help the Chronological Bible Translation team reach the Jade Star Sign Language community for the first time with the hope of God’s Word.

Due to the sensitivity of the region this project is located in, please contact development@wycliffe.ca for the latest updates on this project.

YOUR PARTNERSHIP IS KEY

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You will help:

• Produce a chronological translation of the Bible over the next three and a half years
• The predominantly Buddhist Deaf population engage with Scripture, through chronological stories from Mark’s Gospel and portions of the Old and New Testaments

In the U.S., when a Deaf woman named Tanya began engaging with the Bible in video format, she was finally able to have a relationship with God.

“I remember thinking, ‘God I want to communicate, I want to understand who you are.’ I felt so disconnected. Now I have a relationship with God. I feel so close to Him. Now I know that he is my Father, my beloved. I am so grateful for the gift of God’s Word in sign language . . . thank you, God.”

Wouldn’t it be amazing to hear a testimony like Tanya’s, from someone in Southeast Asia? You can help make this happen.

*pseudonym

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• The national Kinsha Bible Society had their 200-year celebration and invited the team to join. During the celebration, they gave the Jade Star team the opportunity to introduce their work with the Jade Star Bible translation project.
• As a sign language translation team, the Jade Star project is heavily dependent on reliable electricity to power studio lights, cameras, laptops, and monitors that they use in their daily work. However, for the past three years, the city where they work has experienced daily rolling power outages for hours at a time. Imagine the team’s excitement in January when they were able to install an inverter and battery in their office! The entire team can now work the entire day with much less anxiety.
• The team planned and delivered the first of four “Deaf Arts as Scripture Engagement” workshops in two Deaf communities – a Handicap Training Centre and the E Deaf Church with a total of 32 participants.
• Team members have been sharing sign language Scripture stories with Deaf children. In December 2023, they taught the children how to perform a short drama, which they performed at a Deaf church Christmas service. Five of the children were also baptized!

PRAYER POINTS
The team asks for prayer that “God will protect, guide, bless and give us vision.”