DOOR-Asia/Europe, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Arun: Believers’ Fellowship Planting Trainer
Melissa: Assistant
Children: Nathanael
Arun was led to Christ through a Deaf friend in 1995. He attended a Deaf fellowship in Madras, India. As a Deaf man shared the message of John 3:16, Arun’s eyes were opened to the lost Deaf of India. He began to have a burning desire to witness to other Deaf men and women, so they could come to a knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness. His desire took him from place to place throughout India, teaching Deaf people about Christ, until he met two DOOR staff who introduced him to Chronological Bible Storying (CBS).
In December of 2001, he graduated from DOOR-Africa's Deaf Christian Leadership Training Center (DCLTC) in Nairobi, Kenya with a Certificate in Deaf Christian Leadership. Afterwards he helped establish DOOR-India's Deaf Christian Leadership Training Program and served as a trainer and as Curriculum Editing Coordinator.
After Arun and Melissa's wedding in November of 2004, Arun and Melissa served with DOOR-Europe/Asia in Budapest, Hungary. At the end of 2005 the DOOR-Europe/Asia team relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand. The team name was changed to DOOR-Asia/Europe.
MELISSA JACOB (Assistant), Deaf North American
Melissa came to know Christ through a Deaf friend in 1987 when she understood that she was lost and wanted a relationship with Jesus. She graduated from the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. She joined DOOR in 1996 and has served in India, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Hungary, and now Thailand. Since 2002 she helped develop DOOR's core curriculum, translating and videotaping Chronological Bible Stories in Sign Language.
In November, 2004 Arun & Melissa were married in Kerala, India. In February, 2006, they became the proud parents of Nathanael (Nate). Presently, they live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they are sharing God's Word with Deaf Thais through their lives and Chronological Bible Stories (CBS).