There is no country in the world where a complete translation of God's Word is available in Sign Language.  Not one!  So, as you can imagine, there are very few Deaf people who are equipped to evangelize, disciple, train leaders, or plant churches. They don't have access to the Bible in their heart language.

Because they don't have the Bible, a very small percentage of Deaf people have been evangelized, but the majority of even this very small number have never been systematically discipled. When they can't access God's Word directly, they become "objects" of the interpreted ministry of hearing churches and have little or no opportunity to become mature believers who use their spiritual gifts. There are very few countries in which a strong, indigenous Deaf church exists.

Our Solution

DOOR, working with translation teams of national Deaf people and Wycliffe Bible Translators, is on the cutting edge of beginning "Deaf-hands" Bible translation projects into the Sign Languages of the world.  Our prayer and firm belief is that this will lead to more Deaf people coming to know Christ, more Deaf people growing strong in their faith, more Deaf people using their spiritual gifts to serve the Body, and more Deaf churches throughout the world.

Methodology

D.O.O.R. International has spent the last 10 years working directly with over 300 Deaf from 49 countries developing training concepts that are Deaf-friendly.

DOOR uses these concepts to develop specific Bible-based training for Deaf leaders communicated and modeled by Deaf trainers/mentors.

1. Bible Study: D.O.O.R. International Deaf staff has developed a 5-step inductive Bible study within the context of Deaf culture and language. This method of studying the Bible is utilized in the following series of Bible studies:
   • Evangelism - 32 chronological Bible stories
   • Discipleship - 77 chronological Bible stories
   • Believers' Fellowship - 35 chronological Bible stories
2. Evangelism: D.O.O.R. International Deaf staff and graduates of DOOR's program have developed specific training in:
   • Sharing personal testimony.
   • Presenting a specific "short evangelism story" that can be taught to Deaf evangelists.
   • Asking inductive questions about the "evangelism story" that lead to understanding of God's plan of salvation.
   • Teaching chronological Bible studies of 32 foundational Bible stories that will help a Deaf person understand God, creation, man & woman, Satan, sin, separation from God, the need for a Savior, Jesus, salvation, the Holy Spirit, and believers' fellowship. These stories will be taught individually and in small groups to all Deaf wanting to learn.
3. Discipleship: D.O.O.R. International has developed a second Chronological Bible Storying series consisting of 77 Bible stories that will help Deaf people to learn how to be obedient worshippers of God and followers of Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
4. D.O.O.R. International staff and graduates will teach Deaf people who accept Christ how to form local Deaf Believers' Fellowships focused on the key elements of "church" found in the Book of Acts (e.g. God's Word,  prayer, worship, fellowship, caring and sharing, the Lord's Supper, and baptism).
5. Using biblical guidelines found in Timothy and Titus, D.O.O.R. International staff and graduates will train and equip local Deaf leaders who can oversee the growth and reproduction of Deaf Believers' Fellowships.
6. D.O.O.R. International staff will provide training and tools to Christian and secular Deaf leaders in areas of community empowerment and development. This will include specific training in areas such as vision, planning, budgeting, establishing goals, problem solving, team building, developing advocates, and community activism for Deaf people's rights to interpreters, as well as education, jobs, medical services, health services, and other social services.

Chronological Bible Storying

DOOR uses a revolutionary, yet ancient, approach to teaching the Bible: Chronological Bible Storying. For thousands of years, God's Word was passed down through the oral tradition of storytelling. Research has shown that still today, people groups who do not have a written form of their heart language generally learn through stories, poems, dramas, and songs. They do not learn through points, principles, or thematic teaching. In the hearing world, these people groups are called "oral" learners. For the Deaf, that is an ironic term, but in fact, Deaf people share most, if not all, of the characteristics of "oral" learners. (Click here to read more about the characteristics of "oral" cultures, and the benefits of Chronological Bible Storying with oral learners.)

DOOR's Deaf staff chose Chronological Bible Storying as the most culturally appropriate way to teach their own people worldwide the Word of God. We have found that not only is this a very effective way to teach Deaf people, but it is transferable; they are able to go teach it to others. The core of DOOR's curriculum, developed by our Deaf staff, consists of over 100 biblical stories. Deaf believers learn how to use these stories to lead Bible studies, home groups, worship services, evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, children's classes, camp programs, etc. Again and again, they say that they never really knew the Bible until they learned it through Chronological Bible Storying.

Partnering with Wycliffe International Member of ECFA