A new film by Deaf Missions, a worldwide organization that is working to share God’s word with the Deaf, is expected to reach more than 70 million deaf people worldwide! They are seeking to reach them with the story of Christ in their “heart language”
The production, which is still in development, is set to feature the story of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection. The whole film will be in sign language.
How awesome is that? To be honest, I had no idea there were even so many deaf people in the world! To know they will be getting a film about Jesus completely in their language warms my heart!
Deaf Missions spokesman Chad Entinger said, “The heart-language, it’s related to a person’s identity. For a person to see something in their heart-language, that really will capture their heart, and they’ll feel, that person will then, will feel like ‘Oh my goodness, they’re actually communicating to me. This is my language’.”
“We really believe that God can and will use the movie in sign-language to reach Deaf people,” he added.
UG Christian News reports:
Mission Network News explained that many Deaf assume that the triune God is only for hearing people.
This sentiment exists because of the numerous amounts of resources churches tend to put towards ministry work for hearing people, the news source explains.
“This movie translation challenges that concept and is an investment in Deaf ministry and discipleship. It also communicates to the Deaf community that they matter to not just Christians, but to God,” Mission Network News stated.
Production is set to take at least three years, possibly four years. The pilot video is the launching point for this project. Plans for fundraising is in the works to finish raising the complete financial resources needed for the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of this project.
Entinger signs the Jesus Movie has many ties to Bible translation, especially Bible translation for sign languages. There are still entire countries that have not had the opportunity to start Bible translations for their local sign languages. Entinger hopes the Jesus Movie will help connect people and give them a launching point for their translation efforts, too.
“Then the Deaf community can get excited, and they’ll see the impact of the Jesus Movie in their own sign languages. And then, the people who were involved in making that movie in their own language will develop additional skills and confidence from that experience to then change to this Bible translations,” Entinger concluded.