Pastors and community leaders are eager to create local initiatives for Bible translation. In response, Deaf Bible Society follows a church-centered approach for many translation projects.
We develop training, tools, and processes with and for Deaf leaders. As a result, Bible translation expertise is increasingly accessible in sign languages. Project teams include Deaf pastors and translators, plus others who bring Bible knowledge and management skills.
Each team begins to create their first translation drafts during training. As they work, they receive support from our quality assurance team of specialists.
Next, they conduct a community check—a preview of video drafts and an opportunity for feedback to ensure clarity. After any necessary adjustments, final filming and production renders the completed translation.
This approach aims to support best practices and early wins that build capacity and excitement for sustained translation work. Teams upload chapters to the Deaf Bible app as soon as they are completed.
Deaf communities often access their first translated chapters within six months. They are eager to watch and share. Compared to our work just a few years ago, emerging church-centered projects are making translation progress at a faster pace with greater cost-effectiveness.
The result is a triple win: for Deaf communities, for donors and partners, and for the mission.
