In Ecuador, approximately 213,000 people are Deaf, but only 40 of them go to church. That’s because only three churches provide sign language interpretation. Additionally, there are no Bible materials available in their heart language—Ecuadorian Sign Language.

Deaf people in Ecuador need to know that God loves them. They need to know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God has wonderful purposes for their lives. They need God’s Word.

God Speaks Ecuadorian Sign Language

To bring the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ to Deaf people in Ecuador, United Bible Societies in Ecuador, are working to translate the Bible into Ecuadorian Sign Language. The Ecuadorian Sign Language project was launched in 2018. For three years they have been translating the Gospel of Luke. They have divided the book into 150 stories, which include Jesus’s childhood and ministry. They have completed 48 of these stories, translating them into sign language videos, and then made them available through YouTube.

Thanks to this work, Deaf communities have started using the Scriptures. The videos have been shared in schools for the Deaf and in other meetings for Deaf communities. The hope is that this project will contribute to the spiritual growth of Deaf individuals as well as raise the profile of Deaf people within Evangelical and Catholic churches and the need to disciple them. The next stage will be to finish the Gospel of Luke and start with the book of Acts. They are also starting a Scripture engagement project that uses these translated portions of Luke to evangelize and disciple the Deaf.

This work can’t be done without your prayers. Your prayers can help bring God’s Word to a community that has largely been isolated in the past. But through your prayers, Deaf people across Ecuador can finally encounter the beauty of Jesus.

How You Can Pray

• Pray that the Deaf Community in Ecuador will receive Bible materials and resources in their own language and be transformed by the power of Scripture.
• Pray for the team of Deaf translators. Ask God to give them strength and wisdom to complete the task of translating God’s Word.
• Pray for the sensitization of the church to initiate outreach ministries for the Deaf community.