According to the World Health Organization, more than 430 million people worldwide (including 34 million children) suffer from some form of disabling hearing loss and require rehabilitation. Data from the World Federation of the Deaf indicates there are approximately 70 million worldwide.

Individuals with deafness are suffer from profound hearing loss, which means they hear very little or nothing, and in order to communicate with each other and with hearing people they use sign languages. Sign languages vary from country to country and are different from spoken languages. There are more than 300 different sign languages ​​being used in the world.

Sign languages ​​are a fundamental tool for communication and comprehensive development and inclusion of deaf people in all areas, but the lack of education and use of these sign languages ​​by people without hearing problems limits their function. Ideally, sign language should allow deaf people to communicate not only with each other, but with everyone else as well.

In order to raise awareness about the importance of these languages of the full realization of the human rights of deaf people, the United Nations established September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages ​​(a date that coincides with the creation of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951). This special recognition also highlights the importance of preserving sign languages ​​as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. 

Adventist Deaf Ministries

The Adventist Church in South America, through Adventist Possibility Ministries, which focuses on seven specific areas that recognize and embrace individuals' unique characteristics, engaging them in the mission and reaching people with diverse abilities. One key area is the Adventist Deaf Ministries, which is dedicated to supporting and caring for deaf individuals.

This ministry has been developing in local churches, not only to bring the gospel message to deaf people, but also to welcome them, meet their needs, and allow their inclusion in all church activities and events.

Many of the Adventist churches in eight South American countries have adopted their country's sign language to develop Sabbath School classes and to convey the central message of worship to deaf and hearing impaired people. In addition to conducting training so that more Adventist members learn sign language and get involved in ministry activities, they also take action to bring the gospel message to deaf people in the community.

Deaf Ministries in Chile

In the Chile Union Mission, the Adventist Ministry for the Deaf began to develop in 2021 with different local, regional, and national meetings to generate spaces for inclusion and awareness. Currently, the ministry is working in four of the seven regions of the Chilean Union.

Waleska Blu, leader of Adventist Possibility Ministries in Chile, comments that "it has been a tremendous challenge, since the work of the interpreters is intense, and they must study, train and prepare constantly in order to provide a better service to the church and the community." However, she adds: "We praise the name of God because not only is this ministry growing, but so are all the others, and we have also added two more ministries due to local needs: OncoAyuda and Gestational and Perinatal Grief. "

Among the actions carried out as part of the Deaf Ministries in Chile are videos of the "Try and See" with interpretation, support for training in sign language for members of the ministry, training for Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs in Chilean Sign Language, dissemination and awareness towards the community, local church, and other local initiatives such as promotion and induction in female missionary meetings.

At the Central Adventist Church in Santiago, Chile, for example, interpreters are provided for deaf people when they arrive for the Sabbath program. And at the John Andrews Adventist Church in the same city, a workshop is held on interpreting Chilean Sign Language.

Free Peruvian Sign Language classes

In April 2022, a Venezuelan Adventist who arrived in Lima, Peru, offered to teach sign language classes to promote the inclusion of her in-laws, who are deaf, in church activities. This is how the Adventist Deaf Ministry began to develop in the Av Brasil Adventist Church and was officially formed that year.

Currently, the ministry offers a Peruvian Sign Language class, interprets the worship service, and also adds the signs to the singing. In addition, they carry out other actions such as training and marches to distribute material with the ministry's QR code and flyers to inform people about the free sign language classes.

Sign language classes have between five and eight students and are held every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in one of the classrooms of the Adventist School next to the church. Children, young people, and adults of any age can attend, and it is open to everyone, not just Adventists.

Kiara Rojas, the project manager and director of the program at the church, says "the only requirement is to have the desire to learn. These classes are held to evangelize deaf people. There may be deaf people who want to go to church but don't dare because they may think that there isn't someone to interpret the sermon or the message or that they won't be able to interact with their brothers and sisters."

Sign Language Evangelism

Deaf Ministries aims to welcome and care for deaf people, but above all to bring the gospel message in sign language. At the Villa Union Adventist Church in Lima, Peru, members of the ministry hold a small group in Peruvian Sign Language during Sabbath School class hours in a separate room, then join the church for divine worship, where they interpret the message for the 6 deaf people who attend regularly.

In the afternoon, they conduct Bible studies and other social activities with the aim of attracting more deaf people from the community or surrounding areas. This is how they met Ana María Castro Lévano, a 72-year-old woman who is deaf from birth. She learned about the church last year, when the youth group from Deaf Ministries of the IASD Villa Unión came to the Association for the Deaf in Chaclacayo to visit them and do a special program to talk to them about God. Ana was very interested, and together with her friend Claudio, who is also deaf, they visited the church.

After 9 months of studying the Bible, the Faith of Jesus Bible study, and participating in the church's divine worship with the support of Deaf Ministries, Ana felt that God touched her heart and, moved by the church sermons that spoke about what she was going through and feeling, she made the decision to be baptized. The friends and family she formed in the church, thanks to Deaf Ministries, helped her trust in God and continue to support her on her journey of faith.

Hillary Jaimes, director of Adventist Deaf Ministries for northern Peru and of the Villa Union Seventh-Day Adventist Church, points out that "many deaf people in Peru live isolated, not only from society, but also from the church due to communication barriers that limit their access to information, education, work, and social development. Therefore, the Adventist Deaf Ministry becomes an urgent mission so that more deaf people can join our church, learn the truth, and also get involved in the mission."

He also highlights the importance of this ministry for the work of the church and adds that "for this to be possible, we need to learn their language; sign language. That is true inclusion, that is 'loving your neighbor as yourself', and we can all get involved. Let's make our church a place where everyone, hearing and deaf, can encounter God!"

The original version of this story was posted on the South America Division Spanish website.