First Ethiopian Sign Language Scripture DVDs dedicated  

First Ethiopian Sign Language Scripture DVDs dedicated

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 12, 2011

By Gwen Davies

“God changed my life, and he can change anyone’s life!” Tesfaye Moges signed to 120 guests who had gathered to celebrate the publication of the first Scripture portions published on DVD in Ethiopian Sign Language. Tesfaye is one of four Deaf Ethiopians who have labored faithfully as members of DOOR to translate the first 32 Bible stories and accompanying explanatory materials into Ethiopian Sign Language. God has woven their individual stories together to bring an estimated one million Deaf people in Ethiopia His Word in their own language.

Asmalesh Ekube Mekael, the founder and former director of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus School for the Deaf in Hossanna, looked on with a smile as his former pupil shared his testimony. A passionate and rebellious young man while attending the school, Tesfaye took to drinking and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Like the Apostle Peter, Tesfaye’s life took a dramatic turn when he encountered the Savior, who had alternate plans for his life.

The other three members of the team have unique stories of their own. Mohammed Bedewi suffered persecution from his family when he left their faith to accept Christ as a teenager. Fasil Kidane was raised in a traditional church, but became a believer when he attended a Christian Deaf school, where he was taught what Christ’s death and resurrection really mean for us. He has long been separated from family members by political boundaries in the region. Wondwosen Abera became Deaf at the age of eight, old enough to have already learned how to read Amharic. Although he also grew up in the church, his faith in Christ came to life when he read the Bible for himself as a young man. All four of these men have a passion for bringing God’s Word to the Deaf Ethiopian community.

The celebration was held on November 12^th, 2011 at the EECMY Gudina Tumsa Holistic Training Centre in Addis Ababa. Pastor Yohannes Tkiluy (EECMY) led the program, which included sign worship songs, testimonies from the translation team, and a skit illustrating how Deaf people get left out in churches. Rev. Dr. Wakesiyum Idosa, President of EECMY, affirmed God’s love for all people, and that Deaf people need access to God’s Word in a language they can best understand. Jim Dowsett of DOOR International summarized a history of DOOR’s work in Deaf evangelism and church planting, and, with the help of SIL International, translation of the Scriptures into sign languages.

Attendees represented a range of Deaf churches and faiths, from Baptist to EECMY to Orthodox and Muslim. DVD sets were presented to representatives of six Deaf churches and six Deaf schools. Pastor Bizuayehu Assefa of Ebenezer Baptist Church of the Deaf was close to tears as he held his copy high in front of the crowd. One Deaf woman said, “I can read the Bible, but I don’t really understand what it means. To watch the signed Bible, it’s fantastic, I understand it perfectly!” A Deaf man said, “Before, I was taught, taught, taught about the Bible, but I never really understood it. I’ve never seen the Bible signed on DVD before. Now I understand it!”

A total of 200 DVD sets were distributed, and 6 copies of the accompanying illustrated Bible story book were given out to 6 Deaf schools, including one copy to be taken to a school in Mekelle in Northern Ethiopia, some 890 kilometers away. The team will distribute more copies of the DVDs to Deaf churches in outlying areas. In two years the team expects to have completed all 110 stories of the chronological Bible story sets, which will give the Deaf churches in Ethiopia a strong foundation in some of the major Scripture passages.

Pray that God will use these freshly released Scripture portions to powerful effect in peoples’ lives. Pray that additional copies of the DVDs and illustrated Bible story books awaiting shipping to Ethiopia will pass smoothly through the customs process.