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Deaf Thais Start a Church With Sign Language Where You Can’t Fake It

The members sit in a circle, so they can all see each other as they sign. Their core group of six Christians in their twenties and thirties alternate in their roles. Each week, one member is the storyteller, and another member does the dialogue.

The storyteller signs the Bible story multiple times to help members commit it to memory. The person in charge of dialogue is responsible for making sure that everyone has the chance to participate, that all words in the story are discussed, and that everyone understands the story and isn’t just ‘faking’ understanding. The person in charge of the dialogue also makes sure all of the signs in the story are correct.

Sombat and Alisara said Deaf Christians often feign understanding in mixed congregations of hearing and Deaf Christians because there isn’t usually time to ask questions, and if there is an opportunity to ask, there aren’t many hearing church members who are able to communicate the real meaning in Thai Sign Language.

But at their Saturday night church services, “Nobody goes away just faking understanding. It’s a true understanding. I can see in their expression and how they sign their responses,” Sombat said. “I don’t know their heart, but I know that at least they’re receiving God’s Word.”

After the dialogue and practice, the storyteller tells the story again. After that, they discuss the characteristics of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that they find in the story.

A person who hasn’t yet signed the story then signs the entire story to cement biblical truths in the story. Another person retells the story, and they enter into a time of reflection.

Each member reflects on the Bible story and shares how they are going to change. They discuss the areas in their lives where they need to repent, and the areas where they need accountability.

Lastly, the person who was in charge of dialogue signs the story a final time. By the end of the service, church members see the story six or seven times, if not more. The Deaf are visual learners, and reading isn’t part of their heart language, so memorization and repetition are important.

After closing in prayer, they sign worship songs.

The members are encouraged to share that week’s Bible story with someone else. Sombat and Alisara work at a hotel, and they share the stories with other Deaf staff there and in the market near their house.

Taking the gospel beyond their borders

Beyond sharing the gospel among the Deaf in Thailand, Story One church members are also sharing a message of empowerment to Christians in Nepal and Indonesia.

Sombat and Alisara compare their ministry strategy to when Jesus sent out the seventy-two. He first equipped them, then sent them out to spread the gospel message. Believers at Story One church recently had the chance to coach and equip Nepali Deaf Christians who traveled to Thailand to learn from their church model.

“We were able to share how we are empowered in Christ and have freedom even though we are still oppressed by hearing people. Christ and his church don’t do that,” Alisara said.

* Name changed

This article originally appeared here.