What is your heart for being involved as the leader of CDS?

Having been involved with the Deaf community over the years, I have grown to deeply appreciate my Deaf brothers and sisters. They have exemplified love for others, compassion, humility, perseverance and dedication to the Lord. They have been an inspiration to me and created a desire in me to come along and support them in any way that I can.

I have also had the chance to see some of the brokeness of the Deaf community. This is a community that has experienced oppression, discrimination, lack of opportunity and abuse. Particularly sad, much of the community has been cut off from the Word of God because it is inaccessible to them. This lack of guidance and direction can lead to confusion and dispair.

In either case, members of the Deaf community are the children and deserve the respect that this status confers. Leviticus 19:14 says, "You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord." If you have respect for the God of Israel, you will have respect for all of His children even if they are not esteemed in the eyes of the world.

Our God is a God who cares for those who are forgotten, redeems those who have been rejected, creates a way when it seems impossible. There is a very special joy in joining him in this work. It is fulfilling to face what seems impossible from the perspective of the world and watch as God makes a way. It touches the heart to see how he cares for each and every one of us.

Our students have taken on a difficult task. They study in a program surrounded by hearing people. They are learning Hebrew without being able to hear it or speak it. They persevere and even flourish in the face of the challenge because they see the importance of the endeavor they have undertaken. Their Deaf brothers and sisters must have the Word of God and they have determined that they do their part to serve and make sure that this happens. Their dedication inspires me to continue to persevere and grow the programs of the Center for Deaf Scriptures.

How do you see 2020 as being one that has built a foundation for multiplication in Deaf Bible translation?

In 2020, it was very encouraging to see the foundations laid for the potential multiplication of Sign Language translation in the future. We had four students embark on their studies in the Sign Language Specialization track of the MA in Classical Hebrew and Translation Consulting. These four are future leaders in the sign language translation movement. Their studies will not only impact them but also all of those whom they lead or teach in the future. At the same time, these students have pioneered a path of training that could serve others like them in the future.

They have engaged in the task of learning biblical Hebrew and have done so with great success. Learning the biblical languages has been one of the significant obstacles facing Deaf individuals wishing to serve the Sign Language translation movement as consultants. The success of these students will inspire other Deaf translators who desire to learn biblical Hebrew and demonstrate that it can be done. They are blazing to trail to accomplish what had previously been considered unfeasible. Others will follow. Additionaly, they will be able to use what they have learned to teach others and so access to the Word of God will increase through their efforts.

Wheaton College podcast interview with Adam

Wheaton College recently published a Podcast interview with Adam about his work training Deaf Bible translators. We thought some of you might enjoy hearing about some of Adam's current projects and hearing stories about some of his students. To listen to the podcast, click here to go to the Wheaton college To the Nations Podcast page. Scroll down to the second podcast, "Training Deaf Bible Translators in Israel - with Adam Van Goor."