DOOR-International-Annual-Report-2016

2016 annual report

“Unreached.” The word sounds so foreign,
so far off, so “other.” However, did you
know that one of the largest unreached,
unengaged people groups (UUPGs) is living
right in our midst?

The Deaf collectively (70 million) represent one of the
largest UUPGs in the world. Finishing the Task reports
that, in the list of UUPGs around the world, 10% are Deaf.
In fact, 20% of the UUPGs that number 100,000 or more
are Deaf language groups.

Yet, while these groups represent a large portion of the
“remaining need” in the Great Commission, they are
among the hardest to reach. There are so few resources
to help them access God’s Word and biblical training.

But God is changing that. In this report, you will see what
God has done in 2016 in the areas of translation, training,
and church planting at DOOR International. You’ll see
individual stories of transformation, as well as our vision
for the global Deaf community by the year 2025.

Jesus is changing lives and growing leaders in the
Deaf community. Will you join us in supporting this
amazing work?

Until the Deaf All Understand,

Rob Myers

Translation Translation 2-by-2 Partner
Consultant Organizations
Completion of the Training Number of 2-by-2
110-passage Founda- teams increased from Major advances in Deaf
tional Chronological First Deaf group in 21 to 35. awareness among
Bible in three Indian history to complete key partners, including
sign languages. biblical training course Graduation of 43 Forum of Bible Agencies
in Israel (course offered Kenyan Deaf pastors International (FOBAI)
Successful transition by Jerusalem University). and leaders from 2-by-2 and Issachar Initiative.
of several translation Training Program.
projects from DOOR
center to home country.

2016 Activities & Impact

Countries with Language
Active Work: 15 Groups: 17

Total number of Deaf with access* to both DOOR
Translation and 2-by-2 Training: 7.73 million

Sign Language Continent Population *Note: “Access” here
Bulgaria Europe 73,000 indicates that some
Burundi Africa Scripture has been
Ethiopia Africa 102,000 published in the heart
Ghana Africa 941,000 language of that lan-
India - Andhra Pradesh Asia 259,000 guage group, and that
India - Karnataka Asia 348,000 at least one 2-by-2 team
India - Kerala Asia 641,000 is at work within the
India - Tamil Nadu Asia 497,000 language group.
Kenya Africa 679,000
Mozambique Africa 443,000
Nigeria Africa 258,000
South Sudan Africa 1,760,000
Tanzania Africa 113,000
Uganda Africa 493,000
United States North America 376,000
Total 750,000
7,733,000

Additional language groups
where DOOR is working:

Sign Language Continent Population Work
Costa Rica Translation
North 48,720
India – Delhi America 2-by-2
India – Gujarat 2-by-2
India – Haryana Asia 99,000 2-by-2
India - Madhya 2-by-2
Pradesh Asia 627,000
India -
Maharashtra Asia 254,000
India - West
Bengal Asia 733,000
Nepal
Russia Asia 1,140,000 2-by-2
Total
Asia 900,000 2-by-2

Language Groups with Asia 278,000 2-by-2
completed translations
Asia 1,450,000 Translation
Language Groups with
translation in progress 5,529,720

Potential Future
Expansion
(4 Countries/6 Language
Groups)

Translation South Sudan is no stranger to violence. Born in
2011, the world’s newest nation has been unof-
DOOR International began ficially “at war” with Sudan since 2013. Approxi-
work in sign language mately 2.3 million people have had to flee their
bible translation in 2007. homes, according to UNHCR. Some 678,000
Deaf leadership chose people are living across borders as refugees,
Chronological Bible Trans- and 1.69 million are internally displaced.
lation as the most effec-
tive and culturally appro- The South Sudan translation team began
priate way for Deaf people work at DOOR Africa’s training center in May
to receive and understand 2015. Even though the South Sudan project is
the Word of God. new, it is already demonstrating the power of
the Gospel. God’s Word in South Sudan Sign
These translations are Language is transforming the hearts of trans-
authorized Scripture, just lators and community members.
like the New International
Version or the English “Since I started Bible translation in South
Standard Version. Sudan Sign Language, my hunger for God’s
Word has grown a lot,” signs one member
of the translation team. “In the past, reading
God’s Word was a task that was too heavy for
me to bear. Now, I enjoy watching the pas-
sages we are translating.

“It is interesting for me because God
communicates to us in the form of stories.
As a Deaf person, stories are part of my
daily life.”

1.6 million 1,000+

Deaf people in Asia Bible passages
gained access community tested for
to God’s Word clarity and accuracy.

2 77

New translation Bible passages completed
and released in Nigerian
offices opened.
Sign Language.

451 33

Deaf evangelists Deaf school

and teachers trained. programs started.

77 2,984

Deaf believers’ Chronological Bible

fellowships started. Stories shared.

training Sahil and Bhavya attended a church name of Jesus. They were so happy
faithfully for eight years, but expe- after meeting the one true God. Sahil
(2-by-2 program) rienced no peace or change in their and Bhavya didn’t know their new faith
lives. One day, they learned about the would soon be put to the test.
The best people to reach ministry of Lakshay, a DOOR 2-by-2
Deaf nationals are other Deaf worker, and decided to take a closer One day, Sahil’s father discovered the
nationals. We help recruit and look. couple watching a DOOR Chronologi-
train pairs of Deaf leaders to cal Bible Translation DVD. He quickly
form what we call “2-by-2 teams,” Lakshay taught Bible classes using sign became angry, and gathered family
based on Christ’s actions in language Scripture resources devel- members. They threatened to kill the
Mark 6:7: “And he called his oped by DOOR. After watching them, pair, to which Bhavya responded, “If
twelve disciples together and Sahil and Bhavya accepted Christ into you want to kill, then kill us. We won’t
began sending them out their hearts and were baptized in the fear; we are ready to die for Jesus.”
two by two...”

The teams, comprised of an
evangelist and a teacher, are
sent into the local Deaf commu-
nity to make disciples. The goal is
a model of church planting that
is reproducible and sustainable.
These local Deaf believers’ fellow-
ships are not DOOR churches, but
instead are led and run by local
believers.

consultants in training Visiting the Holy Land “After seeing the Holy
brings Christ-followers Land, it is now very
The need for Deaf sign language translation consultants to a new level of under- evident that the Word
is immense. Deaf consultants can provide skills and ex- standing. This compre- of God in the Bible is
perience that hearing consultants never could: an innate hension is critical for genuine!”
knowledge of how to express the Scriptures visually, and people like our Deaf
firsthand understanding of Deaf culture. leaders and Consultants- One night, the group
in-Training (CITs), who visited with the local Deaf
DOOR International began its Deaf Consultants-in-Training help translation teams population. The locals
(CIT) program in 2013 to address this very issue. There are understand the context were amazed to see a
currently only two fully trained and officially recognized of God’s Word. group of Deaf from so
Deaf translation consultants in the world. many different coun-
In 2016, 13 Deaf leaders tries. They asked why the
from five different na- group had come to Israel.
tions spent an intensive After explaining, Mark
four weeks studying bibli- and other Deaf leaders
cal history and topogra- showed one of DOOR’s
phy in Israel. Bible translation videos.

“My understanding of the One Israeli Deaf man
truth of God’s Word -- as stood spellbound, his
seen in Biblical times -- eyes riveted to the
has blossomed so much,” screen. “Do you have
signs Mark Sorenson, those in Israeli Sign Lan-
DOOR’s Program Coor- guage?” he asked. Upon
dinator for the Americas Mark’s negative reply,
and Eurasia. the man exclaimed, “Why
not?!”

4-6 8

Years needed to complete Translation teams
the CIT program. assisted by Deaf CITs.

13 2

Deaf CITs serve with Deaf consultants
DOOR International. in the world.

Next Generation

Most Deaf children and young adults in
Kenya attend Deaf schools. Through a
partnership with the national Christian
Deaf association, DOOR staff are reach-
ing this “next generation” for Christ.
Teachers use DOOR’s Chronological
Bible Study (CBS) for religious curricu-
lum, while DOOR’s Deaf translators and
staff become positive role models for
Deaf students. DOOR 2-by-2 teams train
Deaf leaders to work in the schools and
communities.

Njoroge (7) and Esther (13) are After 14 6
perfect examples of the “before Growing up, Esther did not know
and after” effect that DOOR’s sign language and had no way to Deaf schools Additional Deaf
Deaf school program is having in communicate. Whenever some- currently receive schools to
Kenya. one would try to talk to her, she CBS lessons and receive CBS
would immediately start crying. leadership training.
Before Her mother wanted to enroll her lessons in 2017.
An isolated life, tending to and in a Deaf school, but there were
sleeping alongside his family’s no openings. 3,798 3
livestock, was the future that lay
ahead of James Njoroge. Born After many attempts by DOOR Deaf students saw Regions have
Deaf, Njoroge was always the Africa staff and by the grace of God’s Word in their been identified for
“problem” his hearing parents God, an opening at the school heart sign language. further expansion.
needed to “fix.” came up in 2010. Esther was en-
rolled and the rest, as they say, is
His father thought he had ex- history.
hausted all options for his son;
he was resigned to building a “Today, Esther is a completely
space for Njoroge in the cow changed girl, bold, sharp and flu-
shed -- until he learned about ent,” reports a DOOR Africa staff
a Deaf school partnering with member. Her father adds, “I am
DOOR International. amazed to see how much Esther
can communicate.
Several years ago, DOOR Africa
staff also pointed Esther’s moth- “I thought she knew too little.
er to a partnering Deaf school. Since joining the Deaf school,
she has recovered most of the
knowledge she had lost.”

TRANSFORMATION
10 YEAR VISION

The Deaf can only be reached if they have God’s Word in their heart language
(sign language) and if local leaders have been trained in evangelism, discipleship,
and church planting in a reproducible way.
To that end, DOOR International’s Deaf leaders outlined a vision to reach the
global Deaf population for Christ. DOOR’s efforts will operate in coordination with
partner organizations.

By 2025, 50% of the world’s
70 million Deaf will have:

Published Scripture
available in their heart
sign language, and

A reproducible Deaf-led church planting
movement among their people group.

Consolidated Unrestricted Temporarily Total
Statement of Restricted
Activities SUPPORT AND REVENUE: $798,286 $2,052,840
Contributions $46,670 $1,254,554 $46,670
DOOR International is a registered 501(c)3 organization. We Donated Services -
strive to honor Christ in all areas of its ministry, including Grants $743,935 - $743,935
ethical and financial standards. We are a member of the Other Income $44,502 - $44,502
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and
uphold their rules for Christian ministries. Because we value NON-OPERATING REVENUE: $1,633,393 $1,254,554 $2,887,947
financial transparency, our finances are audited annually, $3,960 - $3,960
RECLASSIFICATIONS:
and audited financial statements are available upon request. Net assests released $1,096,455 ($1,096,455) -
from restriction
$2,729,848 $158,099 $2,887,947
Total Support, Revenue, and
Reclassifications $2,111,667 - $2,111,667

EXPENSES: $538,820 - $538,820
Program Services $270,826 - $270,826
Supporting Activities: $2,921,313 - $2,921,313
Management and general ($187,505) $158,099 ($29,406)
Fundraising
$3,610,095 $292,262 $3,902,357
Total Expenses $3,422,590 $450,361 $3,872,951

Change in Net Assets
Net Assets:

Beginning of Year
End of Year

As it is written, DOOR International

“Those who were not told about him 135 N State St, Suite 200
will see, and those who have not heard Zeeland, MI 49464
will understand.” —­ Romans 15:21
616.741.7200
doorinternational.org