Film bridges gap for Deaf to know Christ

Aqil’s (name changed for security purposes) embrace of Christ demonstrates the gospel’s power among Deaf people when they see Jesus using sign language to come and dwell among them.

The Deaf man born into a Muslim family joined the cast of Jesus (A Deaf Missions Film), produced for Deaf people by Deaf people. Islam was his first barrier to trusting Christ. But, like all Deaf people, there was a second barrier: a lack of access to the gospel since nearly all ministries focus on spoken evangelism. 

Jesus (A Deaf Missions Film) overcame that last barrier in Aqil’s heart before the crew and cast even finished the message of a God who loves the world and sent his son. Acting in the feature film had a significant impact on Aqil’s life, Chad Entiger, the CEO of Deaf Missions, said.

“He came to know what the gospel meant and who Jesus is and how he came to die for us,” Entiger said of Aqil. “While on set, he made his own personal decision to place his faith in Christ and to follow Jesus as well.”

Related: See the trailer that’s inspiring Deaf people to trust Christ.

Entiger, who started leading Deaf Missions nearly 20 years ago, lost his hearing when he was just 16 months old because of spinal meningitis. He, too, needed American Sign Language to understand the gospel and believe in Christ.

Thankfully, his parents continued their family’s legacy of faith that goes back generations. The Entigers connected with Deaf Missions in 1979 to ensure their son could learn about Jesus.

Chad Entiger still remembers seeing his dad walking through an airport with his favorite briefcase. Inside that briefcase were resources from Deaf Missions so Chad could access the gospel. The ministry that helped Entiger trust Christ decades ago is now the team he leads to communicate the gospel of Jesus with Deaf people.

Related: Deaf Missions is a video production ministry to make disciples among the Deaf.

“The opportunity to see and hear in our own heart language is very important to me,” Entiger said. “What brings me the greatest joy of being a part of Deaf Missions and working with different partners is to simply see Deaf people meet Jesus Christ.”

Converge’s Deaf Catalyst Team has the same heart, explained team member Jonathan Walterhouse. That’s why they partnered with Deaf Missions to help create the film. Our movement of churches yearns for Deaf people — quite likely the least-reached people of all least-reached groups — to meet, know and follow Jesus.

“We’re passionate about helping the church reach Deaf people in a different way,” Walterhouse said.

Related: Jonathan Walterhouse has more to share about how your church can serve the Deaf.

There are an estimated 70 Million Deaf around the world, of which less than 2% have chosen to follow Christ. 

But Jesus (A Deaf Missions Film) has tremendous potential to see hundreds of thousands of Deaf people trust Christ as savior. It is the first feature film about Jesus for Deaf people by Deaf people.

Related: Find out when Jesus (A Deaf Missions Film) will be shown in theaters.

Jesus (A Deaf Missions Film) shares the gospel in American Sign Language, the heart language for many people in the world’s Deaf community. Those are the words that revealed the Word to Aqil, enabling the Deaf man from a Muslim background to see Christ for who he really is.

“They’ve never been reached in their own heart language to be able to have that clear understanding of who Jesus is,” Entiger said. “We want Deaf people to be able to experience the gospel just like I did as a child and just as this Deaf Muslim man did as well.”

Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group — in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.