Teaching others to seek Him.
Bringing God’s love to the deaf.
The Deaf are the Largest Unreached People Group in the World.
As estimated by the World Federation of the Deaf, there are around 70 million Deaf people around the world. Less than two percent of them have been reached with the gospel, making them the largest unreached people group in the world.
“For whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved!” Romans 10:13
But how can deaf people call on Him for salvation if no one teaches them sign language so they can see, understand and believe the Word of God?
We call our family the “Morning Star Watch” because we are a band of Jesus followers, expectantly awaiting the arrival of our King while training others to do the same. Our ministry focuses on meeting the spiritual needs of deaf Dominicans.
Deaf people face many barriers to “hearing” the Word of God. Illiteracy, isolation, and geographical distance pose communication problems that are not easily overcome. Furthermore, the very nature of deafness complicates the problem since it is not an externally visible trait and stays out of sight for most mission organizations.
"Because they have lost their hearing, must they also lose their soul?" - Ted Camp, Silent Word Ministry
Why do we have to go?
Why are we leaving all we know, the comforts we enjoy, and the people we love? Take a few minutes to watch this video to understand the urgency and calling on our lives. Popcorn, optional.
Bible Interpretation into Dominican Sign Language
As many as 80% of Deaf children in some countries never receive access to formal education.
For those who can read, written language is a second language that requires extra effort.
At least 95 percent of sign languages have no Bible translation.
But with video and the Internet, we can create and provide sign language Bible resources like never before. We will be assisting our ministry partners, Pastor Eric and Juana Quinlan, to produce the FIRST Bible in Dominican Sign language.
We will be intentionally visiting and engaging the deaf with the goal of presenting the gospel in their own heart language. We want to bring God’s word to reproduce Christian fellowships across the Dominican Republic. Due to her experience as a registered nurse, Nikki has been invited to assist with a community outreach clinic, both medically and by providing previously unavailable translation services.
Medical Outreach
Over 3 million people live in the city of Santo Domingo and the surrounding villages. Approximately 113,000 of these people are deaf. To date, there are only 3 Baptist ministries available for these people. We will teach and equip hearing churches to reach their own deaf neighbors.
The church cannot address a problem it does not understand. Deafness is more than just hearing loss. It’s a unique culture with a rich language.
80% of deaf people are born into hearing families. Of these, over 85% of those parents will choose not to learn sign language or to sign with their deaf child. This creates a lot of frustration between child and parents. Many times deaf children will struggle to follow conversations in their family, and when they ask, their parents will often say, “Don’t worry, it’s not important.” If you hear this often enough, you start to believe that you’re not important. We want to teach hearing churches about the deaf culture and language so they may better show them God’s love.
Equipping Hearing Ministries
We will implement a one on one, natural, disciples-making-disciples approach with the believers at Iglesia de Convertidos a Cristo a los Sordos. Tim will use his vocational construction skills to teach young deaf men life skills and to initiate a men’s bible study.
Deaf people do not just want to have information translated to them. They want to participate and engage in their communities. We want to train them to be able to serve in their local churches and equip them to disciple the people God sends to them.
Multiplying Disciples
“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”
—Vance Havner, Baptist preacher, 1913
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
timandnikki@mcknights4god.com
In-Country Address
We don’t know yet. Please let us know if you have an apartment in Santo Domingo that you’d like to rent.
Mission Board
Central Missionary Clearinghouse
2855 Greenhouse Road, Houston, TX 77084
Sending Church
Bible Baptist Church
2047 Gate Two Road, Creedmoor, NC 27522