“Jesus Speaks Our Language” – Deaf Students Experience the Gospel in ASL This Easter

By: David Harding

This Easter season, students at Happy Hands and Deaf Christian Academy encountered the story of Jesus in a way they never have before—through their own language. Thanks to the groundbreaking release of “Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film” in American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf students now have direct access to the life of Christ, portrayed entirely in ASL without the need for subtitles, interpreters, or animated versions.

Since its release last April, the film has opened new doors for Christian education in the Deaf community. Schools like Happy Hands and Deaf Christian Academy are incorporating the film and its accompanying clips and lessons into their classrooms, allowing Deaf children to see Jesus and His disciples communicate in a way that resonates deeply and personally.

“Instead of having to watch an interpreter sign the words of Jesus or using animated clips or captions, our students can now watch Jesus and the disciples and all the characters speak in their own language—ASL,” shared Janine Pride, M.Ed., Executive Director and Head of School. “This film is bringing our students a first-hand experience of the Bible.”

The impact is profound. One Deaf teacher at the school remarked, “I never thought I would get to ‘hear’ Jesus until I reached heaven, but with this movie, Jesus is using my own language.”

The Deaf population is one of the most underserved groups when it comes to the gospel. Worldwide, it is the second most unreached people group for Christ. In the U.S., only about 2% of Deaf individuals identify as Christians. The barriers begin early: most Deaf children are born into hearing families who may not know ASL, and only 23% of those parents learn the language fluently. As a result, spiritual conversations are often limited or non-existent.

“Heart-to-heart conversations about life, and especially about spiritual matters, rarely happen for these Deaf children,” Pride noted. “They are isolated—from their families, from Christian fellowship, and from Christian education. But that is changing.”

With resources like “Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film” and the support of organizations such as Deaf Missions, educators now have tools that reach Deaf students where they are. “Our children now see Jesus as someone who speaks their heart language, and they are falling more and more in love with Him every day,” Pride said. “Parents, children, and teachers can watch the film or appropriate clips together and have devotions that the children understand and feel fully included in.”

For many, this film represents more than a teaching tool—it is a spiritual awakening.

Watch the trailer for “Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Uw2z73Su4

To learn more about Happy Hands and Deaf Christian Academy, visit their website: www.happyhands.org.