2 by 2 Teams: Putting the Word into Action

Sorry for no recent update lately; things have been busy, and we haven't had much time to write.  

In our previous post we gave a brief description of what is involved in creating and producing a translation of the Bible into sign language.  These are the roots of DOOR, but several years ago the people at DOOR realized that individuals equipped with a Bible but no training in evangelism, teaching others, and building up leaders who can do the same (in other words, discipleship) will struggle to grow God's kingdom.  That struggle ended up generating DOOR's "2 by 2 teams."

Each country with a sign language translation supported by DOOR also has one or more 2 by 2 teams that are supported for a fixed period of time.  The model for the 2 by 2 teams is based on Luke 10:  "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he was about to go.  And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest...'" (Luke 10:1-2)  Each 2 by 2 team consists of two Deaf individuals who have been trained by DOOR in many areas.  Four specific main areas they have been trained in are evangelism, teaching, church planting, and raising up leaders among the local Deaf community, training them in these areas.  These areas match the three series of Chronological Bible Stories that the translation teams have produced.  ("Know God How?" connects with evangelism; "Follow God How?" connects with teaching/discipleship; and "Serve God How?" connects with church planting and leadership development.)  Briefly, here is how each area works:

• Evangelism:  The 2 by 2 teams go into local Deaf communities and begin building relationships with local Deaf in many different contexts.  Eventually after spending some time developing these relationships, the team often holds a camp in which they introduce many of the locals to the Chronological Bible Stories.  Those who are interested in further stories or information are invited to join local fellowships (a bit like "small groups") in their areas or villages.  The 2 by 2 teams then travel from area to area during the week to support these fellowships and teach.  It is through these camps and fellowships that many Deaf people come to know Christ.

• Teaching:  Once someone gives their life to Christ, they need to become grounded in the faith.  These local fellowships help give them exposure to the Scripture (in their own language), solid teaching, and an opportunity to ask questions.  At right is a picture of one fellowship in which participants are watching the DVD of the Scripture (this lesson was on Exodus 19 and 20: the ten commandments).  They later have an opportunity to review the story, ask questions, and apply it to their lives.  

• Church Planting:  Once enough thriving fellowships are happening in an area, there are enough Deaf people to plant a church.  Just as all believers are given spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16), Deaf believers have gifts that contribute to the development of the Church.  These gifts really come out when the Deaf are in fellowship with other Deaf.  In a hearing church, Deaf people are seen as a ministry.  But in a Deaf church, Deaf people are ministers.  Thus, a Deaf church is established in a central location by the 2 by 2 team, and all of the Deaf fellowships that meet during the week are then invited to become a part of the church.  

• Leadership Training:  As in Paul's vision of discipleship in 2 Tim. 2:2, ministry is something that is intended to be passed on.  The 2 by 2 teams are taught how to identify new believers gifted in evangelism, teaching, etc., and then they spend additional time pouring into these individuals, training them for future ministry.  Following this training, these individuals will be ready to go out and begin this process again, raising up more Deaf fellowships and planting churches for local Deaf people.

• National Association:  Once there are enough established Deaf fellowships and Deaf churches, the nation is ready to establish a national Deaf association that helps oversee the health of the churches.  This association is independent of DOOR, and once a country reaches this point, DOOR begins to withdraw and let the association take over the oversight of the further development in the country.  Nationals then own the vision for where the next steps will be, having been trained in how to achieve those steps.

There are so many aspects of this that we love.  Praise God that this "sending out of harvesters" is actively happening already in a number of countries thanks to the work of many people at DOOR and other organizations partnering with DOOR.  Please continue to pray for these individuals, that they would be equipped, courageous, strong, and steadfast, and that the Lord would raise up many more people to go into the harvest.