Our Story

The story of the JSL Bible project.

This is scripture you can see.

Our team is a Deaf-led, Japan-based organization that has been working for 30 years to give the Deaf community in Japan a way to access the Living Word in their heart language.

Play Video

The ability to independently access scripture in your heart language leads to healing and transformation.

1993
1993
April 23: JSL Bible translation project starts
1
1993
1994
1994
Short pilot video of Luke 2:1-20
1
1994
1995
1995
Style of signing changed after test video.
1
1995
1996 - 2002
1996 - 2002
Ruth, Jonah, Mark, Acts, Philippians, the JESUS film, 1&2 Thessalonians, James, and Galatians
1
1996 - 2002
2004 - 2010
2004 - 2010
Genesis, Ruth revised, Jonah revised, and Matthew 1-20
1
2004 - 2010
2012
2012
Facebook page launch, Matthew 21-28, Colossians, Philemon, and Esther
1
2012
2013
2013
John 1-10
John 11-28
1
2013
2014
2014
Exodus 1-13
JSL Bible app launch
1
2014
2015
2015
The organization becomes a legal entity in Japan
1
2015
2015
2015
Exodus 14-28
Exodus 29-40
1
2015
2016
2016
Ephesians
Titus
1
2016
2017
2017
Leviticus 1-27
Luke 1-10
1
2017
2018
2018
Luke 11-24
1&2 Timothy
Jude
1-3 John
1
2018
2019
2019
Daniel 1-6
WOW Bible Stories (The Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan, A Short Man Called Zacchaeus, The Unforgiving Servant)
1
2019
2020
2020
Daniel 7-12
Ezra 1-6
1
2020
2021
2021
Obadiah
1
2021
2022
2022
Ezra 7-10 (app only)
1&2 Peter
Romans 1-8 (app only)
1
2022
2023
2023
A new website (with both Japanese and English) and a new app reflect the new branding and name change
1
2023
2024
2024
Joshua 1-12
1 Corinthians 1-7

Ezra & Obadiah (DVD)
1
2024

Donors from the US funded the early stages of the project and allowed the first team to translate scripture from Greek and Hebrew into JSL for Deaf churches and the Deaf community.

Now, with the help of donors both overseas and in Japan, the project has grown from a few people recording videos in borrowed rooms to a fully functioning team with exegetical researchers, full-time and part-time translators, translation consultants, technical staff, administrative staff, and more.

It’s all made possible because of support from people like you.

We can’t do this without you.

Without the prayers, donations, and support of our partners, we would be unable to continue this work. Consider joining us in our work to give Japanese Deaf their own JSL Bible.

Want updates?
Join our newsletter.

Join our newsletter and get occasional updates on our progress delivered to your email.

JSL Bibleの最新情報を
メルマガでお届けしています

翻訳状況や翻訳の舞台裏などを、定期的にメルマガで配信中!登録はこちらから