Did you know...?
Information about Deaf culture and sign languages:
Sign Language is not universal! Just like spoken languages, signed languages have and are developing in various countries and cultures worldwide.
Just because Deaf people can see written words, does not mean they understand them well. For many Deaf people around the world a sign language is their heart language. We desire to see God's Word translated into the heart language of all people, including the Deaf.
A sign language Bible is most often published in video form. While DVDs are currently the standard, work is being done to utilize other forms of electronic media.
American Sign Language is the only signed language with a complete New Testament. 10% of the remaining languages worldwide that do not yet have Scripture in their language are sign languages!
The Deaf are not simply those that can't hear. They represent a distinct people group with their own language, identity, and culture. And since most Deaf are born to hearing parents, they are the only people born into a language group different from both of their parents.
There are an estimated 500 different sign languages in use around the world today. Of those languages, some translation work has been done in around 50 of them. No sign language has a complete Bible. Most of the 50 have selected Bible texts.
SAD FACTS from the World Federation of the Deaf website: "Most Deaf people do not get any education in developing countries and approximately 80% of the world’s 70 million Deaf people do not have any access to education. Only about 1-2 % of the Deaf get education in sign language." http://wfdeaf.org/human-rights
Information about Europe:
Europe is one of the least reached continents in the world today.
Most countries in Europe today are post Christian.
People from all over the world have come to Europe, making it a great base for reaching the entire world.
The former state Church of Sweden lost more than 50,000 members in 2012, continuing a trend in declining membership, seen most acutely in the towns, since Sweden became secular in the year 2000.
The passion of the spectators and participants in the first Tour de France in 1903 was so great that Henri Desgrange (editor of L’Auto magazine and backer for the first Tour) declared the the second one would be the last!
Desgrange stood against the use of multiple gears and for many years insisted riders use wooden rims, fearing the heat of braking while coming down mountains would melt the glue that held the tires on metal rims (they were finally allowed in 1937).
The Commonwealth Games (formerly the British Empire Games (1930-1950), British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954-1966) and British Commonwealth Games (1970-1974)) is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and has taken place every four years ever since (except 1942 and 1946 which were cancelled due to World War II). The games are described as the third largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Olympic Games and the Asian Games. It will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland, although the country previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Over the last 10 years, however, Glasgow and Scotland had staged World, Commonwealth, European, or British events in all 17 sports proposed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, including the World Badminton Championships in 1997. Pray with us for all those who will be involved with attending the games this summer. Pray for the GEM team that will be there to share the gospel with those whom God brings their way!
Germany is the birthplace of the gummy bear! Haribo invented the sweet snack in 1922, but recipes vary between countries. Unofficial taste-testers report that the German version tastes more fruity than the US version. Could it be because they get their hues from an all-natural mix of ingredients like spinach, nettle and carrot? Bonus: The German bag of bears includes an extra flaor not featured in the US version - apple.
Contact information:
6228 Harney Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80924
Phone: 719-282-4374
Terri.Chapman@GEMission.org
Chris.Chapman@GEMission.org