The gift of communication

by Deb Fox | Wycliffe Today Winter 2025 Edition

Hello from the Editor for this special sign language edition of Wycliffe Today.

Why is sign language special to me? My sisters and I were fortunate enough to attend a primary school which was one of a small number in Australia to introduce integrated learning between hearing and Deaf students. We made friends with the Deaf children in our classes and we were all taught conversational Auslan – the term for Australian sign language. Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten much of what I was taught in those early days but I’ve recently been re-learning basic Auslan after an illness rendered me basically mute for almost five months. 

It was incredibly frustrating not being able to speak but it also gave me a chance to realise how much I have taken the gift of communication for granted. My inconvenience was nothing compared to how isolated many Deaf people in Australia often feel when they are not able to fully understand or participate in the conversation around them. My Deaf friends often rely on lip reading when the person they are trying to communicate with does not know any Auslan. If you’ve never tried to lip read, I recommend giving it a go. It’s not as easy as it looks! 

This edition of Wycliffe Today focuses on projects that are resourcing the Deaf Church in Australia and throughout the Pacific. Deaf Christians are being encouraged to grow in their knowledge of God and his Word and, in turn, be equipped to share their faith with others. The stories focus on a collaborative project with Alpha Australia and Bible Society Australia that has created an Auslan version of the Alpha video series. We hope that as you read these encouraging stories, you can learn more about the needs of the Deaf community and pray for the work being done to make Scripture accessible to them.