The Largest Unreached People Group

Dear Family,

I think we did it. I truly believe we’ve accomplished something that was previously impossible. But first, some background… 

Most people would be surprised to learn that the largest unreached people group in the world is the deaf community. Officially, there are around 70 million deaf people globally. Unofficial estimates are as high as 400 million because many governments simply don’t report accurately.

Now here’s the staggering reality: Only 2% of deaf people are considered “reached” with the Gospel. 

In many parts of the world, deaf individuals are treated as second-class citizens. They often feel forgotten, unloved, and disconnected from the hearing world.

There are an estimated 400 million deaf people worldwide, most of them unreached with the Gospel.

Three years ago, in Greece, I presented to a group of deaf leaders from around the world. I showed them how we had added signing for the characters of our film, The Pilgrim’s Progress. 

They were thankful—but honest. 

They said it was difficult to watch the action and the signing at the same time. Then they asked a simple but powerful question: “Can you make the characters themselves sign?”

My countenance dropped. 

As hard as we had worked, I realized we had not met the real need. The true need was not interpretation—but full immersion. A film where the characters themselves sign. 

And I sadly had to tell them it wasn’t possible. They were gracious. But I left feeling like I had failed.

Yes, it helps to have a signer in the corner of the screen—or even standing beside the actor—but it is far from ideal, especially for bringing the Bible to life through animation.

For the next three years, we searched. We explored every technology and tested program after program. It was frustrating and expensive, but I couldn’t let it go.

Their words stayed with me: “Can you make the characters themselves sign?”

An animated character signs the introduction of the Gospel of Luke in American Sign Language.

Now for the good news!

Last week, I stood before those same deaf leaders—this time in Dallas—and I showed them a prototype scene with the characters themselves signing. They loved it! You can watch it above (it’s a prototype, not the final version).

One by one, they came up to me—thanking me, encouraging me, telling me the signing was excellent. Several said they had never seen anything like it before. 

And of course they all asked the same question: “When will the first episode be done?”

The signing was excellent. Several said they had never seen anything like it before.

Now for the really good news!

As we were developing this prototype for an iBIBLE episode where the characters sign, we met with a major denomination. And they committed to a 50% matching grant for production.

Our goal is to produce 24 iBIBLE episodes in American Sign Language (ASL)—closely following, word-for-word, the 24 chapters of the Gospel of Luke. 

The estimated budget for the first episode (which is the longest) is $200,000. And this ministry has generously committed the first $100,000 as a match.

We have divided the first chapter of Luke into 11 key scenes. Each scene can be sponsored for approximately $9,000—and of course, any amount will help. 

Once the first chapter is complete, we will use it as a pilot to raise funding for the remaining 23 episodes. And for the first time ever, the ASL community will have the entire Gospel of Luke in animation—where the characters themselves sign.

The Chameleon program allows an actress’ sign language to be recorded accurately for animation.

Now for the great news!

With the technology we are building, we can film signers in different sign languages and digitally adapt the animation so the characters sign accordingly! 

There are over 350 sign languages in the world.

This means we will be able to bring the Gospel of Luke to deaf communities everywhere—in their native sign languages—for a fraction of the original production cost. 

For the first time, millions of deaf individuals—who have never truly had access to Scripture—will be able to see the Gospel in their own language. 

I hope you feel the weight and the excitement of this moment. 

This is more than a project. It’s a breakthrough—for iBIBLE, for world missions, and for reaching the largest unreached people group on earth. 

Would you prayerfully consider helping us? 

Production has already begun, and we are hoping to complete the first episode this year. 

Scenes Available for Sponsorship: Luke Chapter 1 

1. Introduction by Luke: vv. 1–4 

2. Zechariah and Elizabeth: vv. 5–7 

3. Zechariah Enters the Temple: vv. 8–10
4. Gabriel’s Promise: vv. 11–17
5. Zechariah Doubts: vv. 18–23
6. Elizabeth Conceives: vv. 24–25
7. The Annunciation to Mary: vv. 26–38
8. Mary Visits Elizabeth: vv. 39–45
9. The Magnificat: vv. 46–56
10. John Is Born and Named: vv. 57–66
11. Zechariah’s Prophecy: vv. 67–80 

If you have any questions or thoughts, just reply to this email. I would truly love to hear from you. And click below to make your donation today. Thank you for standing with RevelationMedia and iBIBLE.

Have a very blessed Sunday!

Steve Cleary

Founder/CEO

RevelationMedia

Sponsor a Scene of Luke Chapter 1 for the Deaf Community

RevelationMedia is excited to be working on the first ever American Sign Language animation of the entire Gospel of Luke! You can help us produce the first chapter by choosing a scene to sponsor, and once completed, these scenes can be easily reanimated into the more than 350 sign languages worldwide. Click the link below to be one of the first people to watch a sample of the signing episodes and sponsor a scene today!