People and Language Detail Report
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Primary Religion:
Non-religions
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Disciples (Matt 28:19):
Less than 3%
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Churches:
2
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Scripture Status (Matt 28:20):
No Scripture
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Population (date):
40,000
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Profile Year:
Language Name:
ISO Language Code:
2003
Italian Sign Language ise
The Deaf Community of Italy
There were 14 Deaf schools established in the 1800 and today at least three Deaf secondary schools in the country, Rome, Turin and Padua.
There are at least 5 elementary schools with Deaf programs scattered in the country with many private mainstreamed day classes in religious schools. Signs are forbidden in the schools but widely used in Deaf clubs. There is a strong oralist tradition in the country, which is why there are many regional Italian dialects. There are at least 2
Deaf churches in Rome and Florence with many clubs scatted through the whole country with sports clubs being very popular. With only two Deaf churches and multiple signed ministries there is much need for leadership training throughout the country. Many Deaf are underemployed due to a lack of adequate vocational training and live on a small government subsidy. Deaf seem to be somewhat apathetic about religious things as the country has a history of institutionalized
Roman Catholic influence. This means that many Deaf attend mass without real compression of the meaning of the service. The greatest need in the country is for Deaf to understand God’s word and become believers who are grounded in their faith.

Call Themselves Christian
Less than 5%
Believe In Jesus As God And
Only Savior
Prophet/Good Man, But Not
God’s Son
Less than 3%
Less than 5%
Have Not Heard Who Jesus Is
Comment (Pastors)
Comment (Missionaries)
Response to the Gospel
Number of Churches
Comment
Is the Word of God Translated?
Any Hindrance to Scripture
Distribution
Forms of Gospel Presentation
Available
Greater than 95%
Less than 1%
Less than 1%
When they have had the opportunity, most Deaf have responded eagerly and almost immediately have had a desire to reach other Deaf that they know.
2
There are at least 2 Deaf churches in Rome and Florence with some interpreted ministries scattered throughout the country.
Because Roman Catholicism is very strong in the country there is much pressure to conform to the prevailing customs of the Catholic
Deaf do have access to the whole Bible in Italian. Italian as the national language which is a second language for most
Deaf. Sign is the first and heart language for most Deaf.
Availability of Scripture in the heart language of sign. No translation program is in place at this time. There may be some videos with sermons or rough translations available.
Due to the strong Roman Catholic influence many Catholic services are interpreted for the Deaf..
No political hindrance as religious freedom is allowed in this country. If the scripture is put in video form where there is no need for a literacy program, this will help in the receptivity of the scripture. Literacy is low because the hearing language is a second language for Deaf
Recordings: not applicable
Literature: yes
Films/videos: yes
Radio: not applicable
The Jesus film has NOT been translated into Italian Sign
Language.

What Kind of Missionaries Are
Needed? Missionary assistance is required to train deaf church leaders in all aspects of Biblical knowledge and doctrine. Something that has been affective has been the use of Chronological
Bible Storying (CBS). The reason why this has been so effective is that the deaf love to tell stories as it is a natural part of their culture. CBS is successfully reaching the Deaf population; more training is needed for Deaf in CBS. A full sign language Bible translation is needed and missionaries are needed to train the Italian deaf in Bible translation principals so that the deaf can do the project themselves.

Countries Where People Group Lives
Country Name
Population
Language & Linguistics
Primary Language
Second Languages
Italy
According to the European Union of the Deaf, the Number of Deaf Sign Language Users is 40,000. They add that the number of Working Sign Language Interpreters is 300.
ITALIAN SIGN LANGUAGE
ITALIAN

Church Growth
Comment
Comment
Deaf Church in Florence
Ministry: Church Planting
Deaf Church in Rome
Ministry: Church Planting
Adherents:10
Number of Congregations:10
Workers:4
Religion and Response
Items for Prayer
History Of Christianity In Group
Significant Events
Harvest among the Deaf
More personnel who are trained in Chronological Bible
Storying.
More workers to work with the Deaf
Growth in their Christian Walk, and training for national
leaders
Understanding of the Gospel
For training of national pastors and lay leaders.
Roman Catholicism ceased to be the state religion in 1984.