Facilitation of Disabilities, Ministry of Religion Video Production of Sign Language Bible Verses

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) continues to be committed to expanding access to religious services for disabled groups. In this effort, the Directorate General of Community Guidance (Ditjen Bimas) of the Christian Ministry of Religion is producing Bible video content in sign language. "We are producing Sign Language Bible video content, especially for friends with disabilities," said the director of Christian Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Proverbs Yowei, in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday (November 22, 2023). Proverbs explains that the content of this Sign Language Bible video is divided into 14 themes that include 170 verses. Of these, 169 Bible verses are divided into 13 themes, such as love, hope, joy, sorrow, and others. The last verse is the Lord's prayer. The plan is that this Bible verse video will be launched on December 15, 2023. "We hope that the presence of this sign language Bible verse video content can be a Christmas gift for Christians, especially for people with disabilities," added Proverbs. Proverbs hopes that the production of this sign language Bible verse video can be completed on schedule. Interestingly, this video of Bible verses in sign language will be the first in Indonesia. In the selection of sign language Bible verse video content, the Ministry of Religion involves the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI) to ensure that the selection of verses is not out of the understanding of the Christian faith. "The selected Bible verse is also quoted from the new translation of Bible version 2, launched by LAI in February," he continued. To produce Sign Language Bible verse videos, the Ministry of Religion's Directorate General of Christian Guidance collaborated with Koneksi Indonesia Inklusif (KONEKIN), a foundation that focuses on welfare programmes for people with disabilities. The presence of this sign language Bible verse video further strengthens the commitment of the Ministry of Religion to expand disabled access to the Holy Bible. Previously, Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an (LPMQ) Mora also printed Mushaf Qur'an Sign Language (MQI), which became the first in Indonesia and even in the world. In addition, the Directorate General of Buddhist Guidance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is also compiling Buddhist scriptures in a braille-printed version as a form of ongoing efforts to facilitate access for disabled groups, with the first step being compiling the Braille Dhammapada.