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Peter Persson, Director of Global Prayer Initiatives, will lead us in an interview with Mark Penner (Global Worker with United Bible Societies) and Mary Penner (Global Worker with WorldVenture) as we discuss and pray for the Japanese Deaf. You’ll learn about the need for Bible Translation, how they are engaging the Deaf for Gospel impact, and learn their prayer needs. You’ll also meet Pastor Eiji Matsumoto as our special guest.

Join us on Friday evening, January 14, at 5 pm PST/6 pm MST on our Facebook page.

Featured Guests:

  • Mark Penner recently joined the United Bible Societies as a project support consultant for sign language translations. Before that, he lived and worked in Japan as a WorldVenture Worker for 36-years. Most of that time was spent working with a group of Deaf leaders to translate the Bible into Japanese Sign Language. This gradually led to expanding roles in the region and now worldwide.
  • Mary Esther Penner worked in Japan as a WorldVenture missionary for 36-years. During that time, she served in various capacities including support roles for the Japanese Sign Language Bible translation Project in Tokyo. She continues to do so now from the United States.
  • Pastor Eiji Matsumoto: In 1965, Pastor Matsumoto became Deaf (lost hearing due to high fever). At the age of 18, Pastor Matsumoto became a Christian through a missionary, and in 1989, entered Baptist Bible Theological School (Currently, Sendai Baptist Seminary) and graduated in 1992. At present, he is a pastor of the Yamagata Deaf Christian Church in the Conservative Baptist Church Alliance and the Board Chair of ViBi (The Japanese Sign Language Bible Translation Project). He is also President of APSDA (Asia Pacific Sign Language Translation Association). Yamagata is in Northern Japan also called Eastern Japan.

Q and A will follow the interview during the live broadcast on Facebook

Join the discussion One Comment

  • Pat Olsen says:

    What can you tell me about Nippon Rowa Gakko and Lois Kramer, a teacher there beginning in the 1920’s?

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