Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category

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A nice problem

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Up in the beautiful mountain region of Atakora in northwest Bénin, the latest translations of the Jesus the Messiah picture book were eagerly received by the Sola and the Lokpa people. Pastors and Sunday school teachers were trained to use the book to teach their people the stories of Jesus.

Reactions have been very encouraging. One boy completely changed his behaviour when he saw that Jesus meant business about loving one another. A mother is using the lessons of Jesus to teach her children obedience. A Bible school trainer is using one of the book’s themes, the names of Jesus, to teach his students about Christ’s character. Sunday school teachers tell stories with accuracy. A little boy recounted word-for-word the story of the paralytic who was brought to Jesus. Village leaders are using the teaching to help them settle disputes. Seeing Jesus’ love for children, pastors have a new heart for the kids in their communities.

The village of Anadana saw all these changes and more. About 20 adults and children from the nearby village of Kakoupre walked the 10 km to Anadana to see the picture book for themselves. They liked it so much they kept coming back and brought others with them, up to 40 people. An evangelism campaign was done in Kakoupre and over a hundred came to faith.

The people asked Pastor Benjamin to help them start a church in their village so they wouldn’t have to walk so far. So now this shepherd divides his time between two flocks.

The New Testament in Sola is to be dedicated in June of this year. Chances are Pastor Benjamin will need even greater reinforcements when that happens.

*Story from Lois Thar. This story is also featured today in Call to Prayer, Wycliffe’s bimonthly prayer diary.

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Which word is right?

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Translating the Bible is never a simple process. You can’t just open a dictionary and substitute one word for another. Different languages have differing structures, vocabulary and nuances. Take this example:

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NIV).

How should Galatians 6:2 be translated in the Konni language of Ghana? The text says, “Carry each other’s burdens….” In the Konni language, there are five different words for ‘carry’: ‘mili,’ carry on the back; ‘dogi,’ carry on the hip; ‘vigi,’ carry on the shoulder; ‘pogili,’ carry in front of you; and ‘chii,’ carry on the head.

"Chii" - to carry on the head

To best answer the question, a translator must dig deeper and ask, “What do Konni people carry on these different places?” ‘On the back’ is always a baby; ‘on the hip’ is always a small child; ‘on the shoulder’ is usually a piece of firewood or a hoe; and ‘in front of you’ is something light. ‘Chii’ is the right word to use because they carry their heaviest burdens on their heads.

Translators and consultants on translations constantly work hard to find the right words for the job. A lot of work, though, becomes worth it when people open up God’s word to hear his Story in their own language for the very first time. Find out more about what you could do to get involved.

This example is from Wycliffe USA’s prayer blog. Find it here: wycliffeprayer.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/finding-the-right-word-2/.

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Run for a vision

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

It’s a huge encouragement to hear about people all around the world supporting Bible translation. In Kenya next month, thousands of people are gathering to ‘Run for the Bibleless’, in a sponsored run in the captial, Nairobi.

This video, from Bible Translation & Literacy Kenya (BTL), our Kenya partner organisation, speaks about some of the work already going on and how vital it is for churches to get involved in God’s mission.

“Though we have a ministry that takes long time, lots of money, we have a calling to ensure that we fill that part in the body of Christ, that each and every man and woman be able to hear God’s word in their heart language, that they may embrace God as their Father, their God. I think if we call certain things as ‘basic needs’, I think that should be the most basic need for every people.“

In the last 30 years, BTL have completed 6 New Testaments and are currently involved in projects in 14 languages. Find out more about BTL and their ‘Run for the Bibleless’ on their website.

Through partnerships with national Bible translation organisations and churches worldwide, the global partnership of Wycliffe organisations want to see a project for Bible translation started in every language where one is need by 2025, because we believe the Bible is a basic need.

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Finish Line

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

It’s exciting to hear about Bible translations being finished: to see the pictures of teary-eyed men and women holding up shiny New Testaments with crowds surrounding them to celebrate the launch, and to hear quotes about the life-changing impact of the Scriptures in people’s heart languages.

It takes a lot of work and a long time to reach that stage. Even if a finish line is in sight when the project takes off, unexpected battles and spiritual attacks on workers nearly always slow things down. It’s part of the reason that the celebrations are so moving. But the last few furlongs can be the hardest, and projects nearing completion desperately need prayer supporters cheering from the side lines.

Wycliffe in the US have published the most recent list of projects nearing the finish line (in the last three years before a New Testament completion). In it, you can read entries like this:

“BUROK; Africa; 45,000. A French-educated Burok pastor says, “I’ve studied the Scriptures in French for several years, but these passages in Burok go right to my heart!” Praise God for the team’s excellent headway with the project—typesetting for the Burok New Testament took place in August 2011. Pray that God will protect the translation teams, their families, and their equipment from spiritual attack, especially as they turn the project over for printing.”

This prayer resource can help you to be a prayer supporter for these communities who need the encouragement. Find FinishLine on Wycliffe USA’s website.

If you’d like to join in praying regularly for Bible translation around the world, you can receive our daily prayer diary by post, email or rss feed. Get Call to Prayer.

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God, When Will You Speak in My Tongue?

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

This poem is by James Lokuuda Kadanya, a speaker of the Toposa language of South Sudan. Toposa is still without Scripture.

God, When Will You Speak in My Tongue?

Far and near
It is said that you, God, speak!
How do you do that?
Is it in their tongues?
If it is truly so,
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

East and west, north and south,
The Creator speaks, it is said!
Not in the language as of birds;
But in other human tongues I cannot understand!
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

Children and grown-ups of other lands,
With their different tongues,
Know your voice.
In their tongues you speak a special message to them!
If you speak messages in different tongues,
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

In the world around, we perceive you,
Yet your language is not clear.
We want to know you personally,
We want to hear you speak to us.
If you know all tongues,
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

We search you as a treasure.
Our eyes look on mountains, rivers,
Even in caves, forest and world around us.
Many voices are heard, confused we become,
If your voice is one, as of that of the Creator of all,
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

Oh! God, Creator of all people,
You who do not segregate,
Is it possible to hear you speak?
Can you speak in my tongue?
God, when will you speak in my tongue?

When he wrote the poem, James was studying in a linguistics school, and he now works for a mission, spreading God’s good news around the country. As many as half a million people who speak Toposa still only have a few portions of the Bible in their language. Do something so that people like James will hear God speak their tongue.

This poem has been reposted from the blog of a partner organisation, The Seed Company. Read their blog.

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The time is right

Friday, January 13th, 2012

John Hamilton, the coordinator of Wycliffe Bible Translators’ work in Northern Ireland, is making exciting plans for a trip abroad:

“Last week I booked flights to return to Ivory Coast. We left there as a family in July 1997 having completed an 8 year Wycliffe assignment at Vavoua International School teaching the children of mission families working in West Africa. Both our children and myself have made separate trips back to Ivory Coast quite a while ago, but for my wife, this will be her first time in Africa for almost 15 years.

“So why are we returning to the land of mangoes? To be part of a belated celebration of the New Testament in the Kouya language. Belated because the Kouya New Testaments arrived in the port of Abidjan in 2002, the day after Wycliffe personnel were evacuated due to the worsening political situation. Belated because that led to ten years of civil unrest and violence. Belated because the civil war battle lines in Ivory Coast were drawn right through Kouya territory. Belated because, for the past decade, the Kouya church leaders have not judged it wise to hold a public celebration of God’s word in their heart language.

“But now they feel the time is right.“ Read more from John’s blog.

As well as praying for John and his family’s trip to Ivory Coast, let’s praise God that the Kouya people have God’s word in their language. 350 million people do not, but you could help to change that.

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Cameroon Celebrating 25 years

Friday, January 6th, 2012

CABTAL, the Cameroonian Association of Bible Translation and Literacy, celebrates its 25th year of existence this January. Translation work and Cameroonian involvement in the Bible translation task began in earnest as early as the 1970s when translation work in neighbouring Nigeria was closed down, and several Bible translators relocated from there to Cameroon.

CABTAL New Testament dedicationOver the years, passionate Cameroonians have taken their place in leading the work of Bible translation for their country, as CABTAL has gained legal status from the government as an organisation, and a growing influence amongst the Cameroonian churches that it serves.

Here in the UK, Wycliffe Bible Translators are particularly happy to be celebrating with them, as we have close links with several language projects that they oversee. Along with the many other agencies that work shoulder to shoulder with the Cameroonian translation agency, Ann Austin from the InFocus church partnership office in the UK was invited to send greetings:

“We are delighted to send our warmest congratulations on this auspicious occasion, to give thanks and praise to God for His faithfulness and goodness over these 25 years, and to celebrate our friendship and partnership with our brothers and sisters in CABTAL in the work of Bible translation for the peoples of Cameroon…”

Ann speaks on behalf of supporting churches in the UK who have committed to support language projects in Cameroon through prayer and financial giving. In some cases, members of the supporting churches have been able to travel and visit the projects personally, to see firsthand what God is doing in these areas through Bible translation.

Perhaps your church may be interested in fostering a link through an InFocus church partnership?  Find out more.

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Gift giving

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

As well as having links to lots of Christmas resources you can use, we have also collected some stories. These stories speak specifically about how the Christmas story in the mother language had an impact on people’s understandings about Christmas and Jesus.

Take Pastor Waynse, a Simbiti translator from Tanzania. On his way to distribute the Nativity story to Simbiti speakers, he found another opportunity to share God’s Story:

“To reach the Simbiti villages I must board a small boat that ferries passengers across the lake. About 45 minutes into the trip, I began my work for the Lord. I called everyone’s attention in the boat and began to explain to them that God could speak their language. I told them about my work in the ministry of Bible translation for my own people group, the Simbiti.

“I pulled out a copy of the new Luke translation and began to read it. People crowded around to listen, and one woman purchased a copy on the spot. She was so happy and told me to press on in the work!”

Find out what happened to Pastor Waynse when he reached his destination, and read more stories on our Christmas resources page.

These collected stories make a short but thought-provoking addition to an advent service or small group social event. Reading them for ourselves can help us to be thankful for the gift of God’s word in our own language, and to pray for those who have never heard the Christmas story in a way they understand.

Make giving God’s Story to the 350 million who have no access part of your gift-giving this Christmas.

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“We may not have much, but we want to give”

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

More than 200,000 people living in the Central African Republic speak the Gbeya language as their mother tongue. Bible translation in their language was started as long as 80 years ago, but still no complete Bible exists in their language, In fact, there is not even a complete New Testament.

Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard (www.sorenkjeldgaard.com)

Some Gbeya spekaers have formed the Gbeya Translation and Literacy Committee. They wanted to see the New Testament translation completed in their language. And they are not alone…

Their project required financial support, so they requested the partnership of local churches. Response was substantial. One committee member brought this report back from a church visit:

“During the service, following my words, Pastor Rangba rose and encouraged the congregation, saying, ‘This work of translation is our work. Don’t think that the translators are just doing it for themselves. They are doing it for the Lord, and for us. We are responsible, and we’re the ones who are going to really benefit from this work. So let’s give to this work of the Lord without hesitation.’

“And he added to me, as representative, ‘Don’t hesitate to come and ask us if we can make offerings, because that is what we can do to help. We may not have much, but we want to give, and when we give to support Bible translation we are proud to do it!’”

All the churches that were asked contributed, despite financial poverty in the area. Many Gbeya speakers have also volunteered as translators, all wanting to give something to the translation project.

The work is not just about the translation committees. It’s God’s work. Just as the local Gbeya churches have joined the work, we in the UK can help too.

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Seeds sprout

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Wycliffe Bible Translators work with many organisations around the world in order to be effective in Bible translation. One of our partners is the American charity The Seed Company, which was set up to establish and fund new translation projects around the world.

The Seed Company and Wycliffe work together in many of their projects, including First Gospel. We blogged about one First Gospel project in Nigeria in September.

This year, The Seed Company passed a significant milestone: in the time they’ve been working, they have started 700 new Bible translation projects, 100 this year alone. It’s one step closer to their aim: God’s word for every language in this generation.

But they are eager not to get carried away with the numbers; the purpose of their work is never just numbers, but that more people will come to know God through his transforming word. Project number 700, the Etulo New Testament in Nigeria, is one place where this is evident.

While 90% of the Etulo people are Christian, their ancestry of tribal religions still clings closely to their culture. When they go to church, they sing, pray and hear the Bible in English, which loses a lot in translation and makes it hard to apply the Bible in any real sense. They have been trying to start translation since the 1960′s, but without a written alphabet for their language, the task was too daunting.

This year, work began on the alphabet and, working with specialists, it was completed within 2 weeks. Now translation work will begin in earnest.

You can find out more about the Etulo project on The Seed Company’s website.

This milestone for God’s work fills us with thankfulness for the prayers and support of people like you. Find out more about how you can continue to support work like this from the UK.

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