Small groups in discussion at a Scripture engagement workshop in Tanzania Sometimes, the community gets fully on-board with God’s word in their language, and engagement is swift and transforming. But more often the process is slow, perhaps because of habit, church traditions, low literacy levels, or geographic isolation.
How do you encourage the community and churches to dive deeper into God’s word in their language, to the point where it brings transformation? Coming alongside the community to support and equip them to use the local-language Scriptures is an essential part of Bible translation programmes, an area of ministry often called ‘Scripture engagement’.
Scripture engagement needs people trained to understand and respond to the unique needs of different communities. One of the ways this training is happening is the Scripture engagement internship programme in Africa.
The programme first began in 2023 and lasts two years. The focus is on recruiting, mentoring and training highly qualified Africans in the skills needed for successful Bible translation programmes. These include literacy and education, linguistics, Bible translation, and overseeing language programmes. The first cohort finished in 2025, with 23 graduating.
The interns come from 15 countries across Africa But the course developer, Margaret Hill (who served with Wycliffe until her death in 2024), always had in mind to include an Scripture engagement stream in the programme. This was duly added for the second cohort of interns in 2025.
There are 38 interns in this second cohort, from all across the continent (see map). Of the 38, six are on the Scripture engagement programme, representing five countries.
Interns receive training and mentoring while serving in practical Scripture engagement assignments in their country.
So, over a year into the programme, it’s time to catch up with some of the interns to find out what they have been doing and what results they might already be seeing.
The Scripture engagement interns The internship aims to prepare the interns to work with local communities, to assist them in engaging meaningfully with God’s word.
The interns developed the following definition of Scripture engagement, which they acknowledge applies as much to themselves as to the communities they serve:
‘Scripture engagement is an intentional process of interaction with God’s word in appropriate forms, through relevant activities, in order to bring about growth and holistic transformation in communities towards Christlikeness.’
An individual development plan is created for each intern, comprising two parts.
Some of the Scripture engagement interns at a workshop in Ethiopia First is a set of general competencies in which all interns should grow (eg developing interpersonal skills).
Second is a set of competencies that are specific to their stream, such as Scripture engagement. These competencies are developed through online and face-to-face training, reading, and helping to facilitate programme activities.
So, one year on, how’s it been going for the Scripture engagement interns?
For Ethiopian intern Ruth Retta, ‘being part of the Scripture engagement internship has been a transformative experience that has shaped my personal and spiritual journey.’
Another Ethiopian intern, Samuel Hussein was involved in a trauma healing workshop. He was responsible for registration and logistics, and also had the opportunity to co-facilitate a few sessions each day.
God at work: Tigist being baptised Samuel relates:
‘One of the participants was a 22-year-old girl named Tigist who, on the very first day, shared with all of us that she had attempted suicide just a week before. As the workshop progressed, she felt relieved by sharing her inner pain and struggle with others and got delivered from demonic possession during a prayer session. I recently attended her baptism. Praise God for his marvellous hand at work!’
As part of her internship, Napta Mudir, from South Sudan, has been involved in training Sunday school teachers.
‘I learned creative and interactive ways to teach Scripture to children through songs, games, stories, and other activities,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen that children respond much better when God’s word is shared in simple and relatable ways.’
Surveys can involve more than just sitting around Surveys are a good way to work out how to do Scripture engagement in a community.
Intern Timothy Mutamba was able to participate in a two-day survey among four communities in his country, Uganda. These four communities – Thur, Ndrulo, Ma’di South, and Ruruuli – are all close to finishing the translation of the New Testament in their languages.
However, the survey looked particularly at whether oral Bible storytelling would be beneficial.
The Ndrulo woman retells her Bible story Although it was a new, challenging technique for the communities, on day one many connected deeply with the main passage they were given (John 9:1–41).
As a result, on day two, when they retold the passage orally, it had a real impact. One elderly woman said:
‘I had never understood this passage when I read it in Alur, the only Bible I grew up with.
‘But when I read the text in Ndrulo k’pa, my mother tongue, I began to relate with Scripture. I understood it better, internalised it, and could retell the story with ease.
‘I will continue using this technique with my grandchildren at home.’
Tanzanian Abdul Ikaku had noticed that personal Bible reading was not commonly practised in some of the communities he worked with. He helped facilitate a workshop with church leaders to teach a small-group Bible study approach.
Abdul faciltates the workshop with church leaders Richard, one of the participants, commented:
‘This workshop has equipped me to be a good teacher who can go and teach others to read and write in Bungu, as well as teach Bible lessons – especially from the book of Titus, which has touched my life. It has also helped me learn better ways of reading the Bible and strengthened my ability to understand it.’
Story telling
The Zhire and Shang communities in [northern] Nigeria have only recently embarked on the adventure of translating God’s word into their language, as part of the Mark Road programme. They are initially using an oral-based approach to the translations.
Nigerian intern Addra Ayuba travelled to Kaduna state to help these two communities with a Bible storytelling and listening workshop.
‘This is one of those pure, down-to-earth ways people can use the Bible in their own language. One woman from the Shang community told me, “Anytime I listen to the Bible being read, my heart is calm.” She had this bright smile on her face.
‘To see not-so-literate people paying close attention to the stories of the Bible and engaging with their faith in their own language is mind-blowing. Pray that the seeds that have been sown in the lives of the Zhire and Shang people grow and bear fruit.’
Children take part in an activity at a children’s camp In addition, Addra ran a children’s and teens’ camp, with oral Bible stories, games and prayers in each person’s heart language. Ayuba enlisted the help of volunteers from the communities to ensure that each young person was able to fully engage in their own language.
Addra says:
‘The volunteers mentioned that this activity is the first of its kind for them, but a great activity they will take to their groups of villages to implement, so their young people can grow in their faith and language.’
Agents of change
Katherine O’Donnell, who serves with Wycliffe in Tanzania and is the lead mentor on the Scripture engagement internship, says:
Children having fun at a children’s camp in Nigeria ‘I am excited to see young Africans being mentored to serve in Bible translation programmes. The Scripture engagement interns are passionate about helping people know God better through his word. Each one comes with unique skills, interests and experience. I look forward to seeing how they become agents of change in the communities we serve.’
