Longer-term opportunities

Serve in Bible translation

‘Translation is a team effort. The complex task of translating the Bible interweaves stages of drafting, checking, revising, more checking, and more revising, until an accurate, clear and natural translation is complete.’

David Rowbory, Bible translation consultant

David Rowbory is a translation consultant serving with Wycliffe. He teaches translation and works with Ashe translators in Nigeria, and has developed this spiral diagram to illustrate the stages of the Bible translation process, as well as who is involved at each stage:

David works in partnership with local Ashe translators. He says: ‘I want to help the translators understand more of the riches of their language and get better at understanding the Bible and putting it into the words of their own language.’

Translation consultants face intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual challenges as they bring God’s word to people who have never heard or understood it.

Skills and experience for translation roles

The School of Language and Scripture provides training for translation roles. Successful participation in a translation project will require:

• a good knowledge of the local language and culture;
• commitment to identifying gifted local translators and training them to participate fully in the task;
• a thorough understanding of the Scriptures, so that the original message can be communicated clearly in the local language;
• careful checking of the translation work to make sure it communicates accurately, clearly and naturally;
• interaction with church leaders and government officials to encourage ongoing support for the project.

People involved in translation often learn the language and culture of a group by living with people and taking time to build relationships. They would normally serve in partnership with local speakers of the language.

Exegetes

Another important part of the translation process is exegetics – that is, analysing the meaning of the biblical text. Exegetes provide valuable support to Bible translators, enabling them to make sure the translation communicates the meaning well. Exegetical work is usually carried out through one of Wycliffe’s partner organisations, SIL International, and often in partnership with other national and international Bible translation organisations.

Skills and experience for exegetes

Applicants for exegetical work:

• are usually educated to degree level;
• have a good understanding of the Scriptures (often with some formal Bible training);
• enjoy working with people.

We would love to talk to you about serving God through translation.

Header photo: Keliko translator Isaac Kenyi reads from the Keliko New Testament. Read about the launch of the Keliko New Testament here.

Serve in linguistics

‘We wouldn’t commission a builder to build a new church building without first ensuring that the foundations were solid and the ground well-prepared.

Likewise, before translation can start there is a lot of groundwork to be done in understanding how a language works, and then developing the language – like designing a writing system for an unwritten language so it can be used in new ways that are needed for translation.

Through this process of understanding and developing their language, the unique beauty of each language is uncovered and finds its way into the translation. Then a community affirms that this really is God’s word in their language! This is what doing good linguistics is all about.’

Paul Murrell, linguist serving with Wycliffe

Many of the 1,600 languages where Bible translation is still needed do not yet have a written form.

The majority have never been analysed or documented.

In many cases, language communities are keen to see their language developed, but lack training and encouragement.

Working alongside members of a language community, a linguist will work towards:

• the formation of local language committees, who will guide and promote language development;
• identifying gifted mother-tongue speakers and training them to participate fully in the project;
• a thorough linguistic analysis of the sound system;
• a practical alphabet that is approved and accepted by the community;
• a detailed analysis of the grammatical system and language structure, which will help translators produce a high-quality translation;
• a language database, often leading to a more fully developed dictionary.

Skills and experience

The School of Language and Scripture provides training in linguistics. Applicants for linguistic work:

• are usually – but not always – educated to degree level;
• have well-developed analytical abilities;
• sometimes have a background in linguistics or languages – but we also welcome enquiries from those who have studied mathematics or any other analytical subject.

The impact of language development can ripple out far beyond Bible translation, transforming the lives of individuals and communities in many ways.

We would love to talk to you about serving God through linguistics.

Serve in Bible impact

‘Our overall goal is seeing people accessing and using the Scriptures so that lives are transformed as God speaks to them.’

Katherine O’Donnell, serving with Wycliffe in Tanzania

Translating the Bible is not the main goal of Wycliffe. Rather, translation is the necessary means to the end of seeing lives changed as the word of God is understood and applied in the lives of individuals and in the life of the Church.

Bible impact specialists work alongside churches to equip and encourage people to engage with the Bible in their own languages in life-changing ways.

Skills and experience

Training is provided by the School of Language and Scripture. Scripture impact workers are often relational people who enjoy sharing their vision and enthusiasm with Christians from a wide variety of church backgrounds.

The work of Bible impact is varied. Some examples of what Bible impact work looks like in practice are:

• Bible listening and reading groups – groups of people gather to read or listen to the Bible and discuss how they can apply God’s word to their lives;
• Training church and Sunday school leaders – equipping leaders so they can engage adults and children more deeply with the Bible;
• Audio Bibles – recordings of the Bible that are distributed through special media players, apps, the radio, or online;
• Scripture apps – smartphone apps which combine the Bible text and audio so people can read along as they listen;
• Bible storying – using selected oral Bible stories to give people with little or no biblical knowledge an overview of the Bible, and to help Christians grow in faith;
• Scripture songs – connecting Scripture with local music and helping communities to create Scripture-based songs they recognise as their own and can use to worship God and share the good news;
• Radio – Christian radio programmes that play the audio Bible and Scripture songs to a wide audience;
• Local arts workshops – exploring how to use local art forms, like drama, to communicate Bible stories;
• Trauma healing – workshops that offer hope to victims of trauma, using Bible passages to help bring healing through God’s word. Read more about trauma healing here.

Serve in literacy

‘Literacy is about men and women and children being able to access multiple forms of communication, and that opens up their world to new knowledge and experiences. We want people to be able to read the Bible, think about it, and ask: “What does this mean for me in my life?”’

Catherine Young, serving in literacy with Wycliffe

The work of literacy is an important element of the ‘interdependent activities that make Bible translation possible and worthwhile,’ says Sue Gravina, a literacy specialist who has worked in many parts of the world.

Literacy work plays a role in many of the stages of Bible translation. ‘Literacy specialists are involved alongside linguists in devising and testing writing systems,’ Sue explains. ‘They are consulted about Scripture materials and their production and, of course, translated Scriptures are only of use if people are able to read them.’

Millions of people all over the world have no one to help them write down their language, to work with them to produce books, or to help set up programmes for teaching adults and children to read. In almost all cases, it is the poor and marginalised who are denied access to literacy.

Together with our partners, Wycliffe works alongside local communities to see this situation change, and to offer specialist training in the various aspects of literacy work.

Skills and experience

Do you have what it takes to be a literacy specialist? The following are all very valuable in this role:

• a desire to serve and help others;
• concern for marginalised people;
• commitment to being a team player;
• flexibility and tolerance;
• a love of teaching and passing on skills to others;
• good communication skills;
• the ability to organise and manage people;
• enthusiasm for learning new languages and cultures;
• talent in art or graphics.

You may have some of these skills and characteristics already. Others can be learnt. The training offered by the School of Language and Scripture will give you the tools you need in linguistics, culture learning and literacy programme management.

The impact of literacy can ripple out far beyond Bible translation, transforming lives and communities in many ways.

Serve in management

‘What I enjoy the most is the variety of the things I am involved in.’

Ian Lund, serving with Wycliffe in Mozambique

Management, leadership and administration roles play a vital part in enabling the work of Bible translation to happen.

Overseas and at home, the need for managers and administrators continues to grow as Bible translation and literacy work expand into new countries. At present, administration is one of the most critical needs within Wycliffe.

Skills and experience

Many of the skills and qualities that make a good administrator are essential to the smooth running of a Bible translation team. Many situations call for imagination, ingenuity and initiative, as well as a deep sense of commitment to the Lord.

If God has given you administrative or management skills, then these can be invested in taking his word to hundreds of people groups around the world.

Management and administration roles vary considerably, but may involve:

• carrying out management functions such as planning, organising and coordinating staff within the context of a cross-cultural team;
• supervising and overseeing the training of expatriate and national staff;
• performing HR activities, such as the recruiting, equipping and care and support of people who serve with Wycliffe;
• managing the day-to-day running of a regional office to enable language work to continue;
• writing funding proposals for Bible translation and literacy projects.

Serve in technology and IT

From font design to app creation, technology plays a crucial role in enabling people all over the world to know Jesus through the Bible in their own languages.

And there are roles you could do from home.

Read more about the vital work of developing digital fonts, or about other people serving in technology and IT, or about the importance of digital media in Bible translation.

If you have skills in IT and technology – or you want to learn how to do one of these roles – we’d love to hear from you.

Serve in Human Resources

‘HR plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the people working to realise the vision for Bible translation are well supported in their work and everyday life.’

Ian Lund who, after working in the commercial world, now serves with Wycliffe in HR

If you have HR experience and/or qualifications, love working with people and seeing them thrive, and have a passion for the work of Bible translation, maybe you could serve God in HR?

If so, contact us, we would love to her from you.

‘The way we are to manage the money allows the other domains of our work in translation to happen.’

Tabitha* – Flame* team accountant, West Africa
*names changed for security reasons

Financial controllers, accountants, and finance managers and administrators – all are key in enabling the work of Bible translation.

There is a great need worldwide for accountants and finance workers to play a part in the Bible translation movement.

If that could be you, get in touch with us and let’s start your journey!

Serve in security

Increasingly, Bible translation work happens in places with a significant level of risk – whether from political instability, conflict or opposition to Christianity.

Security professionals monitor these situations, develop systems to keep people working safely for as long as possible, and – when necessary – help them to leave the area. They also coordinate day-to-day security for organisations and offices around the world.

Perhaps you have a background in the armed forces or policing, or experience in security and safety operations.

Or if not, do you know someone who does? If you have the skills for one of these roles, we’d love to hear from you.