Population

102 million

The community

Nearly 10 times the size of the UK, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is a diverse country with 215 spoken languages, 79% of which are without a Bible. Huge parts of the country are covered by rainforest, which is home to endangered species, including gorillas. Africa’s second longest river, the Congo, flows through the DRC and is an important transport route in a country where road travel can be difficult.

The need

For decades, people in northeast DRC have endured poverty and violence, as armed groups have attacked villages and towns in the region. They have also faced the challenge of multiple outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus. They are mostly subsistence farmers. The communities are more than a thousand miles from the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa. The only Scripture that is available is not in their spoken language, and Christians long to have access to God’s word in the language they can understand, to bring encouragement and build up their faith.

The project

The goal is to reach 3.6 million people in 44 communities in the insecure northeast with God’s life-transforming words. The first steps of translation in each community are Bible storytelling workshops, alongside work to develop an in-depth understanding of the languages – most of which have never been written down.

Population

1.5 million

The community

Traditionally shepherds, the Faegen people historically lived a life focused on their livestock, with few education opportunities. Younger generations now have access to schooling, and today more Faegen work in urban areas. Most come from the majority religion, but there is a very small Christian community.

The need

There is a huge opportunity for Faegen people to meet Jesus through the Bible. The complete New Testament translation was launched in 2018 and has had a significant impact on the community, enabling Christians to witness to their neighbours and Faegen people to meet Jesus through the Bible for the first time. But this people, who are traditionally shepherds, still don’t have Psalm 23 – or any of the Old Testament – in their language.

The project

Initiated by the local church, the local translation team is working to translate the complete Old Testament, with the goal of having it finished by 2030. Running alongside translation work by the local team are Bible study groups and classes to teach Faegen people who never had the chance to attend school, how to read and write their language. The complete Faegen Bible will also be made available in an audio version.

*names changed for security reasons

Population

Tens of millions

The community

Lofsang is a country with many languages and people groups and a rich history. Colonised for decades, it has faced political and economic challenges in recent years. Christians are a minority, but there has been a Christian presence for over a century and churches are well established.

The need

Nearly half the population of Lofsang are under the age of 15. They speak more than 50 languages. There are almost no Bible resources available to them. Imagine going along to Sunday school and being given a memory verse in a foreign language. For Christian children in Lofsang, that is their reality, every single Sunday. Few children speak the colonial language, and with limited schooling – and conflict in parts of the country – it will be years before they can learn it. Churches have asked for help so their children grow up following Jesus and are able to enjoy and engage with learning about their faith.

The project

Translation of content and training of Sunday school teachers go hand-in-hand to equip and enable churches to help children and young people to follow Jesus. By the end of 2025, the goal is to translate and distribute 120 picture book lessons (each with a Bible story, memory verse and game) into three different languages spoken in Lofsang, at the same time as providing training for 900 Sunday school teachers.

*name changed for security reasons

Population

500,000

The community

Located in an isolated part of Asia, the three Gerad communities are farmers, cattle herders and shepherds. They retain rich community cultures, centred around key life events such as births and marriages. Typically very poor, opportunities for education are limited and available only in the national language, not in those languages the people speak at home and consider their own.

The need

There are numerous active but hidden churches in the region – tiny communities of Christians who face persecution for following Jesus, but who have never read his words in their language. Having the Bible in their own language will build up and encourage them in their faith and enable other speakers of their languages to meet Jesus through the Bible too. The project started because the churches asked for help with translation work, so they could have the Bible in their own language for the first time.

The project

Working in three languages spoken by communities in the region, translation work is beginning with the gospels of Mark and Luke. Translators will then progress to 1 and 2 Corinthians and Genesis, which churches have requested to strengthen their biblical foundations in the face of the religious narratives of their neighbours. The languages have never been written down before, so the work includes creating a written form for each.

*names changed for security reasons

Population

70,000

The community

The Bunong people’s historical home is a remote, forested region of northern Cambodia. Isolated for centuries, during the Vietnam War (1955–75) thousands of Bunong were forced to flee Cambodia by American bombing. Taking refuge in neighbouring Vietnam, many came to faith. On returning to Cambodia, they generated a growing, lively and faithful Christian community. The Bunong culture is rich in arts and music, especially textile weaving, with designs often used to convey meaning.

The need

The Bunong New Testament (completed in 2016) was the first minority language Scripture translation in Cambodia, but the Bunong people have always longed for a whole Bible in their language. For the growing church, Bible translation is confirmation of God’s love for their people and culture. It also enables Christians to use the Bible to reach out to their mostly animist neighbours, as well as helping them in their own journey of following Jesus.

The project

Translation of the Old Testament to complete the Bunong Bible is running alongside efforts to record audio versions and create Bunong Christian media, with the aim of enabling and encouraging the whole community to use and engage with God’s word.

Population

1.5 million in Romania (10–12 million in Europe)

The community

For centuries, the Roma people have been denied a voice. Often viewed with suspicion and assumed to be nomadic, communities have faced marginalisation and persecution. Many Roma live in Romania, but Roma populations are found across Europe. 

In the last couple of decades, there has been a move for the Roma in Romania to be given the same opportunities as other ethnic groups and for Roma culture to be fully included in society. Hand-in-hand with this has come the opportunity for a rebirth of the Romani language. 

The need 

Romani has many dialects – 17 in Romania alone – but since 1999, Roma children in Romania have been taught in Standard Romani, so a new generation is growing up with a shared version. Standard Romani is set to become a common language and bring different Roma communities together. 

Roma Christians do not have God’s words in their language. Efforts were underway to create translations with different Roma communities, but Standard Romani presents an incredible opportunity to reach Roma people with the gospel message and for the Bible to become a Romani language-teaching tool.

The project 

In October 2021, a Standard Romani Bible translation team came together. From different Christian denominations and speaking different dialects, they will standardise the language for the Bible, so every Romani speaker will be able to understand it.

The translation will enable Roma people to hear God speak to them in their language, energise Roma churches and build their sense of identity. 

Population

16 million 

The community

Senegal is a geographically and culturally diverse country on the western tip of Africa. It has a rich trading history centred around its port-city capital, Dakar. Senegal has 55 people groups and there is a strong tradition of Islam. 

Daily life varies widely. Outside towns and cities, many people are subsistence farmers or herders and speak numerous languages. Formal education is delivered in French, which was retained as Senegal’s official language when the country gained independence from France in 1960. 

The need 

Contemporary Wolof is the language spoken by most people in Senegal’s towns and cities. Although it is the most common language spoken in homes, there is no Bible translation in Contemporary Wolof. The Bible is available in French and there is a New Testament in a Wolof dialect spoken in many villages, but Contemporary Wolof speakers cannot understand it. 

For Christians, it means that there is no Bible in the language of their home and their heart. Reaching out to their non-Christian neighbours is challenging without having the Bible in the language natural to most people. It can make following Jesus sound foreign. 

The project 

The ambitious aim is to create a truly accessible, spoken translation of the New Testament that Contemporary Wolof speakers will be able to listen to and instantly understand and connect with. A later, printed version will then be developed from the spoken translation.

Translation of the Bible into Contemporary Wolof will also equip local churches with God’s words in their language for use in services. 

Population

13,000

The community

Community is an important part of Weh life and many people enjoy living in large families. Most Weh people are subsistence farmers. They grow crops such as plantains, yams and avocados. These are used to feed the family and any surplus is sold in the market to gain money for hospital bills, children’s school fees and other basic necessities. Palm wine tapping is also common and some people weave cloth.

However, for a number of years their way of life has been jeopardised due to widespread political insecurity and violence in the Weh area, which has forced thousands of families to flee to nearby cities such as Bamenda.

The need

The Weh people follow a mixture of Christianity, Islam and traditional religions. About 5% of the population practise Islam and 15% are exclusively involved in traditional religion. However, a large number of those who call themselves Christians still practise traditional religions alongside their Christian faith.

Due to ongoing unrest, many Weh people have been displaced and have experienced a great deal of trauma. An estimated 30% of the Weh people have also left the area in order to find work or better opportunities. Of those who do still live in the area, it is thought that only about 10–12% are literate.

The project

Inspired by Bible translation going on in the neighbouring area of Aghem, the Weh people were enthusiastic about having the word of God in their language too. To deliver on this vision, a local translation team has been trained and is now making progress on the Weh New Testament, over two-thirds of which is now drafted. Alongside this, an inter-church committee has been formed, literacy classes have been established and churches have been encouraged to use translated Scriptures to help them grow in their faith.

In response to unrest in the country, the team has moved many of their activities to the major towns and begun trauma healing sessions in Weh to reach out to those who have been displaced.

Population

400,000

The community

Chad is a country with very little urban development outside its capital, N’Djamena. In the centre of Chad lies the Guera, a region known for its mountainous terrain and one that is highly diverse, with 26 different languages and a variety of religions.

People live in villages spread across the area and many rely on subsistence farming. Schools and medical facilities are not easily accessible because of the distances involved in getting to them, and the literacy rate is very low. Due to how hard life can be, an increasing number of people have moved to urban areas.

The need

Across the Guera there is a mix of Christianity, Islam and traditional religions. Some language groups have small churches and others no known Christian believers.

The languages of trade and government are French and Arabic, but many people are unable to speak them. As a result, local churches face the challenge of making Scripture available in the many different languages as well as reaching out to their non-Christian neighbours.

The project

For many years, translation teams have been partnering with local churches and organisations to translate the New Testament into five languages. Praise God that amazing progress has been made, with three New Testaments now completed.

Alongside this, portions of Scripture and oral Bible stories are being translated into 11 other languages so local evangelists can share the good news of Jesus with the many unreached people groups. The Guera is also a highly oral culture, so a number of local people are being trained to run listening groups, where Scripture is shared on audio devices, and oral storying groups, where people gather together to hear Bible stories.

Bissa Barka church member Josias being baptised

Population

80,000

The community

Burkina Faso is a land-locked country in the Sahel region of Africa and one of the world’s poorest countries. Its official language is French, but it is home to an estimated 71 different languages, one of which is Bissa Barka. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation in the Bissa Barka area, which is in the south of the country, bordering Ghana and Togo.

The need

Churches regularly use the trade language, Moore, as well as the neighbouring language, Bissa Lébir, and then orally translate into Bissa Barka. Although there is some degree of multilingualism in the Bissa Barka area, many people understand very little of any other language than Bissa Barka. The small Christian community is crying out, as a result, for the Bible in Bissa Barka to strengthen their churches and lessen the misunderstandings which frequently occur when people hear the Bible in another language.

The project

Before this project began there were no Scriptures available in Bissa Barka. Spurred on by translation into the neighbouring language, Bissa Lébir, a team is now working on translating the New Testament into Bissa Barka. To increase access to Scripture, a vital part of the project is to also provide literacy classes for the many people who are unable to read and write, as well as audio versions of Scripture.

Alongside Bible translation, the team has been producing language materials and running workshops to encourage church leaders to use translated Scriptures. A local team is also being trained to ensure that translation will continue on to the Old Testament and so they can use their skills to serve other communities without Scripture in their languages.

The hope is that through this work the local church will grow and believers will truly find their freedom in Christ.

Population

10,000

Community

The Leafa* people are a group of hunter-gatherers. In recent years, however, conservation laws have come in that now protect a range of wildlife species which for centuries were key sources of food for the Leafa community. The government has encouraged a move towards subsistence agriculture and a settled lifestyle.

Some Leafa men now work in labouring jobs, but most still prefer to live in remote rural areas and survive with little money. Losing the right to hunt threatens their whole lifestyle and culture, and they have little to fall back on. They also live in an area of Kenya which is often subject to militant violence. Travelling is dangerous, and during the rainy season, the few tracks that serve as roads become soft mud, capable of carrying only traffic by foot.

The need

Life can often be difficult for the Leafa people. They have little access to education, struggle to make a living and remain largely cut off from the rest of society. Most Leafa profess a faith in which they believe in one god, and have a sacred spot set aside as a place of prayer. They also consider themselves to be cursed and have low expectations of life.

The project

Prior to 1996, the Leafa language had never been written down. People value their language and were eager to see it in written form. After many years of language development work, an alphabet and dictionary have now been put together and good relationships with the community have been established, providing the basis for Bible translation and literacy work.

A local team is now working to translate the New Testament into Leafa and establish a community-based literacy programme. They are also working to find ways to safely distribute Scripture, with the hope that the Leafa community will be transformed spiritually, socially and economically. Although the team has been forced to relocate away from the community due to security issues, they continue to persevere and make progress.

*name changed for security reasons

Population

20,000

The community

The Bydla are an agricultural community who live along the banks of a river, in houses usually made from banana or palm leaves over a framework of poles. There are only a few dirt roads and travel is by dugout canoe and bicycle. They are largely self-sufficient and gain income from the sale of honey, cattle, and handwoven mats. Trading is conducted with the people to the north and with business people in towns adjacent to the Bydla area.

The need

The majority of the Bydla community are Muslims and there are only a handful of believers, who are forced to meet secretly due to the risk of persecution for their faith. There are high levels of early child mortality and the majority of people are unable to read or write. The area is almost entirely closed off to outsiders and almost completely unreached with the gospel.

The project

Following the completion of the New Testament in 2018, a local team is continuing with translation of the Old Testament to ensure the Bydla people can access the whole Bible, and providing literacy classes to enable them to engage with Scripture. Alongside this they are discipling new believers, setting up a number of fellowship groups and producing audio versions of Scripture to increase its reach.

As a result of violence in the Bydla region, the translation team has relocated to a safer area, but they visit the Bydla homeland when they can. Progress is being made, with a number of books now drafted, and the number of believers continues to grow. Local people are now leading the literacy efforts. Thanks to their work, 30% of the Bydla population can now read and write.

*name changed for security reasons

Population

170,600

The Ifè community

The Ifè people live in the southern part of Togo and in part of neighbouring Benin. In the towns many speak the trade languages or some French, but in rural areas where the majority of Ifè live most only speak Ifè. For many, life is centred around agriculture, and there is little access to schools, medical facilities or clean water.

Thirty-five years ago there were few, if any, Christians among the Ifè. Many people followed the traditional religion, which involves ceremonies and sacrifices to many divinities. But today we praise God that the number of Ifè Christians grows daily. The translation of God’s word has been a key factor in that change.

The need

In 2009 the Ifè New Testament was published. Since that time, more and more people have been seeing the power of Scripture at work in their own lives as they have the chance to read it for the first time in their language, but Ifè Christians long for the whole Bible in their own language. There is also a need to encourage believers in their faith and equip churches to worship God in their own language, whether through Scripture or song.

The project

The team continues to make progress with translation of the Old Testament, with the aim of completing it by 2026. Alongside this, the team is working with local churches and organisations to encourage people to engage with Scripture, with the hope more lives will be transformed by the living word of God.

To increase the reach of the New Testament, an online and an audio version are now available, and a number of local people are being trained to run listening groups. The team also regularly shares Scripture over the radio and equips churches with resources in their language. Finally, the team has been involved in a major adult literacy effort for many years. While the funding for that (from other partner organisations) has ceased, the team continues to run a few classes, teaching people to read, write and do basic maths in Ifè.

Population

More than 15 million

The community

The Leoma people are an ethnic group of more than 15 million from the middle of their country. Today, Leoma people live in all of the country’s provinces as well as in a neighbouring country. They have adapted well to the extreme environment with soaring summer temperatures and very little rainfall, and they value generous hospitality and loyal friendships.

Life can often be difficult due to poverty and a low literacy rate (50%). Most Leoma are agriculturalists, working as farm labourers for local landlords. Due to the wealth disparity in the area, relationships with neighbours can often become strained.

The need

There is a real lack of educational opportunity for the Leoma. As a result, many are trapped in a cycle of poverty, fear and ignorance. The majority of people also follow Islam. The team is desperate for the whole community, including the small but growing church, to have Scripture in their language so they can be transformed as they come to know Jesus.

The project

A local team has been trained over a number of years and has made progress on translating Scripture portions. They aim to complete the whole Bible in Leoma one day. Since few people in this community can read, their approach is to use a written style that is poetic and easy to understand, as well as producing audio versions. This will give people access to God’s word in a form that is culturally appropriate and accessible.

Translation has to be done discreetly due to the dangers which come with openly being a Christian and each member of the team has overcome many hurdles. In spite of this, more than 90% of the New Testament and 10% of the Old Testament has now been translated. The team is also looking for opportunities to share Scripture in ways that are relevant and sensitive, and they have been working on online resources.

*name changed for security reasons

Population

13,000

Language

Dobel

The community

The very remote Aru Islands are located in the south-east corner of Maluku Province, Indonesia. A total of 17 languages are spoken across the 28 inhabited islands, which are home to about 90,000 people. Most Aru villages are coastal, so people make their living from the sea. Nearly all travel is by boat since there are virtually no roads outside the one town in the islands. Due to adverse weather, travel can often be very difficult.

There are primary schools in most villages in the Aru Islands, and a small – but growing – percentage (25%) of children go on to secondary education. Historically, girls were often not given the opportunity for further schooling, although this is changing now. It is also only in recent years that there has been any kind of literature published in local languages.

The need

While there has been a church in these islands for over 100 years, many of the 75% of people baptised as Christians still hold to traditional beliefs. Their grasp of the Bible is often limited as it has only been available in the national language, which they struggle to understand. There is also a Muslim minority (about 25%). Christian outreach has been done in the national language, which is seen as a language of people outside the community. Consequently, many local people think of Christianity as an outside religion. Most do not see Jesus as someone who understands their own culture and language, and with whom they can have a personal relationship.

The project

This project focuses on partnering with the Dobel people. Dobel Christians are eager to have access to the Bible in their own language in order to strengthen the church and help disciple believers. The Dobel team is currently translating the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament. Alongside this, they make regular visits to churches to equip them to use Scripture in their own language, and help disciple Dobel believers as they mature in their faith.

Encouraging progress has already been made on translation; the team has completed a full first draft of the New Testament as well as a number of Bible stories and church liturgies. They have also translated a Christmas-story booklet, the books of Jonah and Ruth, and the Joseph story from Genesis. As a growing number of Aru people use smartphones, a Bible app has also been developed for Dobel speakers to access Scripture.

Population 

More than 1 million

The community

The Ceren people place a great emphasis on the provision of hospitality and generosity. Hand-shaking (with the right hand) is the most common form of physical greeting, which is often followed by the placing of the right hand over the heart (a symbol of sincerity). Their homes are in the hills in one of the most isolated and under-developed regions in their country. The majority of people earn income through agriculture, but few people have access to healthcare and clean water, and transport is limited due to poor infrastructure.

The need

The majority of Ceren people do not understand the national language and only speak their own language, Ceren. Literacy rates are also low and there is little recognition of their language on a national level, meaning few written resources exist in Ceren, including Scripture. Almost all the Ceren people are devout Muslims and Christians are frequently persecuted.

The project

Due to attitudes towards Christians, translation of the Bible has not yet begun. The focus is instead on blessing the community through helping to develop the language and establish pre-schools. So far the Ceren team has built positive relationships with prominent local leaders, a number of local preschools have been set up with trained local teachers, and the language is gaining recognition. The hope is that these will be the stepping stones to Bible translation, beginning with a series on ‘Lives of the Prophets’ to resonate with the local culture.

*name changed for security reasons

Population

530,000

Language

Lunyole (Nyole)

The Banyole community

The Banyole people live in southeast Uganda, in an area of green, rolling grassland, surrounded by papyrus-lined swamps. Little of their land is uninhabited, and most of it is cultivated. They are primarily arable farmers, but nearly every home also keeps animals such as cows, goats and chickens. They grow some crops for sale, mainly rice, cotton and coffee. Their staple food is finger millet, but they also eat sorghum, maize, cassava and sweet potatoes. The main means of transport is by bicycle, even for transporting crops. Some Banyole rice farmers have to travel many miles to their fields.

The need

Following on from the launch of the Lunyole New Testament in 2017, there is still a vision to ensure that the Banyole people have access to the whole Bible in their language. There is also a need to work with local believers and churches to equip and encourage them to engage with Scripture in their own language.

The project

The local team is continuing to persevere with translation of the Old Testament, with the aim of working on Psalms and Proverbs over the next year. Another vital part of the project is Scripture engagement, so the team is running a number of workshops for local church leaders, producing Bible resources and training local people to run listening groups. Alongside this, an increasing number of New Testaments, both printed and audio, are being distributed.

Population

620,000

Language

Lugwere (Gwere)

The Bagwere community

Almost all of the Bagwere people live in small villages in an area of eastern Uganda called Bugwere, west of Mount Elgon and south of Lake Kyoga. Traditionally, the Bagwere people made their living by fishing and hunting wild animals such as buffalo and hippopotamus, but today, along with fishing, they also practise subsistence farming. Their main crops are maize, soya beans and rice, but they also farm millet, ground nuts, cassava, sweet potatoes and cooking bananas. The standard means of transport is by bicycle and the roads are mainly dirt tracks. There are no large towns or hospitals; the main town is Budaka, a large trading centre with a number of schools.

The need

We praise God that since 2016 the Bagwere people have had access to the New Testament in their language. As engagement with Scripture grows, the community longs for the whole Bible in their language. In order to strengthen and encourage the local church and believers to use Scripture, additional resources and training for local leaders are also needed.

The project

The local team continues to translate the Old Testament. They are also continually being trained so they can take full ownership of the project. The current focus is on producing portions of Scripture and distributing these in the community so they can be used for worship and teaching. The team is also running a number of workshops and producing resources to help local church leaders and believers enhance their understanding of God’s word. Alongside this, to increase the reach of Scripture, they are producing audio New Testaments and setting up listening groups.

Population

500,000

The Flame* community

The Flame people live in the central region of a country in West Africa. Over 99% of the 500,000 Flame speakers are Muslims. In recent years some Flame people have moved to surrounding towns and neighbouring countries for work, but the centre of Flame cultural life remains in 60 or so small villages. Homes are very tightly set together in groups by family clan. A circle of rooms provides a central courtyard for cooking and eating in the day and for protecting sheep and goats at night. The language of education is French, and the majority of rural students do not continue beyond primary school. As a result, literacy rates are very low.

The need

The Flame language is used for business and trade by several surrounding Muslim groups, making it the most widely spoken language in the region. It is therefore a key language to translate the Bible into so that many unreached people in the region have the chance to hear the good news of Jesus.

We pray that Flame Muslims and the surrounding groups will read God’s word and turn to Christ as their saviour.

The project

We praise God that the Flame team has completed translation of the New Testament and Genesis. These portions of Scripture were launched in the community in April 2020. The focus going forward is to translate the rest of the Old Testament, which will help to build stronger bridges with the Muslim community. From an Islamic perspective, the biblical canon comprises the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch), the Prophets, the Psalms and the Gospels. The team will therefore first translate the Torah, then the Psalms, then the Prophets and then all the remaining books, so that in 10 years’ time, the whole Old Testament will have been translated.

To increase reach of Scripture, the team is also aiming to record all of the Scriptures so people can listen to them and share them on mobile phones. To meet literacy needs and bless the community, the team works in cooperation with local non-governmental organisations to teach Flame* literacy classes for adults.

The team’s ultimate hope is to see individual lives and Flame society transformed through people hearing God’s word in their own language and growing in relationship with him.

*name changed for security reasons