Pssst! Spread the Word!
January 3, 2015 11:21 pm Leave your thoughts
If you don’t know me, you should be aware that I was a Bible translator for many years in Papua New Guinea. Because of my years there, I hold the process of Bible translation near and dear to my heart. As we start a new year – 2015, if you can believe it! – I wanted to provide you with a little information on the progress Wycliffe Bible Translators made in 2014. It’s been an exciting year!
Below is a chart showing all of the language groups that had a New Testament translation completed this past year. Four of them had complete Bibles completed, including the Old Testament. And lest you think all Bible translation takes place in impoverished countries, one of these groups (the German Pennsylvania Dutch) lives just an hour or two from my home! They live only a couple hours outside of Philadelphia, PA, the 6th largest city in the United States. Bible translation is everywhere, and it’s vital for people to hear God’s Word.
Amazing events are unfolding around the globe due to Bible translation. According to Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission, “The Bible itself is now clearly out of control in many parts of the world…. Once people get the Bible in their own language you can readily expect what in most cases will be an explosive growth of faith movements to Christ.”
If you find this even a little interesting, I encourage you to check out the Wycliffe Bible Translators website. They have a project called The Finish Line, which details those language groups that are within three years of completion. It’s worth a look. And it’s worth some prayer, because these translators are working hard, and sacrificing every single day to bring the Bible to those who don’t yet have it.
So here they are, the proud owners of new Bibles in their own heart languages. May God speak to them more clearly now, and touch those hearts with love. And won’t you please raise a toast, give a shout or say a prayer of thanks for the missionary translators who have completed each of these tasks. Say thanks for the years they have given, and the love they have released – out of our control, but fully under God’s control – into the world!
| Country | City | Population |
| Cameroon | Meta | 87,000 |
| Muyang | 30,000 | |
| Ivory Coast | Jula* | 1,500,000 |
| Ghana | Sisaala* | 140,000 |
| Mozambique | Makaonde | 400,000 |
| Nigeria | Obolo* | 250,000 |
| Senegal | Noon | 33,000 |
| Guinea Bissau | Mankanya | 75,000 |
| Philippines | Kala Eastern | 30,000 |
| Kala Western | 40,000 | |
| USA | German Pennsylvania Dutch* | 118,000 |
| Indonesia | Lik | 7,000 |
| Ketengban | 15,000 | |
| Tetun | 500,000 | |
| Papua New Guinea | Arop-Lokep | 3,020 |
| Ogeo | 2,210 | |
| Solomon Islands | Kwaio | 20,000 |
| Vanuatu | Maskdynes | 1,400 |
| Nafe | 3,500 | |
| Mexico | Mixtec | 35,000 |
| Zapotec | 10,000 | |
| Brazil | Wayampi | 1,000 |
| Panama | Kuna | 57,000 |