Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project
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March 2006
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November 2006
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We ought not to underestimate the power of prayer. Translating
the Word of God into a language which previously did not have it
is like opening spiritual floodgates for the people represented.
Unfortunately, attacks of the evil one will be most concentrated
on such efforts since the Bible is the cornerstone to Christian
conversion and growth. "Our struggle is not against flesh
and blood . . ." (Ephesians 6:12).
Join with us in this struggle, which is already won. Pray with
us that, in His strength, we may reach these goals:
- NEEDS IN NIGERIA
There are still more than 150 languages in Nigeria that need Scripture in their heart-and-home language. Workshops are scheduled to begin in seven of these languages, to be conducted by The Seed Company's "Luke Partnership*." A consultant-trainer is needed to help in two workshops each year. Pray that the Lord will select the right team for this expansion, both mother-tongue translators and consultant-trainers. Luke Partnership projects are already in progress in more than thirty languages around the world.
- HEARING IS BELIEVING
A 12 year old boy came seeking medical help and left knowing Christ as Saviour. The youth had come to the Bible translation centre with a group of workers who were reviewing the Caquinte New Testament translation. As he heard them reading it aloud to check for errors and readability,the youth responded in faith to the Gospel. Pray that he will grow in his new faith. Pray for the translators and checkers as they finalise the Caquinte Scriptures, now one step closer to publication. Pray that Caquinte hearts will be prepared to receive the Word and allow it to change their lives.
- PLANNING FOR FUNDING Potential donors need to know about opportunities for investing in Bible translation around the world. During the next few months Wycliffe workers will be making plans and preparing funding proposals for the next fiscal year. Pray for project leaders and other personnel as they write these proposals. Pray for God's wisdom for potential donors as they decide where to invest.
- MAKING AN IMPACT IN MAKAA
Many people responded when local church leaders and teams from Campus Crusade and Wycliffe showed the JESUS film in three villages in the Makaa language area in Cameroon, Africa. A local pastor went door to door the next day and found hearts open to the Gospel. Pray the team will find adequate staff to assist with the showings. Pray that they will work well with local churches and be able to train their people to counsel and disciple new believers more effectively.
- ALAMBLAK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
God's Word has come to another people group in Papua New Guinea. The shipment of the recently published Alamblak New Testament (for 1,500 speakers) has arrived. Pray for the leaders as they prepare for the dedication on June 12. Pray for Alamblak adults to become more fluent in reading their language, especially older pastors and women who never learned to read in school. Pray that more teachers will volunteer to help with literacy among their people.
- IMPROVING THEIR SKILLS Language workers in South Asia are learning skills that will help in their day-to-day translation and literacy work. In February teams from five language groups attended a three-week course on translating the book of Romans. In March, eight literacy teams participated in a workshop for developing literacy consultants. Translators from several other languages learned how to use the computerized Scripture project software known as "Tool Box" at a class March 8-19. Praise God for experienced instructors. Pray for the students as they apply their new knowledge to their local projects.
- PROGRESS IN KENYA
Three more language groups in Kenya will soon have the Scriptures in their heart languages. The Giryama New Testament is typeset and soon to be printed. Typesetting will also begin on the Pokomo New Testament. Praise God for these finished translations. Pray for wisdom as Digo translators complete a first draft of their New Testament. *The Seed Company, Wycliffe's partner organization, facilitates funding for nationals in training and Bible translation. The Luke Partnership, one of The Seed Company's programs, works with local partners to translate initial Scripture materials—usually the Gospel of Luke, the JESUS film script and other Old and New Testament selections.
- COMPUTER TOOLS Leaders conducted a course for computer support workers in East Asia, planning that participants, in turn, would then teach it to someone else. Students learned to use four important translation software tools: Translator's Workplace—a library of commentaries and translation resources on two compact disks. Paratext—used in Scripture editing and checking. Adapt It—a user-friendly way to adapt Scripture from one language into another related language. Toolbox—used in preparing dictionaries and analyzing texts. Pray that participants will be able to pass on their skills to mother tongue translators with whom they work.
- PROGRESS IN THE PACIFIC Praise God that despite ethnic conflict, work is moving ahead in the Solomon Islands: The Arosi New Testament is almost ready for printing. Translators dedicated the Kwara'ae New Testament in early January, and distributed 5,000 copies. Workers are using a computer to adapt the translated text of one language into a closely related language. The Pidgin Old Testament is progressing, despite serious spiritual opposition. Pray for the translators in these projects. Pray that these Scriptures will touch the hearts of the Solomon Islanders.
- TRAINING FOR SERVICE Latin American students are in Lima, Peru preparing for cross-cultural service in missions, including Bible translation and literacy. Fifteen people from at least six countries were scheduled to attend the Curso Internacional de Lingüística, Traducción y Alfabetización, a two-semester course given in Spanish beginning March 22. Teaching staff includes Peruvian and expatriate personnel. Pray for the teachers. Pray for the students as they seek God's direction for future service.
- STRATEGIES FOR AFRICA Twenty-eight people met in Dodoma, Tanzania March 1-6 to explore strategies for reaching the Bibleless peoples in Eastern Africa. Participants included Africans and expatriates working in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as those from Pioneer Bible Translators and Word for the World. Praise God for a productive and spiritually uplifting meeting. Pray that participants will know what their next steps should be.
- GOD'S WORD FOR THE GUARANI MBYÁ Guarani Mbyá speakers in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (total population 12,000 or more) now have the Bible in their own language. On March 20 about 500 guests attended a dedication in Laranjeira do Sul, Brazil. Missão de Cristianismo Decidido, a Brazilian/German mission organization, hosted the festivities with the help of Brazil's Bible Society and Sociedade Lingüística (as SIL* is known in that country). Pray for those who heard the Gospel message during the dedication. Pray that those who received copies of the Guarani Mayá Bible will read it and respond in faith to its message.
- CANADA "LEADs" THE WAY Since 1972 Wycliffe Canada has developed partnerships for literacy among indigenous peoples in India, Africa, South Asia, Peru and Papua New Guinea. Canada's LEAD Department--Literacy, Education and Development--is a catalyst and mediator for funding field projects through government and non-government development agencies, advocacy groups and educational organizations. Praise God for the success of this program. Pray for wider partnerships and funding, as well as additional influence among development agencies.
- THREE HOURS OF VISION SHARING Nigerian pastors will hear about Bible translation at their annual conference in Ibadan May 10-14. "We can evangelize and teach people groups best if the Bible is in their own languages," says Dr. U. Obed, pastor of Glory Tabernacle where the conference will be held. At least a thousand pastors are expected to attend. Pray for Bob Lever (Wycliffe Africa, Nigeria) and Kent Anderson (Wycliffe UK); each was invited to give a 90-minute presentation. Pray for Dr. Obed and others planning the conference. Pray for Nigerian pastors to become involved in Bible translation.
- WYCLIFFE CARIBBEAN BOARD. In two weeks the board will come together for its annual meeting in Trinidad. This is when John Roomes will be formally installed as the new CEO. Jack Popjes has been orienting John and working together with him as co-director for the past six months. Jack will be available to consult with John or coach him through to the end of the year. Pray that Jack will finish well, and that John will have a good start to his term as executive director.
- BEGINNINGS IN BANGLADESH A little more than a year ago, the newly formed SIL1 organization in Bangladesh received approval for its first language development and education projects in three language groups. Now the survey team is finalizing its reports and will meet with community leaders to discuss their findings. Workers recorded and analyzed several ethnic songs in these three languages. Literacy is moving ahead; leaders are conducting a teacher-training course March 12-21. Pray for this workshop now in progress. Pray for additional personnel to help reach SIL's goals of language development, written literature and ongoing literacy programs in Bangladesh.
- EASY-TO-READ LITERATURE New readers in Mozambique will soon be getting new reading materials. The first literature production workshop held in July focused on Bible materials. The second, now in session in mid-March, will produce materials on health, agriculture and sanitation. Pray for a consistent supply of electricity for workshop computers, printers and photocopiers. Pray that these materials will motivate people in Mozambique to learn to read. Reading the Scriptures will then come naturally.
1SIL is a partner organization with Wycliffe, dedicated to training, language research, translation and literacy.
2The Seed Company, Wycliffe's sister organization, facilitates funding for nationals in training and Bible translation worldwide.
3Vision 2025 is Wycliffe's goal to begin working in all of the languages that need Scripture by the year 2025.
4Youth With A Mission
5The Graduate Institute of Linguistics, located at the International Linguistic centre in Dallas, Texas, provides training in language survey, translation, linguistics, literacy and anthropology for workers preparing to serve in these fields.
6The Luke Partnership--translating the Gospel of Luke and the script for the JESUS film into local languages—is one of The Seed Company's projects.
7JAARS, a partner organization with Wycliffe, promotes Bible translation through computer services, aviation and ground transport, media ministries, etc.
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