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Tag Archives: Bible Translation

India – Day 2

Woke up this morning at 4:30 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. I’m still jet-lagged so I could have used the sleep. On the other hand, the hour in the morning allowed me some uninterrupted time alone with God and in my Bible. An hour of reading God’s Word and prayer is so refreshing that it makes me wonder why I don’t MAKE time for it more often. Wish I had an answer.

My colleagues and I starting our meetings today with our Indian counterparts. Each day starts out with a 20 minute devotion, today’s being from Luke 20:19-20, which follows the parable of wicked tenants. We were broken into four groups thereafter, each group given a series of thought-provoking questions to answer. My group was given the following ones, worthy of repeating here…

  1. What makes a church or an individual Christian throw away the capstone of their faith?
  2. What did Jesus want to say to the leaders of the Christian church through this parable?
  3. What does Jesus want to say to you and I personally through this parable?
Devotions

One of our colleagues sharing a parable from Luke 20:19-20 using pictures to represent the major points of the story

I won’t share some of the answers they came up with but challenge you to think them through on your own. I can say with all integrity though, that some of the comments from my Indian colleagues really got me to thinking and challenged my socks off.

How does one write a thrilling blog entry about a meeting? Doesn’t seem too exciting today from my perspective. Writing about a meeting never is. This is until you realize who’s across the table from you and the long-term impact of what we’re trying to accomplish for God’s Kingdom. Then, what can compare?

Language Project Facilitators

Larry Sallee, a WA trainer, discusses training techniques with our counterparts that are responsible for one or more mother tongue translators.

Ken overlooking Larry's shoulder

I am looking over Larry's shoulder as he demonstrates web-based training modules designed to teach Bible translation software utilization to mother tongue translators and their coordinators.

 
 

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Ken is on his way to India

I just dropped Ken and his colleague, Russ Perry, off at the Charlotte airport. They are on their way to India! This is a first trip to that large country for Ken. They plan on visiting two Indian organizations. We are partnering with them to provide IT technical support for 50 new Bible translation projects that are starting there.  Those 50 new projects represent 45% of the remaining translation needs in India!

Russ wrote on his blog: “One organization has asked us to help them develop training methods and materials that will be used to teach mother tongue translators how to use a computer program that was created specifically for translating the Bible. The other organization has asked us to help train their technicians who will provide computer support for mother tongue translators. Please pray that solid relationships will be formed, that we will communicate well, and that God will guide our partnership team to the most effective ways to provide the training to those who need it.”

They return home in two weeks. We’ll try to keep you updated as I hear from Ken. Thanks for praying!

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2012 in Ken, Tech Support, Wycliffe Associates

 

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Bible Translation – Adjusting to the Times

We often hear that the times when Bible translators moves to a foreign (and often times remote) country, lives there for twenty years, studies the local language, produces an alphabet, and translates the Bible has come to an end. There are fewer individuals entering full-time missionary service, the process often takes fifteen to twenty years, and countries are more reticent to allow foreigners to live and remain in their country for such a sustained length of time. So, what’s the answer?

What alternatives exist allowing for the Bible translation such that the Bibleless people of the world can read the Scriptures in their mother tongue, the language that speaks to the heart?  

Sitting around computer

We know of at least one! Enter in “crowdsourcing“. Crowdsourcing leverages collaborative technology and uses the knowledge and skills of many people for a single task. “Does it work?”, you might ask. Well, you be the judge.

The Seed Company launched CrowdSeedTM a Bible translation crowdsourcing pilot in India, in May 2011. And the results have been phenomenal. Don’t take my word for it though. Click here and read the article for yourself.

You’ve undoubtedly heard it said that “when man closes a window, God opens a door.” I believe this is just one of those times. How about you?

 
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Posted by on March 2, 2012 in The Seed Company, Website

 

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What’s up with Nigeria?

A number of you have asked us if Ken is planning on returning to Nigeria any time soon. As you recall, he has made three trips there this past year helping deploy the BGAN satellites as well as doing training for our national Bible Translators.

The frequent news articles highlighting the increased bombings in the region make us all a bit edgy. As of this week, Ken has no plans to return to Nigeria until he is needed. But our work is not stopping in the region. Most of the translators are nationals and therefore have a good idea of how to keep themselves safe.

But all our work is not safe, is it? We lived in Indonesia for 10 years and had malaria many times. We watched colleagues and workers die from this disease in spite of medication. We lived in a place that was frequently protesting to become independent. This caused us to have “riot” days — days that we closed down the local school just in case there was to be a local uprising. Increasingly, the places we work will seem not that safe. Sure, none of us wants to walk into the path of trouble, but there are risks to working outside of your own culture and comfort zone.

Please be in prayer for the nation of Nigeria which is experiencing unrest and violence targeting Christians. Nigerians are hungry for God’s Word and translation is going on in dozens of languages. Pray that Satan will be stifled and God will allow these translation projects to continue so the people will have His Word in their heart language sooner rather than later.

An article Thursday on the Mission Network News website included an interview with Wycliffe Associates president Bruce Smith (see http://mnnonline.org/article/16662). When asked about the Nigerian translation teams, Bruce responded:

“They (the Nigerians) are seeking wisdom about how to respond in these circumstances. They’re actually looking to God’s Word for the answers that they really need in terms of how they relate to their neighbors and other members of the community that are part of this stressful situation.” The article says that the teams have not allowed the situation to disrupt their deadlines for translation work. Bruce said, “It’s definitely creating a climate of uncertainty and increases their concern about how to continue carrying out their work. They know that God’s Word has the real power to change people’s hearts and that continuing to move forward in Bible translation is the best way to remedy the situation that they face.”

You can keep up with the latest news about the Nigeria situation at the Mission Network News site as well as other news services like CNN. These events highlight that we need to take advantage of opportunities to spread the Good News while the doors are open.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue to do so.

 
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Posted by on January 12, 2012 in BGAN, Ken, Prayer, Wycliffe Associates

 

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Last day to give in 2011 is December 29th

This is from the Wycliffe Bible Translators blog….

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your partnership in the ministry of Bible translation during 2011. God worked through your prayers and financial support to reach Bibleless people worldwide with His life-changing Word.

As the year draws to a close, you may be considering a year-end gift to Wycliffe. In order for gifts made by electronic funds transfer or credit card to be considered a 2011 contribution by the IRS, they need to be made by 4:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 29.  To give your gift, please visit http://www.wycliffe.org/give or call 1-866-736-4387.

Thank you, and may 2012 be a year full of blessing for you and your family.

We love you all and look forward to our continuing partnership in 2012.

 
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Posted by on December 28, 2011 in Website, Wycliffe

 

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Projects Galore!

Picture books, Audio portions of Scripture, safe drinking water….these are just a few of the many projects that are funded by those of us working in Bible Translation. I have been working with Wycliffe Bible Translator project funders in Europe for the last 4 years. It’s amazing to see the wide variety of projects that we help fund all across the world!  Check out some of them on this link! Should you be looking for a project or someone else to donate to at the Christmas season, I know that you will be a huge blessing to these people as we reach them with the transformational words from God which will change their lives forever!

 
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Posted by on December 9, 2011 in Anne, Europe, Wycliffe

 

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Bible Translation PNG Style

Sometimes we talk about Bible translation so much that it becomes nothing more than a story or a concept. We forget the challenges inherent in the Bible translation process and how the Bible in the mother tongue has the ability to change lives.

So, here’s the challenge… Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on March 24, 2011 in Laptops, Satellite, Video

 

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