Graduation watch
Tag Archives: Wycliffe Bible Translators
A Fast Learner
Fast Learners on Bible Translation Software!
It was 2012. Ken took a trip to an Asian country. He and his colleagues were tasked with developing and testing Bible translation software training materials. The group that they were testing with had never been involved in Bible Translation. They were new to the concept and were looking at the software for the first time.
Fast forward 5 short years. Ken’s colleague recently visited that same country and while there, came upon one of the translators. Much to our delight, he and his colleagues had just finished drafting the New Testament for their community!
A draft! Of the entire New Testament! Plans are in place that it will be consultant checked this Fall!
Praise God with us! Each of us have done our part in allowing others to gain this new portion of Scripture! We were given the opportunity to do the training, you provided for our salary to serve through training, and others did the work of learning the software and laboriously working through the New Testament, verse by verse, so that others can read God’s Word in their own language!!
We thank you again, for your partnership!
Two Verbs: Come & Go
Wycliffe Bible Translators is celebrating 75 years of existence in 2017! We’re proud to have been part of that heritage for over a third of that time (27 years). On the occasion of their 50th anniversary, acclaimed preacher, Billy Graham, spoke to a group of people about the importance of Bible Translation.
Listen to this 2+ minute Billy Graham video of his impassioned plea for workers! In it he says, “It might be said that Jesus only had two verbs: ‘Come & Go’. Come unto me and Go into all the world!”
Thank you for being a part of this important work. We’re doing it together!
The Look
Everyone parent and every child knows “the Look.” You know, when the child is fidgeting in church and you turn to them and “look” at them? Or maybe it’s at the dinner table! Everyone is holding hands so you can pray and then two kids start arguing because one is squeezing the hand of the other too hard? They get “the Look” from the parent.
Stop.
Cut. It. Out.
It might look like this:
Credit: Dreamstimes.com
Or this:
Credit: business2community
When my dad gave me “the Look” or when my husband gave our girls “the Look” they usually stopped what they were doing immediately and settled down. While each of us love our children immensely, sometimes we don’t love their behavior. “The Look” gets them back on track.
In John 18, we read the account of Peter who denies Jesus three times when asked if he was a follower of Jesus. The book of Luke (22:61-62) records that Jesus “looked straight at Peter” after he refused to admit three times to others that he was a follower of Jesus.
The difference between my parenting look and this look of Jesus was that this was not a gesture of condemnation. Instead, it was one of complete love and of one who knew Peter’s heart. He knew that Peter loved Him deeply, he knew that Peter would deny Him (he had warned him), yet he still loved him.
What struck me again was the difference between Peter’s remorse over his sin and Judas’ actions after he had turned Jesus in. While Judas immediately ran out and hung himself, Peter didn’t. He wept bitterly, but he still came to the place where Jesus was hung on a cross. We know from later chapters and church history that Peter went on to be a great leader and writer in the church.
Why the difference?
Because one had a relationship with Jesus and the other didn’t. Judas hung out with Jesus and looked like he was a disciple of Him, but his heart had never really changed. He was the same sinful Judas, whereas Peter spent the same amount of time with Jesus and had a changed life. Yes, he was loud and impulsive (sounds like me) but little by little, he turned different areas over to the Lordship of his Savior.
We don’t have the privilege of physically walking and talking with Jesus, but we do have the Holy Spirit with us here on earth who guides us as we have a relationship with the entire Trinity.
We have been given God’s very words to read and study so we can learn from people like Judas, Peter, and even Jesus Himself. That’s why we are committed to getting God’s Word in to the hands of the Bibleless people of the world!
Who will you be today? Choose to be a Peter…a follower…a sojourner. Then when you get “the Look” you’ll know it is one full of love, not condemnation, and you too can look forward to the day when you see Jesus face to face.
3000…not a bad number!
Wycliffe Bible Translators recently celebrated their 3,000 translated Bible! It’s so great to be part of an organization that is ridding the world of Bible Poverty.
Thank you for your part! Less than 2,000 Bibles to go!
This just in from our Headquarters
The last day to make a tax-deductible contribution for 2016 is Dec. 31. Online gifts may be made at wycliffe.org/invest/year-end until 11:45 p.m. ET. For those who want to make a donation by phone, the Wycliffe team will be covering the phones until 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 30, and between 1-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 31. To make contributions via phone, please call toll free at 800-WYCLIFFE (992-5433).
Thank you for your continued support ending Bible poverty!
Looking to DOUBLE your gift?
Double the impact of your gift to Wycliffe with a Corporate Matching Gift.
Many corporations around the U.S. match their employees’ charitable donations to organizations like Wycliffe. Some will even match contributions by employee spouses’ or retirees’, and volunteer hours. Check out the Double the Donation tool at wycliffe.org/donate/corporate-matching to see if your employer participates in the corporate matching gifts, then contact your employer for detailed information. An FAQ is also available at the webpage.
Like to Travel? Like to Serve?
Would you like to work with the kids of missionaries, missionary kids (MKs), overseas?
Here is an opportunity for adults to serve Wycliffe MKs through a VBS-type program.
Refuge 139 will be leading several retreats for Wycliffe MKs during their parents’ branch conferences in various locations around the world. We are looking for mature, Christian adults who love to work with children/teens. Come as an individual or bring a group from your church!
Mission . . .
supporting missionary families by ministering to their children through fellowship, worship, evangelism, prayer and Bible study
Your Trip includes. . .
pre-field material, in-country orientation/training, fun in-country outing, assisting with the Refuge 139 program, trip debrief by experienced Refuge 139 staff
Cost…
airfare + $1500 (includes room/board, in country expenses, visa, evacuation insurance)
When and Where:
March 18 – April 2: Cameroon
June 6 – 15: Nepal
July 21 – 29: Thailand (Full)
July 24 – Aug 4: Malaysia
March 2017: Papua New Guinea
For more information send an email to
Refuge139@jaars.org or call 704-843-6042
Promises Promises
“Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name.
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
I love this promise and prophecy from God in his book of Revelations! Did you see the highlighted words? ALL NATIONS! All nations with all of their own languages will one day worship our God together. One way to reach them? Give them the words of God in their own language so they know how to get to heaven! Their worship can begin here on earth!
This is the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators and Wycliffe Associates. I’m so glad we get to be a part of it with you.
Wednesday night we’ll be sharing at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, SC. Hope to see you there!
Today is Bible Translation Day!
This story and photo comes directly from http://www.wycliffe.org.
Wycliffe’s Founder Cameron Townsend
Did you know there’s a day set apart worldwide to honor the work of Bible translation? Well there is, and we’re excited to tell you about it!
In 1966, Wycliffe founder Cameron Townsend first shared an idea with Oklahoma Senator Fred Harris, his friend of several years.
“September 30 is St. Jerome’s Day,” Cam said. “He’s the first translator of the whole Bible. I thought maybe we could get the House and Senate to pass a resolution calling for the president to proclaim September 30 as Bible Translation Day.”
Harris liked the idea and agreed to propose the resolution in the Senate. Soon Cam received word that the resolution passed!
On September 30, 1966, a ceremony was held to proclaim that day as Bible Translation Day. Since the Apache New Testament had only recently been completed, Cam decided they should present that translation as part of the ceremony. Senator Harris presided, and Cam arranged for Britton Goode, the Apache who had helped the translators, to present the Scriptures to him and Congressman Ben Reifel. A Sioux Indian from South Dakota, Reifel had witnessed firsthand the impact that owning the Bible in her heart language had on his mother, who spoke only broken English and used the Sioux Bible to teach her children about God.
Several people gave speeches that day, including both Senator Harris and Congressman Reifel. Cam’s speech was, as always, one that left the group in attendance encouraged and inspired.
“We are making history. By God’s grace and with His help, we are taking part in a tremendous enterprise,” said Cam, as he began his speech. “The enterprise is Bible translation; the goal is hearts changed by God and disciples equipped to lead others to Christ. But before any translation can be done, before any change comes in a heart, we must overcome physical and language barriers.
“The language barrier is difficult to overcome. But it must be done. The Holy Spirit, speaking through John says, ‘After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb’ (Revelation 7:9, NIV). We believe God has called us to help make this verse come true. …
“This is not an impossible task. If it were, God would not have given it to us. But it is difficult. It takes hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment. Teachers at Wycliffe’s schools have helped thousands of students learn translation and literacy principles, but we lack people who are willing to go. Many don’t realize how Bible translation is still needed around the world.”
In the years since Cam first started Wycliffe, 518 language groups have received the entire Bible and 1,275 have the New Testament in the language they understand best. Additionally, over 1,500 Bible translation projects are currently in process.
Today, Wycliffe continues to carry on the tradition of celebrating Bible Translation Day. With unwavering focus towards the unfinished task at hand, Wycliffe seeks to pursue the goal that Cam so eloquently laid out in his speech — that of bringing the translated Word of God into every language that still needs it.
The Haugh Herald 