More than 400 Language Groups Worldwide without the Scriptures are Ready to Begin Bible Translations

(Orlando, Florida, USA)—Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, announces that Bible translators from more than 400 language groups around the globe are ready to begin work on translating the Scriptures.

“After generations of waiting, generations of hoping, and praying for a translation of the Scriptures into the language of their hearts, they’ve heard about this Bible translation opportunity,” said Bruce Smith, President and CEO of Wycliffe Associates. “They’ve caught a glimpse of hope. For the first time, they see the miraculous potential.”

Mother-tongue translators use MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation) workshops to launch new Bible translations. MAST is a method that enables national Bible translators to work collaboratively on assigned Scripture passages and then use a multi-step quality checking process.

In addition to MAST training, Wycliffe Associates provides translators with computer tablets loaded with translation software—a vital tool that empowers the translators to work more efficiently.

“Tablets are absolutely essential. They’re packed with Bible translation software, and a library of resources,” said Smith. “Without tablets, Bible translation is slow and awkward; national translators are reduced to working with paper and pencils.”

Tablets also contribute to the translators’ safety in places where the Bible is banned, and Christians suffer intense persecution. Translators can work discreetly and back up copies of their valuable work.

“National Bible translators face the challenges of keeping handwritten Bible translations safe and secure,” said Smith. “But with a computer tablet, every completed line of translation is secure.”

In areas where Bibles and churches are illegal, Christians have formed underground churches. One group that met secretly with a Wycliffe Associates team leader is now working on Bible translations in three languages.

Wycliffe Associates wants to provide 2,760 computer tablets to equip mother-tongue translators in the MAST workshops.

Currently there are 1,200 MAST translations in progress. Wycliffe Associates has distributed more than 6,000 tablets to Bible translators in 67 countries to date.

About Wycliffe Associates

One of the world’s leading Bible translation organizations, Wycliffe Associates was organized in 1967 by friends of Bible translators to accelerate the work of Bible translation. Wycliffe Associates empowers national Bible translators to provide God’s Word in their own language, partners with the local church to direct and guard translation work, harnessing their passion and desire for God’s Word, and engages people from all around the world to provide resources, technology, training, and support for Bible translation.

Because millions of people around the world still wait to have the Scriptures in the language of their hearts, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as it can to see every verse of God’s Word translated into every tongue to speak to every heart. Wycliffe Associates is directly involved with speeding Bible translation by providing technology, training, resources, logistics, networking, expertise, volunteers, discipleship, church planting, and support. Wycliffe Associates staff and volunteers are currently accelerating Bible translations in 108 countries. For more information, please see www.wycliffeassociates.org.

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