Wycliffe Associates Plans to Establish “Safe Haven” in Countries for Bible Translators Facing Persecution

(Orlando, Florida, USA)— Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that equips mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, plans to establish a safe haven in countries for mother-tongue translators who are at risk of intense persecution, even death, because of their faith.

The facility, which will be located across the border from an undisclosed country, will function as a “launchpad” for Bible translation projects in difficult and dangerous regions of the world that potentially will serve millions of people.

“We need to stand with these believers,” says Tim Neu, Interim President/CEO of Wycliffe Associates, “especially seeing how much they have suffered and sacrificed for the cause of Christ.”

Wycliffe Associates has partnered with someone who previously was imprisoned and tortured for his Christian faith. After his release and escape to a nearby country, he was able to purchase land.  His goal is to establish a facility for mother-tongue translators to safely work and collaborate. Wycliffe Associates is currently raising funds to build a facility on the land.

“God is putting the pieces together,” says Neu. “We can be a part of providing them a safe place to translate the Bible!”

Through its Church Owned Bible Translation initiative, Wycliffe Associates partners with local churches that need translations of the Bible in their own language by providing mother-tongue Bible translators with training, equipment, technology, and support to facilitate Bible translation for their language groups.

The organization provides tools such as computer tablets loaded with Bible translation software, Print OnDemand equipment, and Bible Translation Recording Kits consisting of equipment and software to record audio Bible translations in languages that are not written down.

In 2020, Wycliffe Associates helped launch 294 new Bible translation projects and is currently accelerating the work of Bible translation in 68 countries, with 751 Bible translations in progress.

“The Christians are asking for Bibles. They are willing to face the dangers because they are more passionate about God’s Word than they are about their own safety,” says Neu. “We can give them the Scriptures that will speak to the struggle and pain our brothers and sisters in Christ face as they live in this difficult region.”

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 68 countries. For more information, please see www.wycliffeassociates.org.

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