Wycliffe Associates Providing Satellite Internet Connections and Technology that Helps Protect and Accelerate Translation Efforts

(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, is helping protect and advance the work of church-owned Bible translation by providing its translators with crucial technology.

Recently four Christians in Indonesia were savagely killed. During the attacks, the killers burned six houses, including a house church, and beheaded one of their victims.

“This latest tragedy underscores the deep need for God’s transforming Word in Indonesia,” says Tim Neu, Interim President/CEO of Wycliffe Associates. “It’s difficult to even imagine the many pressures Christians are experiencing in Indonesia right now. So many of Indonesia’s Christians are suffering harassment and even deadly persecution.”

Since most mother-tongue Bible translators live in isolated regions with no Internet connectivity, Wycliffe Associates has developed Bible Translation Acceleration Kits (BTAKs). Each $2,500 kit provides access to all the Bible translation software a language group needs, along with a built-in satellite Internet connection.

In addition, when one language group receives a BTAK and translates the Scriptures into their own heart language, they pass along what they’ve learned to other language groups in their region.

“Even if terrorists find you, even if your equipment is confiscated or destroyed, even if the unimaginable happens, your translation work—weeks or months of translation progress—is protected,” says Neu.

Of all the nations on earth, Indonesia has the most urgent need for Bible translation. There are more than 12,000 remote areas without any Internet service, and more than 100 language groups across Indonesia don’t have an Internet connection.

“In remote, underdeveloped areas—jungles, rainforests, mountainous regions—anything handwritten on paper is actually at risk of harsh weather, humidity, flooding, even insects,” says Neu. “BTAKs protect all the work that’s been invested, day by day, in the translation of the Scriptures.”

Indonesia’s Sawi tribe is one example of how BTAKs are helping accelerate Bible translation. The tribe, which is only reachable by plane or boat, received a BTAK from Wycliffe Associates and is almost finished translating the Old Testament in their language.

“This was once a tribe of cannibals. Generations grew up learning only to kill or be killed in tribal warfare. Today, God’s Word is transforming their hearts,” says Neu. “Without a BTAK, they might still be years away from experiencing God’s Word in its fullness.”

Wycliffe Associates has installed 549 BTAKs in 48 countries for 793 language communities.

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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