Bible Translation Safe Haven Center

The Setting

There are regions around the world where our brothers and sisters in Christ face persecution and danger. Multitudes of people are desperately hungry for the truth, but to translate and distribute the Scriptures is to risk persecution, arrest, prison, or worse.

The Crisis

Believers in these regions are resolutely determined to carry on the work of Church Owned Bible Translation for the sake of sharing the gospel with their families, friends, and neighbors. These courageous national translators simply cannot work safely in their own communities any longer.

The Need

Under intense scrutiny, national Bible translators and entire Christian communities are suffering persecution, and they risk the same fate as those who have already been taken by the authorities. They need to escape to a safe haven.

The Opportunity

We have established safe places of refuge for national Bible translators. They will not only be able to work (and more effectively than ever in continuous collaboration) but also rest, receive training, and, perhaps most important of all, worship together in peace. If other national Bible translators are driven out of their communities, they can escape here, recharge their batteries, and continue the work the Lord has called them to do.

The Cost

Recently  a small building was found by a local pastor to be used as safe house. Your generosity will mean secure shelter, food and water, bunks, utilities, computers with Bible translation software, and a satellite connection to sidestep surveillance by hostile authorities. Necessary equipment and supplies will enable translators to immediately print the Scriptures as well as evangelism and discipleship materials for their language communities.

The Results

Zainab* startled awake to the sound of strange, loud voices. It was the middle of the night, and Muslim extremists who had been targeting and killing Christians had found her home—had found her.  As she pleaded for God’s help, she quietly slipped out the nearest door into the cover of darkness. Seeing nothing between her and the edge of the forest, Zainab ran toward it with everything she had.

By the grace of God, Zainab found safety that night among the trees. Though she’d been caught off guard by the brazen attempt on her life, she wasn’t really surprised. After all, she’s been a target ever since she first encountered Jesus and rejected her Muslim faith. From that day forward, she has faced ridicule and persecution from her community and her family. Even her husband, the man she loved with all her heart, turned against her and divorced her.

Thankfully, through the support of partners like you, Zainab found refuge at our Safe Haven Translation Center, a secure place where believers from numerous volatile countries gather for Bible translation training. With your help, Zainab and other national Bible translators at the center can focus on the mission of making God’s Word accessible to marginalized and forgotten communities in Africa. As a result, countless lives are being eternally transformed.

Truly Zainab’s story is a testament to the power of the Gospel and the sacrifices she and her translation team endure so that their Nya* community will one day have the entire Bible translated into their heart language. Thank you for your continued support and for standing with Zainab so that her people can soon read about the one true God in their heart language!

*Names have been changed for security purposes.

       Involved January 2024 article page 6

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