TO EVERY TONGUE AND NATION
In recent months I have read several fascinating books about Wycliffe Bible Translators, a group translating the Bible into languages all over the world. These people are trained to be able to speak unwritten languages. They then invent a suitable alphabet so they can produce Bibles for the people to read.
How much do we care about the neglected tribes in remote parts of the world who have never heard about Jesus’ coming to earth? In Rev. 5:9 and 7:9 we are told that in heaven some from every tribe, nation, and ethnic group will be gathered around God’s throne to give him glory and praise.
How will people hear about Jesus if they speak an unwritten language in some remote area where no missionaries work? What can you and I do to help in this great endeavor?
As a young man in 1927, William Cameron Townsend walked across Guatemala selling Bibles and giving away some in remote villages where there were no churches. He knew the Word of God could change lives even though missionaries had not reached those areas.
But the downtrodden Indians in the jungles and even those who worked on the large plantations could not read or speak Spanish. They could not understand the Gospel message when it was given in Spanish, and no one was trying to learn their language.
Cameron had no special linguistic training, but in obedience to God he learned the language of the Cakchiquel people and began to win them to Jesus. Then his burden grew that all the Indian tribes should have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in their own heart language.
There were hundreds of unwritten Indian languages in Central America. He knew that one person could never reach them all. Eventually Cameron was led to establish a group that would concentrate on reaching these neglected people.
The timing was of God, for soon many young people joined him in Bible translation, settling in various Indian tribes in Mexico and Guatemala and eventually in Peru and other countries.
God led an outstanding linguist, Ken Pike, to get involved. Other men like Gene Nida helped teach linguistics at Camp Wycliffe near Siloam Springs, Arkansas, during the summers.
The Summer Institute of Linguistics was formed to train young people to know the best methods of learning an unwritten language. The summer meetings were eventually moved to the University of Oklahoma at Norman for many years.
By 1941 SIL personnel were at work in 25 language groups, and soon there were 44 members serving the Lord in this way.
Many godly individuals and churches supported the workers who joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. They concentrated on linguistic endeavors, cooperating with various denominational missions as churches were formed, but also working in cooperation with government authorities who desired to see schools established among the Indians.
Cameron felt that Hudson Taylor was his mentor, and many of the principles and practices of WBT are similar to those of OMF (formerly the China Inland Mission).
The Summer Institute of Linguistics at the University of North Dakota still trains young people who feel called to the work of Bible translation, literacy or language survey. Many attend the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) in Dallas, TX where those going into translation study a Biblical language and where a number earn an MA in linguistics and some earn a PHD in linguistics.
Since the work of WBT began in 1935, over 2,400 languages have at least a portion of Scripture in their language.
Over 6,453 members of SIL are now working in Bible translation in various countries of the world. About 1,953 translation programs are currently in progress for languages without adequate Scripture. There are 48 member organizations and 29 recognized partner organizations.
However, there remain 193 million people in our world who speak the 2,251 languages where translation projects have not yet begun. Let’s ask God to raise up more men and women of vision to take the Gospel to unreached people groups! Put this need on your prayer lists and in 2008 pray for those who are engaged in this important task.
Also, encourage young people to consider linguistics and Bible translation as a career that would glorify God and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
One of the most interesting books I have read about Bible translation work is Slices of Life, Stories and Devotions from a Bible Translator, by Aretta Loving.
I also recommend the book by Bruce Grayden, Coffee on the Terrace, about translation work in the Kalinga tribe in the northern Philippines.
I ordered the latter book through Amazon.com for a very reasonable price. Several other books are available online, one of which is It Takes Two to Untangle Tongues, by Ethel Emily Wallis.
In recent months I have read several fascinating books about Wycliffe Bible Translators, a group translating the Bible into languages all over the world. These people are trained to be able to speak unwritten languages. They then invent a suitable alphabet so they can produce Bibles for the people to read.
How much do we care about the neglected tribes in remote parts of the world who have never heard about Jesus’ coming to earth? In Rev. 5:9 and 7:9 we are told that in heaven some from every tribe, nation, and ethnic group will be gathered around God’s throne to give him glory and praise.
How will people hear about Jesus if they speak an unwritten language in some remote area where no missionaries work? What can you and I do to help in this great endeavor?
As a young man in 1927, William Cameron Townsend walked across Guatemala selling Bibles and giving away some in remote villages where there were no churches. He knew the Word of God could change lives even though missionaries had not reached those areas.
But the downtrodden Indians in the jungles and even those who worked on the large plantations could not read or speak Spanish. They could not understand the Gospel message when it was given in Spanish, and no one was trying to learn their language.
Cameron had no special linguistic training, but in obedience to God he learned the language of the Cakchiquel people and began to win them to Jesus. Then his burden grew that all the Indian tribes should have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in their own heart language.
There were hundreds of unwritten Indian languages in Central America. He knew that one person could never reach them all. Eventually Cameron was led to establish a group that would concentrate on reaching these neglected people.
The timing was of God, for soon many young people joined him in Bible translation, settling in various Indian tribes in Mexico and Guatemala and eventually in Peru and other countries.
God led an outstanding linguist, Ken Pike, to get involved. Other men like Gene Nida helped teach linguistics at Camp Wycliffe near Siloam Springs, Arkansas, during the summers.
The Summer Institute of Linguistics was formed to train young people to know the best methods of learning an unwritten language. The summer meetings were eventually moved to the University of Oklahoma at Norman for many years.
By 1941 SIL personnel were at work in 25 language groups, and soon there were 44 members serving the Lord in this way.
Many godly individuals and churches supported the workers who joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. They concentrated on linguistic endeavors, cooperating with various denominational missions as churches were formed, but also working in cooperation with government authorities who desired to see schools established among the Indians.
Cameron felt that Hudson Taylor was his mentor, and many of the principles and practices of WBT are similar to those of OMF (formerly the China Inland Mission).
The Summer Institute of Linguistics at the University of North Dakota still trains young people who feel called to the work of Bible translation, literacy or language survey. Many attend the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) in Dallas, TX where those going into translation study a Biblical language and where a number earn an MA in linguistics and some earn a PHD in linguistics.
Since the work of WBT began in 1935, over 2,400 languages have at least a portion of Scripture in their language.
Over 6,453 members of SIL are now working in Bible translation in various countries of the world. About 1,953 translation programs are currently in progress for languages without adequate Scripture. There are 48 member organizations and 29 recognized partner organizations.
However, there remain 193 million people in our world who speak the 2,251 languages where translation projects have not yet begun. Let’s ask God to raise up more men and women of vision to take the Gospel to unreached people groups! Put this need on your prayer lists and in 2008 pray for those who are engaged in this important task.
Also, encourage young people to consider linguistics and Bible translation as a career that would glorify God and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
One of the most interesting books I have read about Bible translation work is Slices of Life, Stories and Devotions from a Bible Translator, by Aretta Loving.
I also recommend the book by Bruce Grayden, Coffee on the Terrace, about translation work in the Kalinga tribe in the northern Philippines.
I ordered the latter book through Amazon.com for a very reasonable price. Several other books are available online, one of which is It Takes Two to Untangle Tongues, by Ethel Emily Wallis.
posted by Rosemary @ 1:44 PM
