Wolrd Religion

http://www.wycliffeassociates.org/ministries/project.asp?id=48

More than three million people live in a rugged, remote part of Tanzania, East Africa. They have never seen the Word of God in their own language. But these three million people don't represent a single language group . . . they represent 10 language groups.

When Christians in the region begged Bible translators for the Word of God in their own languages, the task seemed impossible. Translation into just one language would take at least 10 years.

Then the language experts made a remarkable discovery. In some parts of the world—including this part of Tanzania—various distinct languages have enough common characteristics that it is possible to translate multiple languages simultaneously: in translation teams made up of missionaries and nationals, not by way of individual translator/scholars.

And, the translation of all 10 languages may be accomplished quickly—due to the recent discovery that these languages belong to the Bantu family of languages.

http://www.wycliffeassociates.org/news/pressdetail.asp?id=588

Wycliffe Associates Providing Remote Collaboration Tools for Bible Translators in Areas that Lack Reliable Electricity or Internet Access

(Orlando, Florida, USA)—Wycliffe Associates, a global organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation around the world, is working proactively to help national Bible translators in remote and dangerous locations by providing them with state-of-the-art equipment that allows real-time collaboration with translation consultants. Translators who live and work in areas without reliable electricity or even Internet access are able to communicate via satellite connection with translation consultants hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

The combination of equipment, called Bible Translation Acceleration Kits, or BTAKs, includes a small, portable netbook computer, satellite communication terminal, solar panel, battery, and power supply. So far, teams from Wycliffe Associates have distributed nearly 200 BTAKs and provided training for their use in countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania. The organization hopes to distribute at least 250 more kits in the near future.

“Not only does this high-tech tool make it safer for translators to carry on God’s work,” said Wycliffe Associates president and CEO Bruce Smith, “but it speeds up translation efforts by years.”

Wycliffe Associates estimates that the use of a BTAK for a Bible translation project can reduce a project’s completion date by as many as three years.

In Africa, there are currently 87 Bible translation teams using the kits. Kenyan-born Terri Collins, who helped install some of the kits, says that Bible translation is the only hope to spread the love and compassion of Christ for the men, women, and children in Kenya, who have been driven from their homes during violent clashes and raids in recent years.

“When we took Bible Translation Acceleration Kits to Kenya, [the translators] were so excited to continue the work of Bible translation,” Collins said. “When God’s Word is in their own language, the light comes on.”  A complete kit costs $3,967. Generous friends of Wycliffe Associates have put together matching challenge fund that will double every dollar given toward the kits, up to $50,000.

About Wycliffe Associates

Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in the language of their heart, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart. The organization partners with nationals, mother tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts, as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God’s Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.

Last year, the organization mobilized 3,145 volunteers and staff members to accelerate Bible translation in 71 countries. Additional information is available at the organization’s website at www.wycliffeassociates.org or by calling 1-800-THE WORD (1-800-843-9673).

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http://www.wycliffeassociates.org/prayer/prayerdetail.asp?id=3997

1/22/2014: In Midst of Civil Strife Tembo New Testament Nearing Completion

Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Tembo translation team members are displaced from their homeland because of militia activity. They are living in the city of Goma which itself came under bombardment in late August. In spite of this they continue to meet together to pray and work because they know that the Scriptures are eagerly awaited by the Tembo people. Please pray that the team's material and financial needs will be met – the three translators are currently sharing one computer which needs a constant power supply, significantly slowing their work. Pray that their goal of completing the New Testament in 2016 may be fulfilled.

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http://www.wycliffeassociates.org/news/articledetail.asp?id=582

An Ocean of Trees

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a high strategic priority for Bible translation in Africa, with around 3.5 million people without Scripture—speaking 91 different languages.

In recent years we’ve been steadily increasing our support for Bible translation there, partnering with local Christians committed to getting God’s Word to their people. Today we have the opportunity to share in launching translations in several of these languages, and you may be the key!

We are recruiting for a Language Program Manager to coordinate the teamwork and budgets for these new translation teams. We also need an IT Specialist to manage the communications network, linking remote teams to their main office.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an Ocean of Trees – that is what impressed me the first time I visited. I had just flown a small airplane across the Atlantic, so I had a fresh impression of the ocean’s vastness.

Then I had flown across the Western Sahara desert. From horizon to horizon, an ocean of sand. As I flew into Central Africa, the contrast of emerald green trees was breathtaking. It truly is a jungle out there!

Both of these positions are located in Gemena, DRC. This is the provincial center in the northwestern region, a city of around 138,000 people. The international team there uses French as their working language; so get ready to learn conversational French!

No language experience is required for the Language Program Manager position, but we are looking for someone with solid management experience. Naturally the IT Specialist needs to have network, hardware, and software support skills.