Our ears had heard about the power of God’s Word but now our eyes have seen tangible proof
Monday19th February, 2007. For us, the team responsible for translating the New Testament into Oninay, this date will remain engraved on our memories. Outside it may be that nobody will ever speak about this date, but for us it is a Great Day. This date is a great one because we have been able to complete the first gospel, the Gospel of Mark, in Oninay.
Our ears had heard about the power of God’s Word but now our eyes have seen tangible proof. This visible, tangible proof in our own lives. Because we have translated the gospel of Mark we have a clearer understanding of what we have always accepted by faith. We know in our souls a peace and a sense of wellbeing. Our prayer lives have changed a lot. Our thirst for God’s Word has grown so much that we have already done the first draft of the gospel of Luke in less than a month. After translating Luke’s gospel, I am personally able to pray in my mother tongue at last. Even though I had completed training to become a Pastor at Bible College and at the University faculty of theology, I could not pray in my mother tongue. Since I have begun doing so, I feel that my heart is communing with God. What I can’t say in French, I am now able to tell the Lord. Each of the team members will testify to this spiritual experience.
My colleague, Gérard, will admit that he is not very demonstrative; he is not easily moved by fine words or gestures. Yet he now recognises that he is sensitive to the need for the Word of God expressed by people around him. He began to share the good news of the Gospel with young people living in the same rented house as his own family. Once, when we were visiting new converts, the village chief expressed his heart’s desire to see his people saved by Jesus Christ. He begged us not to abandon them as the religious leaders who only visit twice each year at holy days. The village chief said that if we abandoned them they would be condemned to becoming adherents of another major religion even though they are convinced that the truth is not to be found in that religion. Gérard almost wept on hearing these words which he took to be this man’s heart felt cry. He acknowledges that, in the past, he was not as sensitive.
My colleague, Jérémie, who professed to be nominally of another faith, before joining the team, met Jesus as his Lord and personal Saviour through the Word and is born again. The changes in his life have been such that the members of his family wanted to know the reason. We planned to do a session testing our translation at their home village. Yet again we saw evidence of the power of the Word of God. His whole family was significantly touched. His brothers, sisters, mother and his father’s second wife asked to find out more about this Jesus whom they had always heard of but had never met in their hearts. We promised to do our best to respond by showing the Jesus film. Their neighbours were first invited and, subsequently, the inhabitants of a village 2 kms away were also alerted that there would be this film presentation. Huge numbers came. The film was shown and the Good News was preached. Several people gave their lives to the Lord. Now we have a service every Saturday. In other words, a new church has been born in this village though we hadn’t planned it…at least not this year. We are witnessing the powerful demonstration of the Word of God. Praise the name of the Lord!
We are grateful to God who, by His grace, has allowed us to be translators in this project to translate His wonderful Word to the great delight of our people. We would wish to make special mention of the numerous brothers and sisters in Christ who have trusted us without ever meeting us. They give their money to enable this project. May each one be truly encouraged by this report, and know that their money has not been given in vain: the Kingdom of God is advancing far into the African bush. The Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus is beginning to replace ceremonies previously dedicated to evil spirits. Several are being saved. God, who is faithful, will reward them for the great joy He has, each time a soul is snatched from eternal damnation. My deepest gratitude for everything!
Tama
