News Archive
Transform 2007 summer teams back in the UK
Find out what the teams to Burkina Faso and Cameroon got up to, see some photos and read some of their thoughts on their time in West Africa. Burkina Faso Cameroon
The Lord God is like a sheep gatherer for me..
Psalm 23 in the Tampulma language of Ghana translated back into English... more
What's your favourite Bible verse?
At any point in time, we perhaps have a Bible verse that is especially meaningful. People around the world have shared their 'favourite verse' of the Bible at this point in time along with the reason why that verse is special to them... more
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... more
Untying the knots
...One of the dramas in the New Testament dedication had a package hanging high up out of reach and the people brought it down and tried to open it, but had difficulty with the knots... more
In less than four months, the entire first draft was done!
... A software engineer Bruce Waters woke up one morning in November 1999 with an idea that seemed like a half-dream, but as he gradually became alert, he realized that God had given him a significant key to accelerating the task of Bible translation. more
A catalyst for change
...Over the course of the next two decades, a spiritual transformation took place among the 'T' people, with the work of... more
27% of churchgoers in England read Bible at least once a week outside of church services.
"Pulling out of the Nose Dive" by Peter Brierley details the results of the 2005 UK church census.
Here are some stats about Bible reading in England: 27% of churchgoers in England in 2005 claimed to read the Bible personally at least once a week, outside of church services. How does that work out according to churchmanship? more
Expect explosive growth in faith movements to Christ
Quotes from Christian leaders about Bible translation into the heart language. Dr Ralph Winter, Founder - US Center for World Missions says "...the Bible itself is now clearly ‘out of control’ in many parts of the world. Wycliffe are right: once people get the Bible into their own language, you can readily expect...more
It’s Official! Short-term teams make a difference!
"You have left behind two very solid contributions to the work." Jon Blackwell, literacy facilitator for the Ndop Language Cluster in NW Cameroon, hosted a Transform team in August this year. Afterwards he wrote to the team members about the impact of their stay in his village in August 2006....more
£500 million needed to fund Vision 2025
As a result of God's enabling, faithfulness to the task, and many partner organizations, the pace of Bible translation is accelerating as it never has before. But as the work expands, so does the list of needed resources -- prayer, people and funds. It is estimated that it will need £500 million to start the remaining 2,529 languages (not finish them)....more
Wanted!
You! 3000 assignments around the world - half language related, half support related. 90% can be done by people with no previous experience in Wycliffe. 311 teachers, 298 managers, 244 IT staff, 208....more
When will translation finish?
"If we look beyond Vision 2025," John Watters Executive Director of Wycliffe International speculated, "that if, by God’s grace, work were started by 2025 for every language needing a translation, initial translation work would continue until... more
More than 110 years cut from the task!
"At the current rate, Bible translation will be in progress in every language group that needs it by 2038. Greater acceleration is needed to reach the goal of Vision 2025, but we rejoice in the progress being made. In the six years since adopting Vision 2025, more than 110 years have been cut from the task!...more
Bible translation and the DNA of the Church
"The translation and enculturation of Scripture into every
language where there is a response to the Gospel is a fundamental prerequisite for the endurance of Christianity over many generations." comments Patrick Johnstone, author of Operation World... more
"A female horse stuffed with wax!"
From 'Lost in Translation', an article by Ron Nikkel for Prison Fellowship International November 2006 (www.pfi.org)
Recently I came across a marketing article about the translation difficulties faced by various companies in the expanding global economy. Among the humorous incidents recounted was the introduction of Coca-Cola into the Chinese marketplace...more
How is the English church really doing?
The 2005 English Church Census, carried out by by Peter Brierley of Christian Research, has revealed that the English church is not declining as much as it was... more
The Whole Word for the Whole World
extract from Christianity Today September 2006
Leviticus may seem like an odd Bible book to use in evangelism. But not in West Africa, where the first ten chapters were read to the Lobi—a people of subsistence farmers, animistic mask-makers, and poison-arrow warriors in Burkina Faso—in their own language.
Many in the listening crowd were struck by...more
Renowned missiologist Dr Andrew Walls to give lecture series on Bible Translation and Scripture Use in Christian History
The European Training Programme, in conjunction with Wycliffe International, is delighted to offer a series of lectures in June 2007 to be given by renowned missiologist Dr Andrew Walls, from the University of Edinburgh.
These lectures examine the distinctive place of translation in Christian history, consider some of the ways in which Scripture has been used in the Christian Church at different periods, and explore how issues relating to translation mirror those relating to incarnation...more
The one who has had a hand put on him
When a translation team were trying to translate “Christ”, they discovered that when the people group wanted to set aside someone for a position, a leader would come and point at the person, putting his hand on him....more
On and on they came, in a procession that left many onlookers in tears
Celebrations took place in PNG recently to mark 50 years of Bible translation. The day started off the day with singing and Papua New Guineans from many people groups gathered, arrayed in spectacular traditional “bilas” (decorations) of feathers, leaves, flowers, bark cloth, teeth, fur, seeds, beads, paint, and shells. Each man, woman, and child held one of the 159 New Testaments that has been completed in the last 50 years....more
"Use of old language sends the message that the gospel is not for this generation"
Professor Alister McGrath, addressing the Wycliffe USA Board meeting in Oxford, England, reminded them of John Wycliffe's passion for making the Bible available to people in a language they can understand. "He would be thrilled... more
Queen honours Bible translator
Mary Steele from Northern Ireland received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2005. It was presented to her by the Queen on May 10th at Buckingham Palace... more
Board Chair of Wycliffe International from UK
Wycliffe International announced May 5th the selection of a new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Reverend Roger Welch of England was chosen by fellow board members to serve as Chair. Mundara Muturi, General Secretary of Bible Translation and Literacy of East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya was selected as Vice-Chairman of the Board....more
A cow ate my book
Cows—important in Kenya's pastoralist groups—will play a part in bringing God's Word to them. Legend says that long ago the Samburu people had God's book, but a cow ate it....more
Providential Planning
A language survey team recently decided to cancel their research trip to a remote location in eastern Russia. Just two days after making this decision, they learned...more
Bantu Languages - Computer Adaptation
Several hundred languages in Africa are part of the Bantu language family and therefore share similarities. The Bantu Initiative is hosting a Computer Adaptation Seminar from
4 – 7 April in Kenya. Representatives from all of the partners involved will be present.....more
Worldwide Scripture-Use Conference Mar 27 - 31
"Promoting the Use of Scripture in Appropriate Languages, Media and Scripture Products" is the theme for the Worldwide Scripture-Use Conference taking place in the UK....more
Ethnomusicology Training Course Mar 27 - Apr 13
"Now we don't borrow foreign music; we make our own songs to praise God! Now we know that God wants to hear the music that is most meaningful to us." --Mamprusi pastor, Ghana....more
Avian flu literacy materials available
Ethnic minority communities are at the highest risk for Avian Flu, yet they are among the least to have access to accurate information about the disease....more
Silver Jubilee...
Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL) in Kenya will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. "We praise God for His blessings and achievements," writes Mundara Muturi, BTL director....more
New Testament dedication in Mexico...
Praise God for the recent Veracruz Huasteco New Testament dedication in Mexico....more
New edition Words for Life magazine; Faith comes by hearing ...
Four billion people around the world find it difficult to learn or communicate through reading and writing. Instead they do so as they have for generations — by word of mouth... more
Sixty 'seekers'
A total of nearly 60 enquirers gathered in Korea and another Asian country to discover more about Bible translation... more
PhD programme starts in Nairobi
Tuesday, January 3rd marked the long-awaited opening of the PhD programme in Bible translation at NEGST, Nairobi, Kenya... more
Papua New Guinea honours translation workers
Director of PNG branch honoured in PNG New Year's Honours List. Brian and Val Hodgkin from Nottingham, UK were appointed "Honorary Members of the Order of Logohu"... more
Great news about church growth in the UK
More new churches are starting in the UK than Starbucks stores, new research shows... more
Language tech building into Linux operating system
Ubuntu (Linux) will become the first computer operating system to incorporate SIL's language technologies in their base system... more
Beauty beyond words (DVD)
Today, there are more than 100 known sign languages in the world. Wycliffe wants to reach out... more
Celebration of 25 years of work in India
More than 60 Word for All (WFA) translators, literacy
workers and survey teams in India celebrated... more
Six New Testaments being printed for just one country!
Six people groups in Papua New Guinea will soon be receiving God's Word in their language for the first time...
more
Irish teachers head overseas
In September, Charis went to Mali and Victoria went to the Philippines. In January Nicky goes to Tanzania... more
Give while you shop online
You can shop at your usual online retailers, spend no more than usual, and still give to Wycliffe... more
Great news you might have missed!
Some of the most encouraging facts you'll hear anywhere about the growth of the church worldwide... more
Queen honours Bible translator
Mary Steele from Northern Ireland received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2005... more
1000 Koreans attend London missions conference
The second annual Korean London Missions Conference focused on challenging university students... more
One gift helps 47 field projects
One donor in the UK has helped advance 47 field projects spread around the world... more
London church gives above and beyond
Instead of raising the £2000 they expected, Christ Church, Cockfosters, raised £3405 by... more
New translation training begins in Nigeria
Partnership with the Theological College of Northern Nigeria results in new translation programme... more
