As amazing as it may seem in our high tech, far-reaching, civilized world, 200,000,000 people do not have the Bible available to them in their own language. How many English translations are there? King James, New King James, Revised Standard, New International, Living Bible, The Message, American Standard . . . if you went on to count them all, they would number at least 200; yet a very small percentage of the world's population actually speaks English. There are still over 2,200 languages into which the scriptures have not been translated.

Even with all our technology, there are people groups on this planet that do not even have a written language. That's right! Imagine then, what it takes to win these people to Christ. Of course we can send people to preach, and perhaps several translators could get the message across, but how can we be so arrogant to think that these people groups should accept our God just because we say so? Why should they believe God is God if He doesn't speak  their language? But He does speak their language, and He does love these people and He died for them, just as He did for you and me.

There are people today who have dedicated their lives to move into these areas to reach out to these groups in Jesus' Name. Think of what that means: When a group has no written language, missionaries must first learn the language, then develop an appropriate alphabet and write the language down. Then they must teach the people to read and write their own language before it would even benefit them to have the scriptures in their language. Then they can begin translating, which is no small task. That is no short-term commitment, but there are those who, at this moment, are working around the clock toward the goal of having a translation in every language on the planet at least begun by 2025. This is the strategy of Wycliffe Bible Translators and their partners.

For the past five years, I have visited Wycliffe's beautiful headquarters in Orlando, FL, maintained mostly by volunteers, and every year I am more touched and amazed at the magnitude of this awesome task. Information about Wycliffe Bible Translators and WordSpring Discovery Center (Orlando) is available online. Please pray for these dedicated missionaries. If you go to Orlando, pay them a visit--You'll be glad you did. It changed my whole concept of World Missions!

 

 

Heavenly Father, please pour out Your blessings and anointings on the people of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Draw them into Your strategies and plans for reaching all the people groups on this earth that You created with Your Holy Word. Lord, please bless all those who have given their time and talents into Your service. Meet their needs; give them courage and strength and the specific talents and abilities they need for the work You have placed in their hearts. Protect them in dangerous places. And for those who are not called to go into the field as missionaries, help us to make their work a matter of prayer and giving. Help those of us who are so blessed to be willing to reach out to others, so Your Word may go everywhere! Amen