50 Years of Bible Translation (2005-2015)
2005-2015: Shifting to Local and Oral
A man listening to an audio device
2007
After graduating in missiological studies, Stephen Coertze becomes Missiological Consultant with Wycliffe International, later to serve on the Global Leadership Team.
2007
By now 80% of worldwide Bible translation projects are initiated and managed by local and/or national organisations!
The focus of Western missionaries, earlier the initiative-takers in Bible translation, shifts to
capacity building to strengthen local ownership and quality control in the Bible translation process.
2009
A Focus on Oral Bible Translation
There is an increase in awareness that up to 80% of the world prefer or are limited to oral communication.
SIL and Wycliffe Africa Area support and endorse the concept of the Southern Africa Initiative as a Wycliffe responsibility, with a focus on addressing the issue of orality in Bible translation.
Read more here: wycliffe.org.za/what-we-do/oral-bible-translation
2009
2010
New Leadership
Karen Floor is appointed as the new Director of Wycliffe SA.
Sebastian Floor is also appointed to direct the discovery process of serving regional partners in their felt need for Bible translation.
Both report directly to the Wycliffe SA Board.
"Come Over and Help Us"
Wycliffe SA continues sending and supporting South Africans to work in translation-related roles overseas.
In the spirit of serving the Bible Translation movement, and in response to the call from Bible-less peoples in the region, Wycliffe SA starts to provide administrative support to new local and regional Bible translation partners.
Regional Translation Services is formed, under the umbrella of the Board of Wycliffe SA, with a mandate to pursue regional Bible translation partnerships.
2011
Wycliffe SA hears about the Kwandu translation in Angola. At the same time, a Wycliffe worker noticed another language in Angola, called Mukubal, mentioned by YWAM, saying that they hope one day Wycliffe will come and help them to write their language and translate the Bible.
Along with Seed Company, Wycliffe SA responds to the call and soon partners with local organisations to begin the Camucuio cluster translation.
2012
Wycliffe SA holds the first of what has become an annual retreat, called Connect. The purpose is to connect the wider ‘Wycliffe family’ in South Africa, working together towards the common goal of fulfilling Vision 2025.
2012
2013
Scaling the Mountain!
From the Wycliffe SA office in Edenvale, initiatives are explored to raise support for Bible translation. With so few people and a lack of funds, the task seems insurmountable, like a huge mountain...
With the support and encouragement of Wycliffe Australia, Wycliffe SA launches Africa Alive, a strategic vision to bring all sectors of God's people in South Africa into partnership, thus uniting African hearts, alive to the purpose of God to bless all nations to the ends of the earth.
For Karen Floor, a private sense of God’s leading to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as a personal statement of faith becomes an official Prayer Climb involving over a thousand prayer partners interceding for the people of southern Africa and beyond who have never had God’s Word in their own language.
‘The mountains melt like wax before the LORD.’
(Psalm 97:5)
Read more here: wycliffe.org.za/stories-and-news/event-stories/83-mount-kilimanjaro-prayer-climb-2013
Cycle Challenge
Bernie Easton feels a call to bring together the first ever Wycliffe Cycle Team to enter the 947 Cycle Challenge in support of Bible translation.
This becomes a celebrated annual event to raise awareness and funds for pipeline Bible translations.
Read more here: wycliffe.org.za/stories-and-news/event-stories/84-947-cycle-challenge-2013
2014
Bible Man
Grant Easton creates Bible Man, who will cycle with the Wycliffe Cycle Team and become an ambassador for Bible translation in years to come.
2014
2015
The name ‘Wycliffe Regional Translation Services’ is retired, with its function as Field Operations now fully integrated with Wycliffe SA’s overall operations.
Wycliffe SA also enters into a three year partnership with the Seed Company to promote local capacity for starting the remainder of the work in southern Africa within the next decade.
40 Year Celebration
Wycliffe SA celebrates 40 years of service. Over four decades God has faithfully provided for South Africans to participate in the ministry of Bible Translation.
Derek Fivaz, having served as Board Chairman for 25 years, gave his farewell message, sharing many stories about the amazing ways God has blessed the organisation over the years.
Himba
The first project that Wycliffe SA solely manages gets started. Picture a workshop in the desert terrain of Namibia. Word spreads in ways known only to the nomadic Himba people that translation training is about to begin.
The first training workshop is held in November in Opuwo, northern Namibia, where translation is still happening today.
Read more here: wycliffe.org.za/stories-and-news/impact-stories/91-himba-field-immersion-16-april-2015
