WordPath: Supporting Translation Teams with Simplicity and Purpose
By Carol van Heerden (Senior Field Coordinator)
WordPath is a practical and meaningful tool that has grown out of partnership, friendship, and a shared vision to serve Bible translation teams more effectively. Its story began at the Wycliffe Global Gathering held in South Africa, where conversations between colleagues from different countries sparked a simple but important question: how can we better support translation teams in their daily work?
From this conversation, WordPath was born.
The app was developed by Strenuus Technology, a small software company based in the Czech Republic. Their dedicated team—Tomáš, Adam, and Bronek—worked closely with the Senior Field Coordinator of Wycliffe South Africa to design and build an application that would meet real, on-the-ground needs. What makes this collaboration especially meaningful is that it was not just about technology, but about serving people and advancing the work of Bible translation.
WordPath is a web-based application designed to assist translation teams with everyday administrative tasks. It brings together several important functions into one easy-to-use platform. Teams can record attendance, track translation progress, upload documents, and share prayer requests quickly and efficiently. This helps ensure that communication flows smoothly between team members and supporting departments.
WordPath also benefits those who support translation work behind the scenes. Supervisors can easily review reports and access submitted materials. Finance teams can stay up to date with reports and receipts, while media and communications teams can receive the latest testimonies, updates, and photos. In this way, WordPath strengthens the connection between field teams and those supporting them, creating a more unified and informed community.
One of the key goals in developing WordPath was simplicity. The app was intentionally designed to be user-friendly and accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of technical experience. As the team likes to say, you do not need to be a pilot or a nuclear scientist to use it. This focus on ease of use ensures that translation teams can spend less time on administration and more time on the important work they are called to do.
Another important feature of WordPath is its language flexibility. Since many Wycliffe South Africa teams work in English and Portuguese-speaking contexts, the app allows users to switch between languages instantly. With just one click on a flag icon, users can view the platform in their preferred language, making it more inclusive and practical for diverse teams.
The name “WordPath” carries deep meaning. It reflects the journey of bringing God’s Word to people in their own languages—a journey that can be long and challenging, but ultimately leads to something beautiful and life-changing, Jesus. It also reminds us that God’s Word is a light on our path, guiding us forward, and pointing us to Jesus, who is the Way (Path).
WordPath is accessible on any device, whether a computer, smartphone, or tablet, and works across all major operating systems and modern web browsers. This flexibility ensures that teams can stay connected and productive wherever they are.
Both the Strenuus team and Wycliffe South Africa express deep gratitude for this partnership. WordPath is more than just an app—it is a gift that is already blessing translation teams and will continue to do so in the years ahead.
Message from the Strenuus team:
It is our joy and honour to accompany you on this journey. It is also our commitment and responsibility to ensure that this application benefits you and does not hinder you.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Message from Wycliffe South Africa:
We are so eternally grateful to the Strenuus team for the incredible gift they have given us in WordPath. It has blessed us and the translation teams immensely and we trust that as you use it, you and your teams will find even more blessing.
