By Gerhard Marx
Chairperson of the Board, Wycliffe South Africa

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
- Isaiah 60:1–4

At the Wycliffe Global Alliance Africa Area Gathering in Yaoundé, Cameroon (15–19 June 2026), leaders and partners from across the continent witnessed firsthand how God is bringing forth the good things He has promised for Africa. Centred on “Collaboration for transformation”, the gathering reflected deep humility and profound reverence for God’s greatness.

As carriers of Light and witnesses to Hope, we saw how Bible translation directly fulfils the prophetic call of Isaiah 60:1–4. When we look at the Hebrew text of Isaiah 60:1, “Arise! Shine! For your light has come,” we discover that shining is not a precondition to receive God’s light; rather, it is our natural response to the light that has already risen upon us.

During my presentation on behalf of the Whole Word Institute, as a Wycliffe partner, I highlighted how bridging the Old Testament gap, where nearly 90% of the world's languages still lack the full Hebrew Scriptures, empowers mother-tongue translators of Wycliffe organisations to engage directly with the source language. By training indigenous translators in immersive Biblical Hebrew, local leaders are equipping their own communities to move from passivity to vocation, capturing the relational heart of God's Word.

Throughout the continent, long-awaited prayers are being answered. Emphasising shared vision over transactional partnerships, a sentiment echoed by Alliance Interim Executive Director Agnes Lid, the gathering highlighted a significant shift toward local church ownership and self-sustainability. It is, indeed, a time to celebrate!

Praise God for:

• Local Leadership: A growing pool of indigenous translation consultants taking the lead on African soil.
• Stronger Ministries: Healthier governance and leadership within local agencies.
• Cultural Preservation: Transforming and preserving languages and cultures through the full narrative of Scripture.
• Innovation: The steady expansion of multimodal and oral Bible translation frameworks.
• Generosity: Local African believers and organisations generously funded 70% of this gathering’s costs.

Pray for:

• Renewed Energy: That attending leaders return home encouraged, carrying fresh ideas into their local contexts.
• Stronger Collaboration: That newly formed relationships blossom into deep, long-lasting collaborations.
• Overcoming Obstacles: That spiritual and logistical barriers are levelled as we continue bringing God’s transforming Word to His people.

The challenge for every African believer today is clear: “How will we respond to the Lord's call in our generation?” Thank you for standing alongside Wycliffe South Africa as our continent arises and celebrates!