LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
I am at the beautiful Betty's Bay as I write this, where we spent many holidays growing up. I am at my aunt's house overlooking Bass Lake, tucked between the sea and towering Kogelberg at our backs.
On a recent Saturday I joined 200 runners in a parkrun at the Harold Porter botanical gardens. How many times we have traipsed up these paths to view the red disas that grow on the sides of the waterfall. We will soon walk up Leopard's Kloof to pass on a childhood memory to our children.
I showed my daughter the "secret" path to the beach cutting between the dunes and fynbos, expecting a baboon or mongoose to jump out at the next bushy bend. It was a rite of passage for the next generation to join the outdoor adventure.
These are the ancient paths that generations have trundled, finding their way to the beaches and coves, waterfalls and walks that give undying pleasure to so many who dare to venture.
In this season, we celebrate an ancient festival called Pesach or Passover. It is along these well-trodden paths that we must journey to find the undying love of an eternal Father. The roads from the present will meet the ancient paths of the redeemed slaves of Egypt at the peak of Zion and the pinnacle of history, the literal crossroads of time and space.
This is where the Word becomes flesh and where the Promise becomes Immanuel in our hearts. It is where we come to die in order to live because "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (GALATIANS 2:19-20)
But to honour, love and worship the Lamb of God, is to show these ancient paths to our children and the first generations of those who have never heard the Gospel, told in a way that they can understand.
We sing of the "Old old story" and the "Old rugged cross" with new tunes and refashioned words. We remember the Messiah washing feet before His were nailed to the cross. We wonder at how He sweated blood before His blood was poured out as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. It is real because He is real; it is relevant because He lives.
May this be a season of remembrance and new life as the ancient paths are walked upon once again. Take someone with you on your journey and let them taste and see that the Lord is good.
Thank you for making it possible for more nations to find the ancient paths and to know the love of the Father.
Alan Webster
RUN FOR THE BIBLELESS 2025 - SOUTH AFRICA
Posing for a photo at the R4TB photobooth
A Joyous Celebration
We are overjoyed to reflect on the success of this year’s Run for the Bibleless 2025, held at the vibrant Bunny Park in Benoni as well as running elsewhere in Pretoria. What an incredible day it was, blessed by God with perfect weather and an atmosphere filled with joy and purpose!
A huge thank you to all the participants who dedicated their time to support the essential work of Bible translation. Your involvement is making a profound impact, bringing the transformative message of God’s Word to countless communities across Africa.
This year, we had the privilege of witnessing an exhilarating turnout of over 400 runners! The energy was electric, especially with the introduction of our relay race, where nine teams of four raced with Bibles in different languages as their baton. Additionally, the kids' race was a heartwarming highlight, with our youngest participants beaming with excitement as they took part in their short run. Their joy and enthusiasm were infectious! These engaging twists were a standout moment, and we can hardly wait to expand these exciting features in 2026—trust us, you won’t want to miss it! Participants also savored our delicious “Boeries for the Bibleless,” with the tasty boerewors rolls being a massive hit. The sense of community and fellowship was palpable as everyone took the time to connect and learn about the impactful work Wycliffe is doing.
As we envision the future, we dream of the day when this run becomes a cherished annual tradition in our community and beyond. We invite you to join us on 14 March 2026—mark your calendars! Start inviting your friends early and be a part of this meaningful event that combines fun, fellowship, and the noble cause of ensuring that every person has access to God’s Word in their heart language. Don’t miss out next year; be a part of something truly special!
Statistics
|
388 |
27 |
36 |
32 |
|
76 |
57 |
R110,000 |
|
Feedback
“The event was EXTREMELY fun!”
“Great people, great program and great testimonies shared. Thank you for getting this program on the go and for raising awareness for the Bibleless.”
“An amazing time out with family and friends for such a great cause!”
Relive the Excitement!
We have captured some amazing moments from the event, and we would love for you to relive the experience. Click the button below to view photos from the Run.
RUN FOR THE BIBLELESS 2025 - KENYA
Runners at the BTL Run for the Bibleless in Nakuru
The 2025 edition of the Run for the Bibleless event, organised by Bible Translation and Literacy (E.A.), was a tremendous success. Held on Saturday, March 15, the event attracted thousands of enthusiastic participants across three major regions: Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret. In Nairobi alone, over 15,000 people attended, while Nakuru and Eldoret saw more than 5,000 and 4,000 participants, respectively. We are grateful for this remarkable turnout, which demonstrated increasing support for Bible translation, literacy, and language development among communities lacking access to the Bible in their native languages. The event brought together individuals, churches, and organizations, all sharing a common goal: to ensure that every community can access God’s Word in their heart language.
This noble cause extended beyond just the physical run; it served as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the millions of people who still do not have the Bible in their preferred languages—a crucial mission of Bible translation and literacy work. We emphasize the importance of language development in empowering communities, preserving cultures, and allowing people to encounter God’s truth in their native tongues.
As we prepare to unveil the New Testaments to the Upper Pokomo and Waata language speakers in the next two months, we reflect on God's faithfulness and celebrate the progress we have made. Looking ahead with faith, we believe that through our collective efforts, we will see the vision of Bible translation for all fulfilled in our generation.
1986
In 1986, the leadership of WSA was handed over to Harry and Elsbeth Brasem, who continued the work of their predecessors. Wycliffe SA’s contribution to the worldwide need for Bible translation began to grow.
1986
1991
Global Changes
All Wycliffe divisions became independent. Wycliffe SA becomes a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa, and is no longer a division of Wycliffe USA.
The first Board is established with Derek Fivaz as Chairman—a role he will continue to fill until the end of 2015. Denis Douglas is another founding member of the Board. An office facility is set up next to the home of the Brasems in Kempton Park.
1994
International Travel Made Possible
In 1994, the borders opened, and South Africans were free to go abroad with SA passports.
During the 90’s huge shifts were taking place across the globe that would soon impact Wycliffe South Africa…
1994
YOUR SUPPORT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Wycliffe SA is currently serving in 26 language communities in southern Africa. Please visit this page to read details of each community and join in praying for the translation work.
This emergency relief campaign is to raise funds for communities badly affected by recent cyclones. Mozambique is home to many of our translation communities, and they have suffered devastating damage to infrastructure, crops and people have lost their lives. Our target is to raise R250,000 (US$14,000) to bring immediate practical help to feed, clothe and rebuild lives through our network of Bible Translation teams and local churches. Wycliffe South Africa has made the initial contribution and we are calling for our partners and supporters to join us in impacting lives.
As we approach this Easter season, we are reminded of the profound sacrifice that Jesus made for us—a gift of love, hope, and eternal life. Just as He gave everything for us, we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who, like us, seek the hope that only comes from God’s Word.
At Wycliffe South Africa, we are passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to the Bible in their own language. This Easter, we invite you to join us in extending hope to communities who are still waiting to hear God’s message in a way they can understand deeply.
This year, WSA seeks to invest R1M to bring the Word of God to these 3 communities. We believe, with your help we can do it.
Camucuio
“The Word of God has brought many benefits in my life. I no longer wake up with fear because of bad dreams. God has given me peace.” These are the words of Kukuye Muanduhuviliya, an artist and translator for the Camucuio Cluster. Joao Bartolomeu, who reported on this translation, confirmed that this translator’s family had noticed the difference at home, and the village were surprised at the difference that the Word of God had made in Muandhuviliya’s life. It has become a routine in the artist’s house to tell Bible stories and pray before bed.
Himba
When Mukaa Mbengera Tjivaro received an MP3 player loaded with Bible passages in Himba, she listened to it day and night, driven by a deep thirst she didn’t understand. One day, she approached a visiting pastor to talk about it. He told her about Jesus and she immediately gave her life to Christ. “Since then,” she said, “I have joy in my heart that has never departed from me. I feel that I am one of the luckiest people to have this tool, because it has changed my life.”
eSaka
Among many people that praise God for the eSaka Translation Program, is Adelino Warocha. He is a resident of Memba district in Nampula province, which is 300km from where Alua is located, but shares the same eSaka language. He came all the way, searching for the audio Bible. In his testimony he said: “I am amazed how we understand the Word of God which is translated into our mother tongue. [It] is clear and easy to understand. Before I always thought that the Bible is difficult to read and to understand. But since I heard this audio Bible radio I have come all the way to purchase one.’’
KIDS WHO CARE
Hi Kids,
Were you at Run for the Bibleless last month? Lots of grown-ups and children got together and ran races to support the work of Bible translation. There was even a special kids race. The winners got prizes, and all the children got medals. The youngest child at the race was a baby less than one year old!
There was also a tent where Aunty Ellie had organised lots of fun things to do. You could paint and make things, and there were games like a sack race.
Would you like to join next year? You can tell your parents what day it will be on so they can put it in their calendars: Saturday 14 March 2026.
We can’t wait to see you there!
