Translation Matters | Golden Harvest | August - September 2025
GOLDEN HARVEST
Table of Contents
STEPPING FORWARD IN FAITH: A STORY OF GOD’S PROVISION
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO DENMARK: REPRESENTING SEPULANA BIBLE TRANSLATION
FRUITS OF 2025: MILESTONES, BREAKTHROUGHS, AND ANSWERS TO PRAYER IN OUR WSA TEAM
OUR TRANSLATION PROGRAMMES ARE MULTIPLYING
50 YEARS OF WYCLIFFE SOUTH AFRICA: 2005 - 2015
ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS
In Loving Memory: A Tribute to Rita Cambuto
Calling all Artists and Art Lovers! Jubilee Art Exhibition
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
On a recent trip to Denmark, we travelled by bus between Copenhagen and Horsens to attend SommerOase as guests of Wycliffe Denmark. Denmark is a very flat country, and everywhere we went, golden wheat fields blanketed the countryside, nearing harvest time. The landscape brought to mind Jesus’ words in John 4:35:
“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
One Dane I met told me they’ve been praying for 35 years for a revival among the youth in Denmark—and now, they’re seeing signs of breakthrough. A group of students has started hosting “praise parties,” inviting their unsaved friends. Thousands are coming, and interest in Jesus is growing.
Earlier this year, I was away from home and preparing to run a Saturday parkrun. That morning, I was burdened by our funding shortfall for upcoming projects. I sent a message to Hennie about it—and immediately, two unexpected emails landed in my inbox. Both concerned financial provision, and one was nearly double what we had anticipated. As I drove to the parkrun venue, I stopped at a traffic light and glanced over at a sign: “Golden Harvest.” Coincidentally, the parkrun venue itself was also called Golden Harvest.
That moment felt like a divine reminder: God provides for His work. These signs came the very day provision was released - confirmation that God is making a way for Bible translation and community transformation in Southern Africa.
We’ve faced real challenges along the way - team members falling ill, and two serious bus accidents, one of which claimed a life and injured others. But, in the midst of hardship, God gives us milestones—like the Golden Harvest sign—to remind us He’s with us, and to give us courage to keep going.
We believe this is a season of golden harvest: hearts are being won by the love of Jesus, lives are being changed, and communities are being transformed by the power of God’s Word.
The harvest is ready. Let’s rise up together to be part of God’s Kingdom workforce—bringing light, hope, and truth to those still waiting.
Alan Webster
STEPPING FORWARD IN FAITH: A STORY OF GOD’S PROVISION
Connect Retreat 2024, where the team agreed to continue in faith
Wycliffe SA’s fiscal year begins on 1 October, and as FY25 approached, we were met with unsettling news: a major funding partner needed to reduce their support to all partners, and there would be no funding for new programmes to start. The ripple effect was felt across the Bible translation world, particularly challenging us in our efforts to expand Scripture Engagement and Language Development in our projects.
As a team, we gathered for a retreat to pray and reflect. Rather than cut our budgets to match the shortfall, we felt led to trust God for provision. The Board agreed in October to take this bold step of faith, and I, as Director, was tasked with reporting monthly to ensure financial responsibility.
On 1 October—the very first day of FY25—a call came into the office from a woman none of us knew. She asked how to make a donation to Wycliffe SA. It wasn’t a large amount, but it felt like a holy sign: God was with us. Inspired, we set up a “Miracle Supply” board in the kitchen to record unexpected gifts. Week by week, the board filled with notes of provision—small and large, each one an answer to prayer.
At the same time, a door opened through Wycliffe Global Partnerships, who approached us about translating Scripture for some South African language communities. In a chance airport meeting in Nairobi, as I passed through from Ghana, their representative simply said, “Alan, we will help you.”
That promise took shape on 5 December, when their leadership confirmed a partnership to help fill our funding gaps. By the time I reported to the Board on 31 December, we could celebrate moving into 2025 with renewed hope. Not only that, but we have been able to start work in another eight language communities and begin Hebrew training hubs in Mozambique and South Africa. What a mighty God we serve!
The Miracle Supply board continues to tell the story—not just of finances—but of God’s faithfulness, guidance, and grace.
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO DENMARK
Representing Sepulana Bible Translation
By Jeffrey Malibe
Jeffrey (centre stage) shares in the main tent on the Sepulana Bible translation
I had the privilege of attending the SommerOase festival in Denmark as exegete and Consultant-in-Training for the Sepulana Bible Translation programme. This week-long gathering of over 3,600 people celebrates faith, family, and community. It was an honour to share about the ongoing work of translating the New Testament into Sepulana—my heart language, spoken by more than 800,000 people, yet long marginalised.
Wycliffe Denmark extended warm hospitality, with special thanks to Director Lene Nielsen, whose care and leadership were deeply appreciated. She gave us the platform to speak in the main tent, allowing me to present our programme to thousands, advocating for prayer and funding.
The festival featured uplifting talks, including Dr. David Bennett’s message on radical inclusion. I also connected with seasoned consultants like Iver Larsen and artist Carola Haegkvist, learning much from their wisdom and experience.
We hosted two workshops and a stand, engaging many curious attendees who were eager to support the Sepulana project. I was moved by how Danish families value ministry, combining music, sports, and fundraising for meaningful causes.
I am deeply thankful to Wycliffe South Africa—especially Director Alan Webster—for his guidance, and to Wycliffe Denmark for the invitation. Special thanks also to the Sepulana team, Word of Life Church, Boyelang Ga Morena AOG, and the Bushbuckridge Municipal Manager for their support.
Looking ahead, we are exploring partnerships and inviting others to visit and support translation work. It’s exciting to see growing interest in bringing Scripture to communities in their own languages.
Left to Right: Alan Webster, Jørn Knudsen (Wycliffe Denmark Board Chair), Jeffrey Malibe, Lene Nielsen
FRUITS OF 2025
Milestones, breakthroughs, and answers to prayer in our WSA team
Prayer & Training
We are deeply thankful and give God all the glory for the many ways He is at work. One of the highlights we celebrate is the addition of Lenthia Erasmus as a dedicated intercessor, focusing solely on prayer. We are also encouraged to see more intercessors than ever before standing with us in prayer for our translation programmes.
We rejoice that some of our translation teams are now working not only in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament. This has led to a significant milestone: the launch of Hebrew training for mother-tongue translators—a first for us! We are incredibly grateful to the Whole Word Institute for presenting this course, and to our generous funders. Please continue to pray with us for the remaining funding needed.
Another reason to celebrate is the success of five of our interns who will be receiving their Masters degrees in Literacy and Bible Translation this year. These dedicated individuals are on the path to becoming translation consultants who will go on to serve and support teams in southern Africa.
Resource Mobilisation
We’ve completed 80% of our FY25 operational plan, with a strong focus on building capacity and laying the foundation for an effective resource mobilisation strategy—something that previously didn’t exist within the organisation. This is a significant milestone. We now have the necessary tools in place, including our giving guides and case for support. These foundational elements enable Wycliffe to function effectively from both a communications and resource mobilisation perspective.
We received a significant gift from City Hill Church this year, in support of the Baphuthi language project. The partnership is strong, and the church is planning a visit to the language community. Another key development is the growing awareness and engagement from multiple churches—several now contribute to Wycliffe South Africa on a regular basis. This reflects a deepening understanding of and alignment with our mission, which is incredibly encouraging.
As the Resource Mobilisation team, we continue to pray for our partners and are witnessing real breakthroughs in many churches. We celebrate and give thanks for what God is doing in and through His Church.
OUR TRANSLATION PROGRAMMES ARE MULTIPLYING
Launch of the New Testament in Meetto
Despite facing financial challenges, Wycliffe South Africa has stood in faith, trusting God to provide. Rather than scaling back or postponing new work, the Translation Services team stepped out boldly—and today, we have 23 active programmes. Only six of these remain workshop-based, while the majority are now full-time. Several have recently transitioned to full-time status, marking a significant step forward.
We continue to look ahead with expectation, as new opportunities emerge across the region:
Angola
Wycliffe SA has been invited by the Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to undertake an Oral Bible Translation and Transcription (OBT&T) programme in the Kimbundu language—the second most spoken language in Angola, with over nine million speakers. Although a written translation exists, it is not widely used. The Church believes that an oral and updated version would be more accessible and impactful.
South Africa
In the Northern Cape and southern Namibia, we’ve been asked to explore a translation project in the Oorlams language. A survey is currently underway. In the Eastern Cape, we’re also planning to advance the Bhaca programme, with initial meetings scheduled to explore next steps.
Botswana
In Botswana, we have been invited to investigate translation needs in six different languages. We are actively engaging with a local partner and working to build a strong, collaborative relationship.
Past and Present Translation Programmes
50 YEARS OF Wycliffe South Africa
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
ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS
IN LOVING MEMORY: A TRIBUTE TO RITA CAMBUTO
At 18:40 on July 16th, we received an urgent prayer request from Marcelina Neto, our field coordinator for Angola. There had been a bus accident. On the bus were two of our team members involved in translation in Angola. One was Paulo Tavares, the computer technician for the Angola teams. The other was Rita Cambuto, an exegete on the Olukuvale team, and the wife of Sebastião Cambuto, who is the programme coordinator for the team.
“The bus fell in the Leba pass. Paulo Tavares has a lot of pain in his spine and sister Rita we only have the information that she survived but we have no information on her state of health”.
At 20:02, Marcelina sent an update, saying that Rita was en route to the hospital in an ambulance. 20 minutes later, she was gone. “Unfortunately we lost Rita.” The message came from Marcelina.
Condolences poured out for her family, and those who knew and loved her, and especially for Sebastião, her husband, who had already lost a wife before.
Sebastian Floor, who knew Sebastiāo, shared:
“I am devastated with this sad news. Sebastiāo was instrumental in Wycliffe coming to Angola and he and Cami, his first wife, leading the Kuvale project in 2012. Extreme pioneering situation. Unreached people group. Then Sebastiāo lost Cami in childbirth about 5 years ago. He stayed on with the 4 children, one a baby, with his mother coming to stay with them. Then he married again with Rita, and now this loss. We have no words. May the Lord of all comfort be with him, his children and the small group of believers there.”
Rita left behind two children in addition to the four Sebastião already had, and whom she had been a mother to. Paulo Tavares made it home safely, and although he was in a lot of pain, the X-rays showed no injuries to his bones.
This tragedy is not the only incident we have heard from our field teams, who have faced many losses and challenges this year. We know that the good work of faithful servants will not go unopposed by the enemy, so we ask you to hold all our people up in prayer. Pray for protection, endurance, and God’s comfort during difficult times.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS AND ART LOVERS!
As part of our 50th birthday in 2025, Wycliffe South Africa is holding a Jubilee art exhibition. We are inviting you to be part of this! You can either attend and admire or bid on work, or you can submit artwork to be exhibited.
Attend
Opening Event: Sunday 21st September, 14:30 for 15:00
Exhibition Dates: Sunday 21st - Sat 27th September
Venue: eMseni Christian Centre, No 5, Plot 61B Road, Benoni, 1501 - https://emsenichristiancentre.co.za/
Silent Auction: Take the opportunity to bid on your favourite art pieces whilst also donating to Bible Translation in southern Africa. Each artist has selected a starting bid and what percentage of the income for each piece will go to Wycliffe South Africa. Each bid will be made silently, so you won't know what your competition is. The highest bid will win.
Submit
Submit art already created, or art you are dreaming of. We are looking for submissions that convey how beautiful and precious Africa and its people are to God. You can interpret this as creatively as you want: sweeping landscapes, ethnic portraits, conceptual abstracts, traditional cultural art, wildlife sculptures, or wherever else your imagination takes you.
KIDS WHO CARE
Hello, hello, hello! How are you!
It’s the middle of Winter here, and this morning it feels a bit cold! Winter is not my favourite season of the year. I am glad that in a few weeks’ time, a new season will start: Spring! I have some plants in my garden called clivias. I always know that Spring is coming when my clivias get big orange flowers. Those flowers are like a sign telling me the season is changing.
That makes me think of another word. Do you know what a milestone is? A milestone is a special point in the middle of something happening. It is a place to celebrate what has already happened and get excited about what’s coming next. Just like when one season changes into another season. That’s a milestone too!
I was at a 21st birthday celebration last week. The young man who turned 21 was called Kyle. Turning 21 is a real milestone! Some people think it is the point when you stop being a child and start being an adult. Lots of us went out for dinner to celebrate the 21 years of Kyle being alive. He has achieved and experienced so many things in that time. And then we also thought about what Kyle was going to do next. He has just started a new job and has moved into a new house, so there is a lot of exciting stuff happening now. It was a real milestone - a time to remember and celebrate what has happened and think about what is coming next.
I wonder if you know who the man in this picture is? His name is Alan Webster. He is the person in charge of Wycliffe in South Africa - the people who work so hard to get more people a Bible in a language that they can understand. Alan likes to take part in a run every Saturday morning. It is called the Park Run and he runs 5km. This photo is on a special milestone for Alan. This was the day he ran his 100th Park Run. I am sure he was very happy that day and really celebrated all the running that he had done. But Alan didn’t stop running at that milestone. He celebrated and then started getting excited about the runs that were going to come next. That’s a milestone: celebrating what’s happened and looking forward to the next bit.
There is a very special milestone happening this year for Wycliffe South Africa. It is their 50th birthday! They have been doing God’s work in South Africa for 50 years! That is 18,250 days of helping more people hear the Word of God. Like any milestone, this is a chance to remember and celebrate what has happened and also to look ahead to what’s coming next and get excited.
Wycliffe SA are remembering all the ways that God has helped them over the last 50 years. There have been so many chances to work with different groups of people who all speak different languages. Wycliffe SA are celebrating and being thankful for all the different people and churches who have supported them over the years - by giving money or by praying so that Wycliffe can continue to do their work. At this 50 year milestone, they are thinking of all the different people who have heard about Jesus and chosen to follow Him because they had a Bible they could understand for the first time. Lots of remembering, being very thankful, and celebrating.
But, just like Alan did not stop when he finished 100 Park Runs, Wycliffe SA are not stopping. They are carrying on doing the wonderful work that they do, and they are making plans and setting goals and getting excited about what is going to come next. In this milestone year, they have even started some new translation programmes. And they are making so many plans for how they are going to do more and more. They have been working on 22 languages, but they want to be doing 40 languages by 2030. They have already made a difference to so many people in Southern Africa, but, by 2030, they want to have reached 20 million people! Wow!
I hope that you and your family will celebrate Wycliffe’s special milestone with them. Why don’t you show this letter to three more people to help get more support, funds and prayer for the next season of Wycliffe’s work?
Aunty Gill
