LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
"It takes a village"
The saying above is a phrase that apparently originated from an African proverb emphasising the importance of a whole community in raising a child. We could apply this to how Bible translation brings about transformation in societies for God’s glory.
God’s mission is seldom an individualistic exercise. He calls people and enables them to operate collaboratively to achieve His purposes. The nature of the Triune God is relational and cooperative. We are called to participate in His mission as a reflection of His character.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
What a joy to hear the feedback from the communities where Bible translation is taking place. Pictures and videos abound of all the activity attesting to the impact of God’s Word being made accessible. Helen van der Walt has been equipping the appointed Scripture Engagement teams and they are taking responsibility in creative ways for their people to fall in love with the Scriptures.
In Lesotho, for example, the country is celebrating 200 years since the Basotho nation was formed. The Scripture Engagement team has been seeing promising developments:
- Endorsement from the Basotho King for Siphuthi to become an official language
- The Minister of Communication wants a national TV crew to film the translation
- The Minister of Agriculture wants a national roll-out of Farming God’s Way
- Trauma healing at a cultural festival in May 2025
- A song-writing competition to create the first-ever Siphuthi worship songbook and recordings
What a privilege to be part of an initiative that impacts a whole country! This is the transforming power of the Word of God.
It takes a village. Every part of the Wycliffe South Africa team, from translations services to IT, communications to HR, finance and fundraising to prayer, together with our partner churches, intercessors, donors and impact partners, not to mention our Board and the various Steering Committees, work together in God’s mission.
This is the village that helps so that the Kingdom of God impacts nations. We couldn’t do it without your faithfulness.
At this point I want to pay tribute to Dr Fabian Dapilla, who worked as consultant in the Siphuthi translation and who passed away in Ghana recently. His legacy continues in the villages where he served.
Alan Webster
MY RECENT VISIT TO WYCLIFFE SOUTH AFRICA
By Rémy Ngumbu Ngonzi, Lead Consultant at Seed Company
Photo: The Wycliffe South Africa team at their annual Connect Retreat
In 2023, Wycliffe South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seed Company through its Growth Partners department, which works in organisational development. As Lead Consultant, I have been given the mandate to ensure the smooth running of this agreement, to lead a team of consultants in various fields and to ensure our multifaceted support to Wycliffe South Africa in the pursuit of its objectives, including the translation of the Bible into the local languages of the Southern African region. ("Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Psalms 133:1 - ESV).
I would like to start this note with a brief presentation of the support I received during the visa application process to travel to South Africa from the United States. Indeed, whether it was administrative documents such as the invitation letter or contacts with administrative facilitation agencies, the leaders of Wycliffe South Africa spared no effort to be of service to me. ("Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." John 13:20 - ESV).
The period of entry into the country coincided with the time of retreat for capacity building and team building that the staff had planned, with operational planning as key activities. They had been working on finalising their strategic plan, and now it was a question of implementing it. And to do this, the leadership decided to schedule a retreat time in order to devote themselves deeply to such an activity. I was therefore invited, after discernment, to join the team for this immersion in nature, far from the daily environment, about three hours north of Johannesburg, in Mabula. I reiterate my deep gratitude.This was the first mission trip our assembly had been on and was a learning experience for us. Valuable lessons were learnt on this mission and the delegates of our assembly came back encouraged. Sharing their experiences with the assembly has created an excitement for our next trip and we expect more people to join. ("For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Matt. 18:20 – ESV).
The place chosen is called Shekinah Resort, Camp and Conference Center, a space that will take your breath away, both for its architecture of the bungalows that blend well with the surrounding nature and for the exquisite view it offers. From ibises soaring in the air to majestic rhinos treading the earth with their heavy steps, giraffes that are close to the clouds with their long necks and intriguing mongooses, nature expresses itself in its admirable diversity. Indeed, there the sunrises and sunsets are most fascinating and give the shadows of various species of trees and animals, a harmony that relieves the heart of daily worries and brings to the mind a necessary liveliness and insight. A perfect environment for a perfect conjunction between the heart and the head, between emotion and intelligence. As if that wasn't enough, the food was excellent and the staff very welcoming!
Having left Johannesburg, for the most part, shortly after 10 o'clock, we arrived in the early hours of the afternoon to savour the magnificent sight of this generous nature. The time for hugs, introductions, and circumspect explorations of the wilderness, the whole team was gathered shortly before dinner. Some came from other regions (Cape Town, Mozambique, Angola, etc.). I admired this team which, a year earlier, was smaller. This was proof of the growth accomplished in the organisation.
Evidence of growth within this organisation was served to me on a platter all week, but especially during these two days. Whether during the morning devotion, or during the relaxation activities, as well as during the brainstorming sessions, I witnessed the acts of cohesion of a close-knit team that puts the sum of its talents and skills at the service of the achievement of a common ideal, under the benevolent eye of the Executive Leadership team (ELT). This harmony and cohesion radiated not only by the ELT, but throughout the group, gives them extraordinary mental strength that allows them to keep their heads high in the face of adversity and keep their eyes fixed on their ultimate goals.
There is certainly still work to be done, but we can clearly see that they are put in the orbit of growth and that the development curve they have begun to climb is lifting them high, day after day. I am proud to have had the privilege of witnessing this evolution, seeing how they harmonise the work between various departments, from Resources Mobilisation to Human Resources, Media & Communication, Scripture Engagement, Finance or Field Program. We are pushed to lend them a hand in view of all their achievements and their planning of future activities.
I wish Wycliffe South Africa well in this new chapter of their shared history, securing our Memorandum of Understanding while contributing individually and collectively to the efforts to translate the gospel into local languages. ("Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." 1 Peter 3:8 – ESV).
To God be the glory!
FIVE NEW TRANSLATION PROJECTS IN ANGOLA
By Marcelina Neto
Camukuio*
The Camucuio Cluster* has recently unbundled into three separate language translation projects. We had the opportunity to do the workshops with the teams from Olukuvale, Olukwando and Oluhumbi from September 2nd to 7th.
It was a great occasion because everything went according to plan, the teams were very satisfied and happy with everything they learned. Work on the ground officially began on September 9th.
On September 25th, we received a visit from our Seed Company partners Bia and Barnie, who visited the three projects. They had the opportunity to meet them in person and by name, and the team members gave their testimonies of the impact that the translation of the Bible has had on their lives, families and communities. They expressed their gratitude for the opportunity they have to translate the Bible into their heart languages. Many of them said that they never imagined God would remember them but today they are grateful that God has remembered them and is bringing the Word of life to these peoples and to these ethnic linguistic groups.
*Readers may notice a change in spelling from Kamukuio. Spending time with the translation communities informed us that this is their preferred way of spelling Camukuio.
Holo and Kisuku
From September 9th to 14th, we had a workshop with the Holo and Kisuku teams who are part of our new projects.
We had a blessed workshop and although the new teams had never worked with Bible translation before, they were excellent at learning, and were very grateful for the opportunity they have to be able to translate God's word into their heart language. The Holo team said that in their community there is an older man who tried to translate the Bible in their language but due to lack of funds he could not achieve the goal. Now they are overjoyed and thankful for this great opportunity that has come for their community and people. Some said that “we thought no one knew about us, but now we know that we are known and so many people are interested in our language.”
SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT STORIES
By Helen van der Walt
New Stakeholders for the Siphuthi
Photo: Members of the Siphuthi team visiting a family in the community
The Siphuthi team has been networking in brilliant ways! They are so passionate about the Baphuthi people being known and validated, and for them to be transformed by the Word of God in Siphuthi. They have been travelling all over Lesotho to spend time with and to serve different parts of the Baphuthi community.
Through connecting with government ministers, radio presenters, pastors, chiefs, and more, they have had some really encouraging responses and opened up many opportunities. Vuyi, one of the Scripture Engagement workers, said:
"When we were engaging with the the Minister of Agriculture at a personal level, he said, “This is my responsibility. I can’t wait to take what I am hearing to parliament.” Already, he wants to introduce us to the Minister of Communication, because she is the one responsible for the Lesotho Broadcasting Network. So, basically, they are waiting for us to set up interviews with radio and TV stations. One of the community radio stations can’t wait for us to start working with them. They felt that it will address some of the issues they have regarding the language of Siphuthi"
"One of the things we did was to introduce Farming God’s Way to the Minister of Agriculture so that he can include that as part of celebrating 200 years of farming in Lesotho. We did two interviews with Lesotho farmers who train people using Farming God’s Way. It’s quite exciting."
A partnership is now being developed between the Siphuthi translation team and a Farming God’s Way facilitator who has offered to do the training for free. We are also excited to see where the growing partnership with parts of the Lesotho government will lead.
The work of this team is taking the Bible Translation work to the next level. One of the translators, Nzuzo Potsane, described it this way:
"I want to appreciate the closing of the gap we had as translators. This Scripture Engagement team that we have now is going to be practical to engage the community. What we were doing was just sharing, without contact, just sharing the Scripture. But now they are going to engage the Scripture with the community. It’s the gap that we wanted to close."
Songwriting with the Sepulana
Photo: Participants of the songwriting workshop
The Sepulana team has been making some great progress. In the past few months, they have been visiting different parts of the community and several churches to share about the Sepulana Bible Translation and to raise local support and ownership. One man gave this feedback:
“I never thought God can love us this much, that he raised people to create the Sepulana Bible.”
Some of the team’s Scripture Engagement goals are:
- God’s people free to use their gifts as God intended to serve the church and the community
- All churches, of all languages, unified across denominations and able to worship together and serve each other
- That all Mapulana, old and young, women and children, will know the Scriptures in Sepulana and have them in their hands
It was decided this would be accomplished through:
- Seminars and workshops for being equipped in giftings
- Biblical teaching and encouragement for churches to work, serve, and share resources
Practically, this is going to be done in several ways, but one way the team thought would be important is to have a songwriting workshop in the Sepulana language; this happened on the 28th of September! It was an opportunity to teach about worship, to equip musical people to serve in the church, to unite the churches through worship, and to put Scripture to song so that people can get to know the Scriptures. Some incredible songs were made, and will be used at the worship night on 26th October.
TESTIMONY OF A TRANSLATOR
“God’s name should be higher than anyone else’s name”
Photo: Carlos Raimundo (back, middle) and the orphans his family helps
“Through Bible translation, along with the application of what I learn at university, I have more communication skills. More than communicating or transmitting messages to other people, I now understand the Bible more when I'm translating. Translation for me is one of the means that takes me to the Throne of God. Sometimes while translating I get inspired and stop translating, start singing, praising God, and finish with a very strong prayer that takes me to the highest level of relationship with my God. In short, translation for me is one of the very means that God has chosen to bring me close to His Throne. To Him be the honor and the glory.”
So writes Pastor Carlos Raimundo, associated with the Makhuwa Cluster. He is studying in addition to his role as Pastor and translator. When asked if we can use his testimony, he insists that his name not be put at the top, but that God’s name should be higher than anyone else’s name. Pray for him and his wife who are leading a church people flock to, but they don’t have a building to house them all. They also take care of a number of orphans. We thank God for the calibre of people we work with and how God uses the translation of His Word to change people.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS
TRIBUTE TO DR. DAPILA
Dr. Fabian Dapila (1958-2024), Ghana Translation Consultant
Our good friend and colleague, Dr. Fabian Dapila, finished his race well in August.
A faithful and astute Ghanaian Bible translation consultant, he received a Doctorate (1995) in Old Testament Studies from the University of Ottawa. For over three decades he served in Bible translation, with the Bible Society, Seed Company, and many other translation agencies. Dapila was in the process of moving his residence from Ghana to Canada, where his family lives. He then travelled back to Ghana for translation work and became very sick and passed away. Some of his family were able to be with him as he entered his Saviour’s presence.
“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”
KIDS WHO CARE
Memory verses
Do you know what a memory verse is? It’s a verse from the Bible that you learn “off by heart” so that you can say it without having to read the words. Maybe you have learnt some memory verses at your Kids Church or Sunday school. If you haven’t, then I suggest you ask your leader about them. I have a wonderful list of ideas of ways to learn memory verses that they can check out and then you can play games, have races, and even eat sweets as you learn memory verses.
Do you know any Bible verses that you can say “off by heart”? A few years ago, the children I work with and I did an A-Z verse challenge. Each week our lesson focused on a different verse from the Bible. We started with an A verse (“Ask and it will be given to you”) and we went all the way through the letters until we got to Z (“Zion hears and rejoices”) We had great fun and by the end of the year many of us had learnt a lot more memory verses (some of them even all 26 verses). If you would like to do this challenge, or to give it to your leaders at Kids church, I will include the link for you to get the list of verses at the bottom of this article. There are also lessons available for each verse, so please contact me if you would like to have a look at these too.
Recently, I was very sick and I ended up staying in hospital for a long time. I felt very sad and worried when I was there. I never read my Bible very much because I just felt like crying all the time. But…it was amazing how many times a memory verse that I had learnt popped into my mind. God was able to speak to me through verses that I had stored up in my mind. One day I was feeling very scared and suddenly the verse “Do not fear, for I am with you” came into my mind. Another day, I was feeling frustrated and that I just wanted to go home and the verse “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” came into my mind. God really spoke to me through Scriptures that I had memorised in the A-Z challenge.
The people at Wycliffe South Africa help people groups to get the Bible in their own language and then they teach creative ways to “engage” with their Bible. That means that they help those people to get to know their Bibles and use them in their communities. Maybe they will start to learn memory verses too!
Please click on the links below to check out the memory verse methods document and the A-Z challenge verses:
Love,
Aunty Gill
