In west Africa ten years ago, only 20% of the population of the Dagara language group could read; even less had access to the Bible. Thanks to donors through The Seed Company, translation of the Bible increased as did literacy training. It had such an impact on the people that one of their literacy coordinators reported that even government officials noticed the change and encouraged their work to continue.
The article in The Seed Company newsletter asks, “How important is literacy to the spiritual health of the community?” The answer: Very! A pastor they asked said, “During the church services, a number of members can read the portions already translated and it’s a great joy for me to see those who were illiterate in the past now meditating on the Scriptures with a smile on their lips.”
It’s hard for me to imagine not being able to read the Bible, let alone not being able to read at all! Literacy is natural and expected in the US and access to the Bible is easy. So easy, in fact, that I simply forgot to bring my Bible with me on a four-day weekend. And yet, people around the world are spending all their resources to translate one of Paul’s letters. Being part of Team OneVerse reminds me of the joy and hope in God’s word.
So what? Find ways to get involved with Team OneVerse or other translation projects. Look for opportunities to help others read. Remember that 500 years ago, you wouldn’t have had access to God’s word.
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Categories: Uncategorized
“Don’t ever think that your hard work is the decisive key.
The decisive key is the sovereign grace of God. He can work through you;
he can work in spite of you. I plead with you: don’t waste your life…
Be like William Tyndale.” -John Piper
At the 2008 New Attitude Conference, put on by Sovereign Grace Ministries, pastor John Piper spoke about the life of William Tyndale, one of the men responsible for translating the Bible into English. Before Tyndale, people could only read the Bible in Latin or, more commonly, hear the Bible read to them by a priest. People weren’t allowed to translate any of the Bible into English. In fact, Piper shares that many people were killed for simply translating the Lord’s Prayer. Imagine how much trouble Tyndale got himself into by translating the whole book! Tyndale smuggled pages of the English Bible into England from his hiding place in Europe. After being betrayed by a “friend,” Tyndale was strangled, then burned at the stake.
Because of Tyndale’s work over 500 years ago, we are now able to buy a copy of the Bible anytime we want and read away. In fact, I have five Bibles! The first one I received when I was a small child with Precious Moments characters acting out various scenes in cartoons throughout the pages.
Imagine now how life would be if we were still struggling to learn Latin just to read about Christ. Or what if we had to completely depend on someone else telling us what the Bible said. It would be second-best, but there would be a doubt, “How do I know they are telling me the truth?” That’s actually a reality for millions of people. And WE have the opportunity to do something about it! We can accelerate the translation process through our finances and give more people access to God’s Word in their own language, so He can speak directly to their hearts.
Please join Team OneVerse as a runner, walker, or donor, but especially as someone who will pray for those waiting for a copy of even one book of the Bible in a language they can read.
To hear Piper’s excellent sermon on Tyndale, listen at thisisnext.org.
Categories: Inspiration · Translation
Yes, I am congratulating myself for an awesome accomplishment at the Bank of American Chicago Marathon! I finished in 4:16:47 — a 9:47 minute mile. It was a new PR for me and I’m so happy with how it turned out!
The weather was colder than ideal (30 at the start, 42 by the end), but I stayed pretty warm. The energy level was amazing — from the other runners (33,000 actually at the start line of the 45,000 who signed up) and from the crowd (1.5 million spectators) despite the cold. It was a great way to see the city and over 29 neighborhoods. Plus, the new PR made it even sweeter!
So hooray for two of the four Team OneVerse runners completing their marathons! Over 100 verses have now been translated thanks to your donations. Praise the Lord!
Categories: Chicago Marathon · Inspiration · Running
My favorite verse recently has been Psalm 69: 13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
In this season of my life, I’ve been learning to present my questions to God and trust that at an acceptable time, He will answer me from his love and faithfulness. I have a lot of uncertainties for the next year, but am trusting Him to reveal the next steps for me at the right time.
Categories: Chicago Marathon · Inspiration · Running
