Kouya Goes Kindle

On Wednesday 21 March 2012, hundreds of tee shirts proclaimed in the Kouya language that the Word of God is living and powerful. Kouya Christians and their neighbours gathered for the dedication of the Kouya New Testament which had been delayed during a decade of civil unrest and violence in the Ivory Coast.

Philip Saunders presented a copy of the Kouya New Testament to the chief of Dema village. That photo now adorns the front cover of the new edition of No Ordinary Book, the story of the Kouya New Testament.

No Ordinary Book, revised and updated to include the dedication, has just become available on Kindle

It was a privilege to live alongside the Kouya Project for 8 years in Ivory Coast.

It was a privilege to become friends with Kouya Christians including the translators.

It was a privilege to be asked to write the foreword for No Ordinary Book.

It was a privilege to have been at the dedication of the Kouya New Testament in March 2012.

It is a privilege now to recommend that you upload this great story to your Kindle!

If you want to see a few of the many photos that I took at the dedication, you can see them in my Facebook photo album

Read Full Post »

What I discovered at Wycliffe CheckITOut in Belfast

The role of IT in mission: guest blog by Neil McKnight

One Sunday after church, I had a wee chat with John Hamilton. I asked, “What’s all this about computers and Wycliffe Bible Translators?” John suggested that I go to Wycliffe’s CheckITOut evening…

Over recent years missionaries around the world have been forced to embrace new technologies and use more and more new tools for many different tasks when carrying out their work both in the field and in many different support roles.

I went to the CheckITOut event as suggested and they took some time to explain the role of IT, but more importantly, the need for experienced IT personnel throughout the world.

The vision of Wycliffe Bible Translators is to start a Bible translation project in 1,967 different languages by the year 2025, and it is estimated that these projects will have the potential to reach over 200 million people.

To meet this goal they are currently utilising around 5,500 staff in 97 countries, which in itself is a staggering amount of people. Yet they have approximately 2,500 positions vacant in roles around the globe.

Over the years they have had different manual systems and ways of gathering information, keeping track of people, recording translations, working with the local people, but as new technologies have evolved, so have the people and the systems.

One of the big areas is people management. If there are people posted around the world carrying out their roles, or possibly even on holiday or at a conference, it is important that the organisation knows exactly where they are during their travelling and time away. If there happens to be some sort of a natural disaster or a civil war breaks out, basically anything that could put individual in danger, Wycliffe may need to know all sorts of important information that could be relevant in those different situations. Heights and weights could be important in the event of an evacuation; blood types in the event of an emergency; copies of passports and important documents; any sort of information that may normally be taken for granted could be important in difficult situations. This needs to be stored centrally and in a way that can be easily managed. A Wycliffe member from N. Ireland currently manages this project from his home near Ballyclare.

For people working in areas where there may be no power, there is little point in giving them a case full of equipment that all depends on electricity to operate, or possibly an internet connection to be useful. Nowadays, along with that case of essential equipment, Wycliffe may also issue two other cases: one with a solar panel and one with a small satellite dish which has the ability to connect remote workers to the internet.

“God’s Word is powerful” Catalan Sign Language

Another fantastic use of technology is in using video capture to record sign language, and using software to over lay the person with a female face, or an ethnic face, or an adult or child, enabling the sign language translation to be distributed in many different ways, but actually all created from the one initial motion capture. This technique is used commonly now in the film industry to bring to life animated or CGI characters, but to think to use it in this way is just astounding.

One of the inherent problems with all this use of technology is that it brings with it its own problems. Computers generally break down or fail to function correctly, printers need fixed, cables break, all sorts of things that a lot of the time we take for granted. However when you don’t have a tech savvy family friend or a local computer shop to walk into, it can be a bit of a problem. So backup and support staff with specific IT skills play a big role in keeping equipment going, training people in new systems and fixing everything from the network to the microwave in the office – just because it’s perceived they can.

There are many different ways that experienced IT workers and enthusiastic computer hobbyists can help out both at home and abroad, and for a more comprehensive list please visit either the Wycliffe Bible Translators UK or Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church websites for more information.

Neil McKnight

Neil is a friend and fellow member of Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church in Belfast, N. Ireland. Having attended Wycliffe’s CheckITOut event, he wrote this piece for the church quarterly newsletter.

Read Full Post »

Wycliffe UK Centre has been sold

Wycliffe Bible Translators on Mission

Press Release from Wycliffe Bible Translators UK 11 March 2013

Wycliffe Bible Translators in the UK will start 2014 with a refreshed vision and a new home. The charity, which next year will also be celebrating its 50^th anniversary in the UK, has announced the sale of the Wycliffe Centre in Buckinghamshire where they have been based for over forty years with a plan to move to nearby office space.

“The need to make the Bible available in the language that people understand the best is one of the most urgent missionary tasks of our generation,” says Eddie Arthur, Executive Director of Wycliffe in the UK. “We need to concentrate our efforts and resources on working with the Church in the UK and worldwide to bring the Bible to all people.”

“The Wycliffe Centre has been a wonderful home for our mission, providing us with office space, a training centre and allowing us to host church groups and conferences. However, changing patterns in missionary training worldwide mean that we no longer need such a large facility for our own needs. Running and maintaining a conference centre is a worthwhile job, but it isn’t what God has called Wycliffe to do.”

That focus has been key in Wycliffe’s decision to move. They have already taken steps towards ensuring the UK Church can play a big part in the future of Bible translation and global mission. The training courses that were once available to those joining Wycliffe will, from August 2013, be available to a wider audience through Redcliffe College in Gloucester. In addition, without a large home base, Wycliffe will be taking its awareness raising events out to where people live.

“This isn’t about Wycliffe scaling down work in the UK, far from it”, says Arthur, “this is about us asking God what the future of mission looks like and organising ourselves for that.”

There’s still a lot of work to do. Earlier this year Wycliffe announced that, for the first time in history, there were fewer than 2,000 languages in need of Bible translation work to begin. That still marks a need for significant investment, both financially, through human resource and in prayer.

Wycliffe Bible Translators clearly believe that the Church in the UK has a part to play in that future and they are preparing for it.

Wycliffe Bible Translators is the UK’s biggest Bible translation organisation, works with partners worldwide to ensure that every community around the world has access to a Bible in a language that they can fully understand. In more than 70 years of history they have been involved in the translation of 830 New Testaments and 35 complete Bibles, potentially impacting around 214 million people. Wycliffe staff are currently involved in over 1,537 active language programmes, with additional work being undertaken by other organisations in a further 538 languages. However there remains a massive need, as statistics show that there are around 209 million people from 1,967 languages still waiting for translation to begin.

Read Full Post »

-Lagɔwɛlɩ -ga ‘yliyɔ, ɩn we kaa ‘tɩtɛ ‘wʋ… RE-VISITED

Today is the first anniversary of the Kouya New Testament dedication on 21 March 2012. Well worth re-posting this 29 March 2012 blog!

Hebrews 4:12 proclaims that the Word of God is living and powerful!

Last Wednesday morning hundreds of tee shirts proclaimed the same message in the Kouya language as people gathered for the dedication of the Kouya New Testament which has been delayed during a decade of civil unrest and violence in the Ivory Coast.

The Kouya dedication tee shirt

It was a privilege, a pleasure and very humbling to be there and share with Wycliffe colleagues and Kouya friends that we had not see for nearly 15 years.

I’m still working through my reactions to the event, but it was a truly Kouya event! White faces were a very small minority. The programme had been prepared and was led by Kouya Christian pastors and leaders. A crowd of around 500 sat for hours under shelters erected in a square behind Dema village church, praised God in song and dance and speech and the reading and hearing of -Lagɔwɛlɩ in the Kouya language.

When my thoughts are more focussed, I will write some more, but below are a few of the many photos that I took. You can see more in my Facebook photo album

One of the church singing groups

Dema chief welcomes everyone

Pastor Bai Emile speaking

The Kouya New Testaments arrive

Marguerite, Sue Arthur and Philip Saunders

Read Full Post »

“That was when I first heard about Wycliffe & Bible translation!”

We used to talk about multiple contact relationships in the Wycliffe UK Mobilisation Team.

When people got to the point of deciding to join Wycliffe Bible Translators UK, we often identified multiple contacts on their journey towards this point: meeting a Wycliffe member, a word of mouth recommendation from a friend, a website post, a blog, a God-incidence along the way…

Some years ago the MAP Mission Roadshow to the university Christian Unions in N. Irish universities featured Bible Translation. Together with colleagues from other MAP agencies we visited all the big CUs and some of the little ones as well.

One evening a smaller team visited Greenmount Agricultural College and we did our presentation …

“That was when I first heard about Wycliffe and Bible translation!”

That’s what Andy said when I met him in Derry a week or so ago. Andy is a dairy farmer in Donegal. Andy was at Greenmount Agricultural College when I was there those 5 or 6 years ago. It was when Andy first heard about Wycliffe. Andy encouraged his youth group to use some of our materials in their Bible reading. Every time they used them, they would remember the Bibleless languages of the world.

Andy now wants to help us raise the profile of God’s mission through Wycliffe and Bible translation in his part of the NW of Ireland.

I guess that came from sowing seeds in an agricultural college…

PS Not sure of the relevance of the cartoon… just liked it

Read Full Post »

Belfast Baps & development in Egypt

What has the Belly Buster Belfast Bap got to do with Egypt? Well… not a lot, but read on

Having celebrated my birthday with the family on the Friday before Christmas, we headed downtown on the Saturday morning to St George’s Market for breakfast and a browse…

The bacon, egg, sausage and black pudding extravaganza that is the Belfast Bap

You can see why it’s advertised as the Belly Buster! We shared two between five of us.

The stall in St George’s Market that advertises their delicacy as the Belly Buster

On Sunday morning, Alf and I (from our church Mission Coordination Group – somebody please suggest a better name for our group!) presented the Presbyterian Church in Ireland World Development Appeal Let Justice Flow.

Which brought some perspective to our lifestyle in Belfast as we compared the situation faced by Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt!

Why not take a look via the link above and find out how Tear Fund and Christian Aid projects are helping promote a better lifestyle through the funds donated by Presbyterian churches in Ireland – and there’s still time to contribute.

Read Full Post »

Ears to hear?

I was at this conference last week with Wycliffe colleague John Young and we both found it thoroughly worthwhile and challenging.

Over 80 people had ears to hear!

Last Wednesday 28 November, Presbyterian Mission Overseas held a special conference entitled “Ears to hear?” to give people the opportunity to hear how God is calling men and women to build his Kingdom in their particular culture and context – Asia, Africa and eastern Europe.

It was also a time for PCI members to listen carefully and learn from our partners, seeking to discern what God might be saying to us.

The main speakers were leaders from around the world, who are currently receiving sponsorship for their studies in the UK from PCI:-

• Jorum Mugari – Zimbabwe
• Andor Ferko & Zsuzsi Soos – Romania
• Maqsood Kamil -Pakistan

The Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Roy Patton, led devotions at the beginning of the conference and worship was led by three of PCI’s current leaders-in-training – Andor Ferko, Zsuzsi Soos and Peter Jenei (from Hungary).

Over 80 people from various congregations attended the conference, which concluded with lunch.

I appreciated the summing up one liners from three BMO people:

Lord, give us time, give us wisdom, and give us strength.  Gordon Campbell

Lord, help us never to leave your promises no matter what happens to us in Ireland.  Helen Johnston

The Gospel is transformation. Transformation begins with repentance. Give us repentant hearts.  Mark Welch

 

 

Read Full Post »

Mission Agencies in the Recession

As I drove to work this morning, the radio proclaimed that figures to be released today would show that the UK has moved out of a double dip recession – and that the move towards growth has been boosted by the Olympics!

So maybe it’s not the best time to write this blog.

Nonetheless I want to refer to an article written by friend and colleague John Doherty in the Autumn 2012 edition of the Bible Society in N. Ireland’s Word at Work magazine.

John has been reflecting on how the charitable sector is faring in these troubled times…

Most Mission agency representatives that I work with are under severe pressure as they seek to maintain their programmes at home and abroad at current levels. Although their passion for the Gospel remains undimmed, forward planning is becoming ever more difficult. In our Bible Society, for example, it requires faith and steady nerves to commit funds to a 5-year New Testament translation project knowing that it would be unthinkable to send the translators home and tell their people “Wait a little longer for the first words of Scripture in your language.”

In Wycliffe Bible Translators, we can empathise with this. Just one of many examples… in our Wycliffe UK Call to Prayer this week there is a series about Bible translation work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While rejoicing that the entire Kifuliiru Bible has now been drafted, all the remaining work in DRC is facing an imposing challenge:because of decreased income from givers, the project and neighbouring projects have budget cuts of 65%. Pray that givers around the world would take this opportunity to serve their worldwide family intentionally by supporting these translations.

John continues…

Mission agencies are challenged in the same way as individuals, families, and churches by insecurity of income and uncertainty about the future. What is the individual to do, especially if they have given long-time support to a number of worthy causes? Here are some thoughts for you to ponder, both for yourself and also for your church/church group:

1) Is it time to be more selective and focus on those agencies which best reflect the imperative of extending Christ’s kingdom here and across the world? Choosing a smaller number of charities would help make your prayer life more focused, and your financial giving more strategic.

2) According to the Charity Commission, “There may be more than 10,000 charities already operating in Northern Ireland”. Given even the legendary generosity of our people, that figure is not sustainable. Also, while many Christians give to good causes which do not have a religious ethos, the reverse is not true. I can’t recall BSNI ever receiving a gift from someone who did not have a love for Scripture. Perhaps Christians should first ensure they are supporting Christian organisations before going on to consider other ‘Good causes’ for support.

3) This principle also applies to churches. Rather than trying to support lots of charities (Christian and non-Christian), church committees might prioritise their giving in line with their Mission vision. Church members also need to pray for that work, so the whole church needs to be kept informed and encouraged about how God is using their gifts to change lives.

4) Finally, while it is currently tempting for individuals and churches to reduce support for Christian work, we should all remember that the Church has survived to the 21^st century only because of the historical commitment of others to spread the Gospel. Mission is not an optional extra – it is a fundamental living out of our faith.

It was Paul who identified a clear priority when he wrote to Christians in Rome “But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10.14 – ESV). Paul would have considered his task impossible without his scrolls and the Bible today remains an essential tool for teaching people about Jesus.

I would probably argue with some of John’s points, but that wouldn’t be unusual. I passionately believe that God will work out his mission plans for his world because it is his mission and not ours. But the Bible also says that he invites his people to be very much involved!

With God’s grace, and the prayers and gifts of God’s people, BSNI and Wycliffe Bible Translators will continue to change the lives of some 350 million people all over this world who have yet to have access to  the Bible in a language they understand.

Read Full Post »

A potentially unsettling question for church leaders

Just saw this from Alan Wilson as I ate my lunch…

I suspect that it’s the church that keeps mission front and centre that is less likely to lose its way and fade into irrelevance.

A potentially unsettling question for church leaders.

Read Full Post »

Holistic Mission

At look!2012, the Wycliffe Global Gathering last May, Christopher Wright gave three talks. (See here.) Today I was listening to one of them entitled Holistic Mission.

Whatever we might think of the term mission; however we may define the term – it is God’s mission, not ours. It’s not about Christians in need of a mission looking to develop our own strategies and ministries. Chris argues, as he does throughout his book The Mission of God, that from Genesis to Revelation, we are learning about God’s mission and that God is calling his people to be involved in his mission to his created people in his created world.

Yet so many of us continue to argue for and against our own definitions. We debate the relative merits and priorities of evangelism versus social action.

Many may think that Bible translation is firmly in the evangelism sector, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Currently I’m preparing for a seminar on 13 October at Emmanuel Church in Lurgan, entitled What’s the point of translating the Bible for hungry people?

Friend and colleague, Dave Pearson, doesn’t do Bible translation, but he is a key member of our organisation. Dave is one example that I could use in Lurgan. This is what he posted on Facebook on Friday 28 September.

Five Marks of Mission

This week I spent three days in Machakos, Kenya leading an Advocacy Workshop. 24 participants from 12 NGOs applied the principles I taught to four issues: access to education for pastoral people groups, empowering parents to advocate for quality basic education, quality vocational training and cultural practices that damage sexual and reproductive health (such as female genital mutilation and widow inheritance). It was hard work but a lot of fun. I learned a lot too.

So in which of the Five Marks of Mission is Dave’s work as a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators?

Read Full Post »