Hopefully, you’ve already been hearing about #BibleforEveryone, the plan we’ve coordinated with partners to accelerate Bible translation. It’s hard to imagine, but more than a billion people still don’t have a complete Bible in their language.1 In fact:
Thousands of the world’s languages don’t have even a New Testament.
But we’re changing that… together.
Last year, the YouVersion community accepted a generosity challenge from Life.Church.2 Since then, together you’ve already funded Bible translations that could potentially reach over 1.45 million people: in Zambia, Tanzania, Australia, and Southeast Asia.3 Most recently, your giving is helping local churches in Gabon, Africa translate the Gospel of Luke into three more languages: Kota, Obamba, and Teke!4
To get Scripture circulating quickly, each time they complete a new chapter, they’re releasing it as audio recordings and in print booklets. When they finish the final chapter, they’ll compile the completed book — and we’ll include it in the Bible App!
Even if you missed that last opportunity…
When regular church attender Prescillia received the first Bible text ever available in her native language, she said:
“Pastors and churches had to preach in French. Many speakers of regional languages don’t understand, thinking God is the God of other people. But now, when we hear Scripture in Obamba, we know: God speaks my language! He’s our God, too!”
Don’t miss this one.
Local churches are already well underway translating God’s Word into those three languages, but it’s not too late for you to take part in the next language: Wumbu. Just imagine over 18,000 people getting to read these words of Jesus, for the first time ever in their heart language!
“…blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
LUKE 11:28
Get in now on this worldwide move of God.
Pray with us, and ask God to continue accelerating the process of getting His Word into every language. Ask Him to prepare the hearts of those who will be hearing about Him for the first time. And give. Then one day, you’ll share in the great joy of standing before God’s throne and seeing people that your gift helped bring there:
“…in front of me was a huge crowd of people. …so many that no one could count them. They came from every nation, tribe, people and language… They cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God!”
REVELATION 7:9
Notes
1 See illumiNations’ website for details.
2 All contributions received through the #BibleForEveryone campaign will be used exclusively for the purpose of Bible translation. Life.Church is contributing $1 million over the four-year period from 2017-2020. During each calendar year, Life.Church is contributing $250,000, spread across different, high-impact translation projects. As each project is completed, any remaining funds are then applied toward the next translation project, as selected by YouVersion and its partners. (See original blog post for full details.).
3 Original posts: Zambia, Tanzania, Southeast Asia.
4 Blog post, “We serve a God of second chances.”