Day: October 5, 2016

• WORLD: 75 Years of Bible Translation
• KIRIBATI: New Translation Begun in 1988 Is Finished
• AZERBAIJAN: Bible Society Registers after 20 Years, But Will It Be Able to Print Bibles?
• UZBEKISTAN: Punished for Religious Books at Home
• JAPAN: New Era Begins for Gospel Radio
• SYRIA: “If There Are No Men to Lead the Church, I Will!”

Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators. In this video, recorded on the fiftiethanniversary of the completion of the Cakchiquel New Testament, Dr. Billy Graham talks about the significance of Bible translation and challenges listeners to become part of the work.

Today’s edition of Missions Catalyst News Briefs features several stories about breakthroughs and barriers in Bible translation and distribution. Read on and pray.

Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators, September 30, 2016

It all began in 1917 when William Cameron Townsend (known by friends as “Cam”) went to Guatemala to sell Spanish Bibles.

When Cam stepped off the boat, his youthful enthusiasm for sharing the gospel was high, but he soon realized that most of the people he was meeting didn’t understand the Bible in Spanish! Many of them spoke Cakchiquel instead.

Cam faced a dilemma. If they didn’t understand, how was he reaching people for Jesus? Frustrated and disappointed, Cam began to wonder if he’d failed. But God had others plans in mind.

Deep down, Cam thought everyone—man, woman and child alike—should be able to read God’s Word in the language of their heart. So although it would end up taking almost 10 years of his life, he learned the complex Cakchiquel language, created an alphabet and translated the New Testament.

When he was done, the Cakchiquel Indians finally had God’s Word, but thousands of other languages still needed it.

» Full story describes Cam Townsend’s journey to founding Wycliffe Bible Translators USA in 1942. Learn more about Wycliffe USA’s 75-year anniversary through a timeline, stories, and more.

Source: United Bible Societies, September 30, 2016

Praise God for the launch of the “Te Baibara—Te Rairai Ae Boou” (Kiribati New Version Bible or the Kiribati Contemporary Bible) on September 17 in Tarawa, Kiribati [in the South Pacific]. The project started in November 1988 with the translation of the New Testament.

The new features which may be regarded as adding value to the Kiribati New Version Bible help to make it more user-friendly for better reading and in-depth Bible study (including section headings, book introductions, cross-references, footnotes, illustrations, and more).

“It will take a while for the older generation to adjust to anything new, even the New Version. In my position as a pastor, the Kiribati New Version will help people to better understand the message of the Gospel for a transformed life. As they grow towards maturity they will move to the Kiribati Old Version for deeper study of the living Word of God.”

In 2015, Bible Societies assisted in the completion of translations in 50 languages spoken by nearly 160 million people.

» Full story also describes progress on Bibles in braille and sign languages.

» Also read about the completion of a Lubwisi New Testament for Uganda, a project fifteen years in the making (Mission Network News).

Source: World Watch Monitor, October 3, 2016

The recent registration of a Bible Society in Azerbaijan, after a 20-year fight, has brought fresh optimism to the country’s minority Christians, but there remains some confusion about the types of books it will be allowed to print, with even Bibles potentially falling foul of the country’s strict regulations.

Terje Hartberg from United Bible Societies called it “a great development, which will start a new chapter in Bible ministry for all Christians in Azerbaijan.”

However, all literature either printed or imported by the Bible Society will remain subject to approval by the government—with every publication labelled with an official sticker—and its distribution permitted only at state-approved venues.

» Read full story.

» Also see a story about neighboring Iran which describes that country’s church growth spurt (Mission Network News).

Source: Forum18, September 29, 2016

A Baptist from Urgench [Urganch] in the north-western Khorezm Region has been punished for a second time within a year for having Christian books at home, which state officials regard as illegal. As this was a second punishment, Stanislav Kim was convicted under the Criminal Code, receiving a two-year corrective labor sentence.

A Presbyterian Christian in the capital Tashkent was fined in May for having religious literature at home. The Christian literature was ordered to be handed to the state-backed Muslim Board.

A criminal trial against him began in September for illegal use of computers.

In Surkhandarya Region, four Baptists were punished for religious literature confiscated during an illegal house search. Two Bibles, as well as other books and discs, were ordered destroyed. Officials claimed one book was banned because it could be used to spread a faith. They also claimed Baptists are banned in the region because they do not have state registration.

In Zarafshan, a Baptist pastor and his wife were fined for Bibles and Baptist song books seized from their home.

[These] eight individuals are among many punished for having personal religious literature in their homes. The authorities regard such possession of religious literature as illegal.

» Read full story.

Source: TWR, August 9, 2016

Probably because of its long history as a mission field combined with its highly successful assimilation of Western-dominated industry and contemporary culture, many are surprised to learn that Japan still has one of the largest populations of people unreached by the gospel. That means only a tiny portion of its nearly 130 million people—significantly less than 1 percent, in fact—are evangelical Christians.

After a 2011 earthquake and tsunami overwhelmed the northeastern region of Tohoku, killing nearly 16,000, sparking meltdowns at nuclear reactors and driving more than 200,000 from their homes, many Japanese felt the certainty of their worldview had been undermined. The people seemed more open to hearing the gospel presented; the previously stony ground had begun to soften.

Another development at the same time facilitated the door opening: Radio, which had played a key role in informing the public during the crisis, gained renewed respect.

Along with people to handle organizational and technical matters, 25 pastors were recruited to develop and present the programming.

“We told them to preach a Christ-centered gospel message boldly,” said [TWR regional ministry director] Samuel Tan. “Anything not Christ-centered, delete. This is what people in Japan need.”

» Read full story.

Source: Joel News, October 2016

Mathild Sabbagh, 26, returns to her hometown. She is the first female minister in Syria. Her town in northern Syria is surrounded by ISIS. Last year her cousin was killed by Muslim extremists. Her brother who is also a pastor was kidnapped.

“If there are no men who can lead the church at this time, I’ll do it!”

Before the war her church still had almost 200 members, but today only 30 or 40 people have remained. ISIS has decimated the number of believers. “Some were killed, others fled. From my primary school friends no one stayed. Everybody’s gone. The war left our city shot to pieces and our entire community beaten apart.”

But it doesn’t keep Mathild from going back. She is more determined than ever, and feels a great sense of urgency. “I believe in the mysterious growth of the Kingdom of God, even against the odds. I go back to my church because I know I’m needed there. The church is like my own family. I’ve learned all my life that I can bring my talents to the church. So now I’ll bring what I have.”

» Read more of this story or subscribe to Joel News.