Getting the Word Out: Scripture Access & Translation

  1. World: Starlink Satellite Internet Will Expedite Bible Translation
  2. World: YouVersion Partners for Greater Scripture Access by 2033
  3. Iran: Deaf Get Access to JESUS Film in Persian Sign Language
  4. Middle East: Eight Barriers to the Gospel
  5. Chad: The Multiplication Process at Work
  6. India: Healing Leads to Religious Conversion Scandal

Read or share the email edition or scroll down for individual stories.

World: Starlink Satellite Internet Will Expedite Bible Translation

Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators, September 10, 2021

One of the most important things needed to complete Bible translation projects is something many people take for granted: internet access.

As more and more people around the world translate the Bible for their own communities, a strong and reliable internet connection provides training and consulting opportunities to keep the work moving forward.

Learn how satellite internet technology like Starlink is helping deliver Scripture to people faster than ever before.

Watch the two-minute video (also on the Wycliffe website).

See also the Seed Company video, History of Bible Translation, which does an impressive job at summarizing 2,300 years of history in less than seven minutes.

World: YouVersion Partners for Greater Scripture Access by 2033

Source: The Christian Post, September 9, 2021

The popular mobile Bible app YouVersion has partnered with an alliance of 10 leading Bible translation organizations to help reach the goal of making the gospel available to 95% of the world’s population by 2033.

The collaboration plan, which some initially deemed impossible in this lifetime, will also aim to see the New Testament available in 99.96% of the languages available.

Ideas for the illumiNations partnership have been brewing since 2010 at an organized launch gathering. The association was created as 3,732 languages of the world’s over 7,000 languages have little or no translated Scripture.

“The Bible transforms lives, and we want to give back and bring awareness,” YouVersion Founder Bobby Gruenewald told The Christian Post. “It’s important that people know that God speaks their languages too.”

Read the full story.

See also Adopting a Collaboration Mindset (Catalyst Services).

Iran: Deaf Get Access to JESUS Film in Persian Sign Language

Source: Mission Network News, September 23, 2021

Jesus Film Project recently released a new translation of the “JESUS” film. But it’s not a spoken translation. It’s in Persian Sign Language!

Persian, also known as Farsi, is the nation of Iran’s official language. And there are over 400,000 Deaf in Iran. The “JESUS” film has been available in Farsi for a while. But now, Iranian Deaf communities also have access to the movie and its powerful representation of the gospel.

Jesus Film Project was connected with a woman in Dallas, Texas who helped with the Persian Sign Language in the film. Now the next step is to get the word out!

But that can be easier said than done, especially in a closed country like Iran.

A friend of Jesus Film Project is getting micro SD cards into Iran with the “JESUS” film in Persian Sign Language. And it is also available on Jesus Film Project’s website.

[A spokesperson named] Brian says, “We’re connecting with other ministries who do Deaf ministry, and so we try to network with them,…letting people know this is out there.”

The Persian Sign Language translation is part of Jesus Film Project’s initiative, Mission 865. The ministry hopes to complete 865 translations of the “JESUS” film in minority languages by 2025.

The full story includes prayer points.

More good news from Iran: an imprisoned convert who had gone missing has been found  (Middle East Concern).

Middle East: Eight Barriers to the Gospel

Source: Arab World Media, September 28, 2021

We are acutely aware of the many barriers Muslims face on their journey to faith. The parable Jesus told of the sower and the seed (Mark 4) resonates deeply with where we are in our ministry in the Middle East. Some places are as resistant as hardened pathways. Others are unreceptive, like rocky ground, while others are choked with thorns. But the seed of God’s Word is falling into good soil and yielding a harvest as many are choosing to follow Jesus.

Download a prayer guide about eight barriers to the gospel in the Middle East. Consider joining AWM members, friends, and supporters who will be praying through this guide on October 8.

Chad: The Multiplication Process at Work

Source: Partners International, September 1, 2021

In the lowlands of Chad, the Lord is moving among the unreached Bua people. The Bua are a nomadic group that follows a blend of Islam and animism.

One of our local leaders, Abdu, served this people group for the past few years, sharing the gospel with them. During that time, he discipled new believers and planted three house churches. But a few months ago, Abdu had to flee the area because of intense persecution.

Mwamba was one of Abdu’s disciples. He participated in the church work and spent many hours learning about Jesus, asking questions about the Bible and helping Abdu serve the Bua people. But, after Abdu left, Mwamba moved to the city to do business.

One night in the city, he had a dream where the Lord told him, “Mwamba, Mwamba, get up and cross the river. Go back and feed my flocks.” When he woke up the next morning, he committed to go back and serve the three house churches he left behind.

God blessed Mwamba’s obedience. One month after moving back among the Bua, he planted seven house churches, baptized seven men and ten women, and saw the Lord move in mighty ways in the community.

Read the full story.

India: Healing Leads to Religious Conversion Scandal

Source: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin, September 14, 2021

In July this year, Gaya District in the north Indian state of Bihar found itself at the center of a religious conversion scandal after it was reported that hundreds of Mahadalits had left Hinduism and converted to Christianity. Indian mainstream media reported the story as a case of exploitation of superstitious villagers. “Reports claim the rampant conversions are being carried out under the pretext of curing maladies.” But, reading further, one can only conclude that the Spirit of God is moving in that place.

The story begins with Kewla Devi, a Mahadalit village woman whose chronically ill son was not responding to medical treatment. When someone urged Kewla to seek the help of Christians in adjoining Wajidpur village, Kewla—with nothing to lose—did. The Christians prayed and her son recovered.

So remarkable was this miraculous healing that, not only did Kewla and her whole family become followers of Jesus but so too did around 135 Mahadalit families in Belwadih village. The new Christians—who no longer use vermilion to mark their foreheads, nor pray to Hindu gods or goddesses—all insist they converted freely of their own will, without any inducement.

Read the full story. It includes links to Indian news sources as well as prayer points.

A Day of Atonement | Japan’s Minister of Loneliness

In this edition:

  1. Editor’s Note: A Day of Atonement
  2. Afghanistan: Has the Taliban Opened a Back Door for Chinese Missionaries?
  3. Philippines: Rival Factions Sow Seeds of the Kingdom
  4. Japan: The Surprising Appointment of a Minister of Loneliness
  5. South Africa: God Sends Christian Leaders on Mission of Healing

Read or share the email version or scroll down for individual stories.

Editor’s Note: A Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur starts a few minutes before sunset on September 15. For nearly 26 hours, Jews everywhere will gather and pray for forgiveness. (Image: Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center)

Greetings!

Before we get into other stories from around the world, I want to point out that The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur starts just before sunset tonight (September 15). For practicing Jews everywhere, this is the holiest day of the year. Many will be earnestly seeking God today.

Want to pray for them? The book of Hebrews is a good place to start.

Poke around Chabad.org to learn more about Yom Kippur observances and other Jewish practices.

I also found the following articles on the topic of atonement helpful, though admittedly they might be more useful for reaching secular Jews.

Blessings as you pray,
Pat

Afghanistan: Has the Taliban Opened a Back Door for Chinese Missionaries?

Source: Back to Jerusalem, August 2021

The Taliban is turning to China for help after taking over Afghanistan last month, according to the Taliban Spokesman for International Media (English), Suhail Shaheen. The Taliban is excited about China’s potential economic “One Belt One Road” investment, without realizing the spiritual implication of the Silk Road strategy of the underground house church missionaries.

As Chinese businessmen and contractors begin to flood into Afghanistan by the thousands, laced in those numbers will be [Chinese] missionaries armed with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Could a back door to Afghanistan be opening up for the first time in our lifetime? Could the nightmare of the rise of the Taliban today, like the rise of Mao Zedong in 1949, be the beginning of the largest house church movement ever experienced in Afghanistan’s history?

Read the full story.

Another article asks the question, “What if the next Billy Graham is currently part of the Taliban?” See also Pray for the Taliban (SAT-7).