Source: Mission Network News, May 12, 2025
When Scripture translator Ed Maxey first set foot in Papua, Indonesia, he was closer to death than he knew. Mission Aviation Fellowship’s Linda Ringenberg tells the story.
“He was so exhausted from the hike that he laid down in the mud. He didn’t know that at that time the Ngalik warriors were hiding and surrounding him because they didn’t know who these people were, and they were going to kill him. The fact that he lay down was a sign of weakness, so they decided they were going to spare his life.”
That was over 60 years ago. Since then, the Ngalik people have benefited from Ed and his wife Shirley’s efforts to translate the New Testament into their language, a work that was completed in 1992. The Maxeys’ son Buzz and his wife, Myrna, became the second generation of translators, heeding God’s call to translate the Old Testament for the Ngalik people.
As of this year, the Ngaliks have a complete Bible in their heart language.
See the full story with pictures and praise God for this milestone.
The Maxeys were Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries. Read a longer article about this work from the Alliance or watch the eight-minute video, also below. It’s really well done.
This happens as Papuan Christians face increasing persecution in their region, another article says, adding, “The completed Ngalik Bible translation is expected to dramatically boost evangelism and discipleship efforts in Papua” (International Christian Concern).
In another part of Indonesia with a considerable Christian population, Borneo, work is just beginning on the Old Testament, 25 years after the New Testament was completed. Read Palangkaraya Hosts First Step toward Complete Ot Danum Bible (United Bible Societies).