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.