USA (MNN/WAS) — Wycliffe Associates, a global organization involving people in the acceleration of Bible translation around the world, is working to help national Bible translators in remote and dangerous locations by providing new state-of-the-art equipment allowing real-time collaboration with translation consultants.
Translators who live and work in areas without reliable electricity or even Internet access are able to communicate via satellite connection with translation consultants hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
The combination of equipment, called Bible Translation Acceleration Kits (BTAKs), includes a small portable netbook computer, satellite communication terminal, solar panel, battery, and power supply.
So far, teams from Wycliffe Associates have distributed nearly 200 BTAKs and provided training for their use in countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania. The organization hopes to distribute at least 250 more kits in the near future.
“Not only does this high-tech tool make it safer for translators to carry on God’s work,” says Wycliffe Associates president and CEO Bruce Smith, “but it speeds up translation efforts by years.”
Wycliffe Associates estimates that the use of a BTAK for a Bible translation project can reduce the time it takes to translate by as many as three years.
In Africa, there are currently 87 Bible translation teams using the kits. Kenyan-born Terri Collins, who helped install some of the kits, says that Bible translation is the only hope to spread the love and compassion of Christ for the men, women, and children in Kenya who have been driven from their homes during violent clashes and raids in recent years.
“When we took Bible Translation Acceleration Kits to Kenya, [the translators] were so excited to continue the work of Bible translation,” Collins says. “When God’s Word is in their own language, the light comes on.” A complete kit costs $3,967.
Generous friends of Wycliffe Associates have put together a matching challenge fund that will double every dollar given toward the kits up to $50,000.
About Wycliffe Associates
Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in their own language, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart.
The organization partners with nationals, mother tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts, as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God’s Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.
L.s.
I am curious knowing if the BTAKs are also made available for other activities than the translation of the Bible. I am supporting women farmers in the DRC, who try triggering the process of emancipation and professionalization of women farmers. Gender related differences play a bad role in domains as agricultural development, food security, violence against women, etc.
BTAKs could play a role in more effective communication between women farmers’ organizations of different regions and provinces. Where can BTAKs be ordered? What about maintenance services?
Thank you in advance for information.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Henk Breman
I am wondering too. We are missionaries in Haiti with very spotty and unreliable internet service. Something like this would be gold to us, even if we could find out how to put it together ourselves.
I would love information.
Janis Walton
Janis, Thank you for your note. Feel free to contact Wycliffe Associates at the e-mail address or phone number given at the end of the article, above. They will be more than happy to answer your questions.