Islands-Asia (MNN) — A groundbreaking Bible translation initiative is underway in one of the largest Muslim-majority nations in the world, referred to by unfoldingWord as “Islands-Asia” for security reasons.
Though the Gospel has a historic presence in this particular country, the spiritual needs are still staggering.
Dane with unfoldingWord says, “The Joshua Project lists about 195 million people in that country that are unreached with the Gospel. The Gospel has been there a long time, and so there are Christians in the country — but still, 250 million people do not have God’s Word in their heart language.”
The country is home to more than 700 language groups. But despite decades of faithful effort, only 100 New Testaments and 34 complete Bibles have been translated. Dane adds, “The demand for Bible translation far exceeds the capacity of traditional methods and organizations.”
(Photo courtesy of unfoldingWord)
The Whole Bible, Whole Nation project by unfoldingWord focuses on using the national language as a bridge to translate Scripture into minority languages.
“We used to call it a gateway language,” Dane explains. “Now we call it a strategic language. If you can get all of our translation tools into that strategic language, then they use them and they can translate the Bible for those…250 million people in that country that do not have God’s Word.”
UnfoldingWord recently signed a memorandum of understanding with a large church in Islands-Asia to integrate translation tools into local training.
“Already, the church’s Bible translation ministry is utilizing our technology,” Dane says. “God is moving in a very powerful way.”
Local leaders recognize the urgency. Dane shares the story of Birhan, a former forensic auditor turned Bible translation advocate. Birhan is from a local tribe still waiting for a complete Bible. “People will come to him and say, ‘Oh, you just need it in the national language.’ But he says, ‘No, that will never be enough — because of how the devil has tricked my people with false teachings.'”
As Birhan says, “We’ve been waiting 170 years for the Bible in our language. Finally, we are working on it.”
You can support this Whole Bible, Whole Nation initiative by visiting unfoldingword.org to pray, donate, or learn more.
Header photo courtesy of Tim Wildsmith/Unplash.
