What the Ad Says
A Bible translation project can take up to twenty years from conception to completion. Along the way it involves linguists, teachers, plumbers, pilots and computer specialists, to name a few. But all these people have a single aim – to let God speak. Because we know the translated Bible in a heart language is a love letter from God. For us, translation is a romantic act, a way for God to tell the world he loves it. To help translate God’s love letter, visit www.wycliffe.org.au for more.

The Story behind the Ad

What mental picture do you get when you hear the term 'Bible Translation'? Some people consider it an academic exercise - pouring over books, debating semantics and technicalities, slaving away in ivory towers crossing t's and dotting i's.

Sure, Bible translation requires highly skilled professionals, but it is also highly relational. Consider what it might be like if you went to a culture that had no written language and no books? Where would you start the translation process? That's the very real challenge facing many of our translation teams. They spend years not reading books - but relating to people. Learning the nuances of culture and expression. How successful they are at the book work depends primarily on their relational skills. It's hardly an academic exercise.

But isn't that what God did? Isn't that the whole point of Jesus' mission to planet earth? He came to relate to us, and relationship is an act of love. That's what the Book is all about. If it wasn't - why would we bother translating it?

Bible translation involves a lot of logistics support. The people who need Bible translation don't always have good physical or social infrastructure. Transport to the field and communications are essential and we often provide our own housing. Once a language is recorded, people need to learn how to read it. So in Wycliffe, around three in four members are support staff - teachers, plumbers, pilots and computer specialists, to name a few.

But all these people have a single aim - to let God speak through his Word. We're not striving to achieve Vision 2025 so we can say 'mission accomplished!', we're doing it because we know that the Bible in a heart language is a love letter from God. So for us, translation is a romantic act, a way for God to tell the world he loves it. And that is good news in anyone's language.

Your Next Step

We suggest visiting the 'My Wycliffe' page for your next step, or click for our contact details.