Strong to the End

“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light” (Colossians 1:11-12, NLT).

The Cishingini New Testament, the final New Testament of a cluster of three languages in northwest Nigeria, is going through its last translation checks before being sent to the printers. This ending stretch involves almost a year of intensive checking based in the United States. Two Cishingini mother-tongue translators have left their families behind in Nigeria in order to work with their U.S. project advisors to see this Scripture check completed. They are currently in the middle of this process. The final stages of producing New Testaments often experience a lot of spiritual opposition, so your prayers are vital during this time.

• Please pray for the translators as they experience a long separation from their families and adapt to living in a strange culture.
• Ask God to bless the relationships between the translators and project advisors, despite the stress created by intensive work.
• Pray for the language committee and community back in Nigeria who eagerly await the completed translations, that they will support the team working in the U.S. with prayer and encouraging words.

The Finish Line – 2012

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, NLT).  

A new edition of The Finish Line is now available online and in print. The annual publication, produced by Wycliffe USA’s Prayer Ministries and IMC* departments, lists translation projects around the world that are nearing completion—those that are within three years or less of finishing. This is often when translation teams are faced with significant challenges and sometimes setbacks leading up to the completion of a Bible translation. We know that Satan will do everything he can to stop the spread of God’s Word, but we also know that we are called to rally on the battlefield of prayer.

• Pray that God will use The Finish Line to inspire prayer for Bible translation throughout the year.
• Ask God to use these prayers to send spiritual encouragement and protection to the featured translation teams, further supporting them to go the distance and finish the task through His power.

To view the 2012 edition of The Finish Line, go to http://www.wycliffe.org/Pray/Publications/TheFinishLine.aspx. It is available to download by the following four areas of the world—Asia/Europe, Africa, Americas, and Pacific.

*Integrated Marketing and Communications

Media-Gathering Trip to Cameroon

CBN's Charlene Israel and Wycliffe President Bob Creson visiting the Nugunu language project in Cameroon.

“Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness” (Psalm 145:6-7, NLT).

How has the work of Bible translation in Cameroon, Africa advanced in the last 25 years? Wycliffe USA President Bob Creson and his wife, Dallas, traveled to Cameroon this week along with several staff members and media professionals to visit translation partners and projects in the area. On Thursday and Friday, they will also participate in the 25th anniversary celebration of CABTAL*, a partner organization of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.

Having once served in Cameroon, in the late 1980s to mid ’90s, the Cresons can testify to the ways new technology and partnerships have helped to accelerate the work there. Today, with the support of partners, national-led CABTAL is responsible for starting all new language programs in Cameroon. With the development of specialized translation software and the ability to perform remote translation checking, there are exciting and inspirational stories to share with audiences in the U.S. Two members of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) are also on the trip to report on the anniversary event and Bible translation work in Cameroon.

• Pray for Wycliffe’s Integrated Marketing Communications team as they work to facilitate and produce media from this trip that will both engage audiences and increase familiarity with Wycliffe’s mission and vision.
• Ask God to provide the media-gathering team with opportunities to interview key people and see first-hand the meaningful work in progress.
• Pray for safety in travel as this team journeys to several locations within Cameroon.

*Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL)

Funding Translation in Ethiopia

“For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings.” (Zephaniah 3:9-10, NASB).

Zephaniah 3:9-10 has become the theme verse for all the work of Bible translation in Ethiopia. With more than 80 languages in the country, only 8 of them have the [whole] Bible. Six organizations are working in partnership to reach the unreached communities of Ethiopia with God’s Word.

This partnership desires to see God’s Word in the hands of the people, as well as provide local churches with the resources, training, and equipment they need to proclaim the gospel message in a language and format that is easily understood by everyone in the community. Currently, funding received for this year is well below what was budgeted to keep the project on track. As such, Wycliffe USA has sent out a letter to raise prayer and financial support for Bible translation and Scripture use work in Ethiopia.

• Ask God to grant wisdom to the leaders of all six partner organizations and that they commit and persevere to maintain the unity and integrity of the partnership.
• Pray for the churches in Ethiopia to catch the vision for Bible translation and become active partners in the work.
• Pray for God’s provision for the current and following fiscal years.
• Ask God to prepare the hearts of the donors that will receive the letter, and pray that people will be obedient to God’s leading in their response to prayer and financial support.

To learn more about this project and the opportunity to financially support it, go to www.wycliffe.org/give.

African Methodist Episcopal Church Partnership

“God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11, NLT).

Wycliffe Church Relations has a growing partnership with the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the largest denominations in the U.S.

Newly elected WMS President Shirley Reed and her Executive Board are meeting this week in Alabama. This is the first board meeting since her election. Please pray for Shirley and the WMS board as they seek to move forward with the plans that God has in mind for them for the next four years.

• Praise God for the growing partnership between Wycliffe and the African Methodist Episcopal Church!
• Ask God to guide and empower the new WMS president, officers, and appointees, during these meetings.
• Pray that their plans will greatly impact Kingdom-building, particularly for unreached peoples without Scripture.
• Ask God to lead Beverly Gibson and the Wycliffe Church Relations team as they determine how to best partner with the Women’s Missionary Society.

Engaging Communities

“There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning” (1 Corinthians 14:10, NLT).

This week and continuing through January 27, translation and support personnel from Togo, Mali, and areas in Asia are leading a workshop at Nigeria Bible Translation Trust in Jos, Nigeria. The workshop, titled Participatory Methods for Engaging Communities, has been held 22 times in Asia, but is being offered in Africa for the first time. The workshop aims to train 15 Nigerians and 5 expatriates to facilitate discussions involving local communities. The participants will use these methods in their translation, literacy, language survey, vernacular media, and arts work to better understand the desires and needs of the language communities they assist.

• Praise God for all that the participants are learning from the course facilitators and from one another.
• Pray that they will apply what they have learned as they work with communities to communicate God’s Word through printed translations, audio recordings, drama, and songs.
• Pray that the communities in which they serve will fully participate in these discussions.

Refreshing Springs

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring” (Isaiah 58:11, NLT).

Throughout the world, Bible Translation teams and support personnel strive to bring God’s Word to those who do not have access to it in their heart language. The process is challenging and exhausting, often leaving them in need of spiritual refreshment and renewal themselves.

This week, staff members serving in Peru are gathering for annual meetings to discuss their work and also enjoy a time of spiritual refreshment. The theme of their retreat is Jesus, Magnificent One, speaks to us! and will feature a guest speaker from Barnabas International.

• Pray for the Barnabas International staff as they travel to and from Peru to share God’s truth from Revelation 1-5.
• Pray for the participants to have quiet hearts before God that they may hear Jesus, the Magnificent One, speak to them.
• Ask God to use this time to equip and encourage them to continue in the task of Bible translation.
• Pray too as the teams hold their business meetings and make plans for the coming year.

Intercultural Communications Course

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).

The Intercultural Communication Course (ICC) prepares new missionaries for service on multi-cultural teams. Central to the ICC training is spiritual vitality. ICC prepares staff members to understand differing world views, language and cultural acquisition skills, and interpersonal challenges. The next course will be held at JAARS* in Waxhaw, North Carolina from January 19 to February 17, 2012.

The staff, who have been preparing to teach this course, are facing challenges of their own. Some have physical and medical needs. Others have parents who are ill and in need of help. Also, the trainees have various needs for the care of their children. Good health for all participants and staff is needed for optimum learning.

• God moves mightily through this course, and because of that the enemy attacks on all fronts. Please pray for the Lord to give health and strength to all the staff and students in this course, and that the plans of the enemy will be thwarted.

*JAARS is a non-profit organization that provides technical support services and resources to Wycliffe and other related organizations around the world.

Global Service Program Orientation

“May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NLT).

The Global Service Program is holding an orientation and training in Orlando, FL, January 16-20. The program is designed for those desiring to serve with Wycliffe for six months to two years and for those wanting to explore missions and consider long-term service.

• Praise God for 14 new members attending this training who are joining the worldwide Bible translation team through Wycliffe’s Global Service Program! Ask God to prepare them for successful field experience as they get ready to serve around the globe.
• Pray for the presenters and staff at the orientation, that they would be of great encouragement to these new members.
• Pray for strength and protection for those who have already completed training and have recently gone to serve in their roles overseas. Pray for flexibility as they adjust to all of the changes in their lives right now. Twelve members are currently serving overseas and another four are scheduled to leave this month.
• Continue to pray for many more new workers—for teachers, language workers, and others to fill a variety of support roles.

Ethiopians Eager for God’s Word

“May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4, NLT).

There are 158,000 speakers of the Me’en language of Ethiopia. Me’en believers eagerly await God’s Word in their heart language so they can fully understand His love and grace, what the Bible teaches and how they are to live in light of God’s truth. A previous Me’en translation team drafted the full New Testament, but it was never completed. Now two local denominations have requested that this translation project be restarted, and they are eager to participate in a successful translation work.

Wycliffe Bible Translators is partnering with The Seed Company, SIL Ethiopia, Word for the World, and Great Commission Ethiopia in this translation effort.

• Praise God for His mighty work among the local churches and for their enthusiasm to get God’s Word to their fellow Me’en speakers.
• Pray for the Me’en translation team as they face various challenges, including recent computer and electricity issues.
• Ask God for wisdom and discernment as the team holds a planning meeting this January.