In Isolated Regions of the World, Printing is Essential, Final Step in Bible Translation and the Only Way to Share Scripture
(Worthy News) – Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, is assisting with printing and distributing newly translated Scriptures through its Print On Demand initiative.
“Translation is the crucial first step,” says Interim President and CEO Tim Neu. “But when this work is finished, there’s one more absolutely crucial step to take: the Scriptures must be printed. This is one of the best and easiest ways for God’s Word to be shared freely and fully within language groups, especially in remote areas of the world.”
Wycliffe Associates provides technology to national Bible translators in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, where many of them are in danger and persecuted for their faith.
Print On Demand units, high-speed digital printing equipment that can produce small or large quantities of Scripture, operate discreetly and quietly, keeping Bible translators safe. Wycliffe Associates trains workers to maintain and operate the portable equipment.
“In some regions, persecution is so intense, people can’t gather safely for worship or Bible study,” says Neu. “But with the printed Scriptures, they can read, study, memorize, and share God’s Word safely in their own homes.”
For example, Bible translators and local churches in one region are using the equipment to print the Gospel of John. One Christian is smuggling the copies into a city where he has connected with a group of believers who are discreetly leaving them on doorsteps.
Currently, the organization hopes to help local churches in 32 language groups that have organized teams of mother-tongue Bible translators. However, the groups need to print the Scriptures to be able to share them.
A basic Print On Demand unit costs $2,000, while the price of large-scale equipment for producing greater quantities is $25,000 each.
“This will be the first time ever that churches in these areas can read, pray, study, and worship together from printed Scriptures in the language of their heart,” says Neu.
So far Wycliffe Associates has provided 131 Print On Demand units worldwide.
“Right now, Christians in local churches are making wonderful progress in their Bible translation work,” says Neu. “For them, a Print On Demand unit is a great solution.”
About Wycliffe Associates
One of the world’s leading Bible translation organizations, Wycliffe Associates was organized in 1967 by friends of Bible translators to accelerate the work of Bible translation. Wycliffe Associates empowers national Bible translators to provide God’s Word in their own language, partners with the local church to direct and guard translation work, harnessing their passion and desire for God’s Word, and engages people from all around the world to provide resources, technology, training, and support for Bible translation.
Because millions of people around the world still wait to have the Scriptures in the language of their hearts, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as it can to see every verse of God’s Word translated into every tongue to speak to every heart. Wycliffe Associates is directly involved with speeding Bible translation by providing technology, training, resources, logistics, networking, expertise, volunteers, discipleship, church planting, and support. Wycliffe Associates staff and volunteers are currently accelerating Bible translations in 68 countries. For more information, please see www.wycliffeassociates.org.
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