The Word For The World

With your help,seven more languages in Ethiopia can now read God's Word in their mother tongue!

2010-07-12T08:24:57-05:00

Tessema Wachemo and his team in Ethiopia juggle all thirteen translation projects – some doing drafting, team checking, field testing and yet others being consulted on - all of it simultaneously.

TWFTW thanks everyone for the diligent prayers and financial contributions as the Gamo, Gofa and Dawro New Testaments have finally been type-set by The Seed Company (TSC) in the USA. The teams are currently doing final proof reading after which the manuscripts will be returned to TSC to be sent to the printers. TSC and the Bible League USA (who partners with TWFTW) will take care of the publication.

Scripture portions in seven languages were dedicated and distributed to the local people. For some of them, such as the Sheko and Shenasha, this was the first written material ever in their languages. The people responded with great self-confidence and pride to have such wonderful resources “in their hands and hearts”. People from government, the community and churches attended the ceremony, which afforded everyone a chance to mingle with each language group.

?Praise the Lord with the vuvuzela?

2010-07-01T08:44:15-05:00

Interpretation by the AFM Atteridgeville of Ps. 150

Antoinette van der Meulen, a consultant from TWFTW, went to Ethiopia to check TWFTW’s translations. Following is an excerpt from a personal letter...

"One day, long ago, when I met a Bible translator for the first time, I asked her so many questions that she eventually said, “You don’t trust me”. Now I have to ask myself the same questions. It is an art to be able on the one hand, to translate the Bible so flexibly that it sounds natural in the target language and on the other hand, to convey the meaning honestly and accurately. Fortunately the translators have the necessary combination of respect and creativity to overcome this tension. It is refreshing to read the Bible through their eyes. Interesting idioms arise and they are touchingly glad about their redemption. Photos that I took in Israel in 2007 helped to illustrate places and objects. It is also amazing to see what photos and information one can find on the internet. So often the reaction was, “This is amazing!” Here and there words or names simply had to be changed. For example, Bethesda which means, in Amharic, “a kick on the head” J. This was replaced with the Hebrew (as quoted in Greek) “Beethzatha”, which completely satisfied the translators. Some difficult concepts for translation were “grapes”, “altar”, and “silver” which are unknown to this specific group. But time and again a solution was found. Ebenhaeser.

Prayer request:

That the Lord will call people to do consultations. I don’t understand the extreme shortage of consultants. There are, after all, people in the world who have a good knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew who could help.

Click here for the complete letter from Antoinette van der Meulen.

Zambia and DRC: Distribution of the Taabua New Testament

2010-05-28T08:40:38-05:00

Lazarous Kapasa Kachinda wrote:

I just came back from the distribution on 2nd May, after travelling the whole day and the whole night. I went to Kasama and picked up the Taabua New Testaments in Mpulungu.I had to hire a truck to Kaputa as the mini buses could not accommodate this load.

I met some guys who came from Lusaka (from Campus Crusade) who were showing the Jesus Film in Bemba. One of them is the son of the newly installed chief Kaputa. He came to me and said, “I want to buy two copies of Kitaabua New Testaments for my father since he is from the Taabua tribe.” He was very excited and he was saying he now has a big gift to give to his father and mother!

We hired a truck to take 76 boxes of Kitaabua New Testaments to Lambwechomba on the Zambian border. We distributed them in Kaputa district and the Musosa village in the Congo. We strategized on how to distribute these Testaments in Moba, Kalemie and in all Taabua speaking villages. The only way to transport these Testaments is by bicycles. One person could only carry two boxes on the back of a bicycle at a charge of $10.

NOTE: If you want to contribute to the distribution of Bibles to the Taabua people, please click here.

Do you want to swallow the hook?

2010-05-01T15:52:16-05:00

If you want to be part of the team that brings God's Word to all people in their heart language, please swallow the hook.

Click on "How to get involved/Donate." Scroll down on this page to see the urgent need for Bible Translation. You may also comment, write to us, or join us on Facebook. Together, we are making a difference!

Translation in Malawi

2010-04-12T11:09:09-05:00

1. The publication of the two gospels has helped to revive the language and choirs can now compose and sing in their mother tongue.

2. John Kadalinga: "One lady saw me chatting with a friend outside our house. She asked me if had some gospels at home. I gave her one, not knowing that many would also want some and I ended up engaging myself into a simple distribution. A lady said this came at just the right time. To her it was like that Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well."

In Malawi, The Word for the World creates a buzz throughout the Lambya people. Because of the Bible translation effort in this region (led by John Kadalinga), people have begun to understand Jesus’ love for them personally. Their language is experiencing a revival as choirs now can compose and sing in their mother tongue. Now they know that God speaks to them in their heart language!

When did Jesus die?

2010-04-01T08:21:32-05:00

Launching of the Maale New Testament in Ethiopia.

What will we be doing over Easter?

The bees were playing when Jesus died.

One Ethiopian Bible translation team translated “At the time of day when the bees come out to play, Jesus died.”

People of this particular tribe tell time by events in the natural world. Bee-keeping is one of their main occupations, and so three o’clock in the afternoon to them, is the time when the activity of the bees changes from what seems to be purposeful, work-directed, to seem to be playful. It is the time of day when the bees seem to buzz around the hives, rather than flying directly from and to the hives.

In a sense the whole world was “playing” as Jesus died, oblivious to the greatest work in the history of the world being done in behalf of all people.

This weekend, as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, many people will be “playing”. In countries where the Easter weekend is still honoured by public holidays commemorating the events, many will flock to places of recreation and relaxation. In many countries Easter will pass as an event on the church calendar, with hardly any interruption of business activities.

What will you be doing over Easter?

Let’s take time this weekend to contemplate the greatest event that ever occurred on this earth: The Son of God dying that our sins may be forgiven, and rising from the dead, so that we may be justified. Surely the magnitude and significance of that event warrants our thanksgiving and adoration?

And as we play, let our playing be as Spurgeon once said, “holy inaction and consecrated leisure.”

Véroni Krüger

Radio interview in Afrikaans about Bible Translation

2010-03-25T09:30:59-05:00

Radio interview in Afrikaans about Bible Translation: Fonnie Du Plooy from RSG and Dr Veroni Kruger...

"He said to them, 'There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.'" Luke 10.2 Good News Bible

ETHIOPIA

2010-02-24T10:47:15-05:00

Would you like to sponsor a translation project in Ethiopia?
Please contact us for more information.

The first draft of the Gospel of Luke in Awngi has been done and consultant-checked. It was recorded for the Jesus Film by The Great Commission in Ethiopia and Coast Hills Community Church, Aliso Viejo, CA USA.

Thank you all for bringing Jesus to the Awngi in their heart language!

Julie Kay Field and Endeshaw Shiferaw

Watch this 8-minute Video:

UK Open Day

2010-02-16T08:41:45-05:00

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

50 people attended the Open Day.15 of them were children of different ages! We want to thank everyone for their genuine interest in the work of Bible Translation. Not only did a local church host the gathering, but several friends prepared nibbles from countries where TWFTW has projects.

A presentation on Bible translation projects was given; a short film (where translators in Malawi and Tanzania were interviewed) was shown; Julia whetted people's appetite to read Operation Jonah and shared her heart when Tim was missing (reviews on the book can be found here); A presentation was given on training Bible translators; Mel related how God called her to be involved in TWFTW as Student Administrator; the attendees were then led in a time of prayer; the impact of Bible translation for a society was highlighted by showing how instrumental the Word of God was for the transformation of Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. Question and Answer session stimulated more interest.?

Various people had prepared nibbles that are typical of the countries where TWFTW has projects and guests were sent on their way with a homemade winter soup.

ENGLAND: You are invited!

2010-01-20T10:33:21-05:00

Open Day:
Saturday, 30th January 2010
2.00-4.30 PM

Venue:
South Oxhey Baptist Church
140 Gosforth Lane
South Oxhey, Watford
Hertfordshire, WD19 7 BX

Tea, coffee and snacks will be served.

Dr Barry & Julia Funnell will give a presentation on the work of Bible Translation. They will also speak about the book “Operation Jonah” written on the kidnapping of their baby son while working in Malawi.

Dr Regine Koroma and Dr. Melanie Underwood will give an insight into the training of Bible Translators.

This will be an opportunity to discover more about what The Word for the World does by hearing from those who are involved; seeing videos from the field; see demonstrations of how the Bible is translated; see how you can partner with us in prayer.

For further details please contact:

Dr Barry Funnell
Tel: 07508920602.
bfun@twftw.org

Regine Koroma
020 8428 5061
rkoroma@twftw.org

2010: From the President's Report

2010-01-13T08:20:10-05:00

Sena Project in Malawi: Translation Team and Supporters

The year 2009 has been challenging to all of us, due to the worldwide economic recession. At the end of such a year it is a great privilege to be able to declare that God is faithful. We have seen Him work in wonderful ways, and it has been a great experience to work with Him. For everything that has been accomplished we give all glory to the Lord. Many thanks to all our partners: churches, foundations, supporters, intercessors, those who have volunteered their time and resources or skills, those who have made donations in kind, and other ministries.

A special word of thanks must also go to all members of The Word for the World: translators, faculty, consultants, board members, and administrators. We know that nothing we do in the Lord’s service is ever in vain (1 Cor 15.58). We rejoice at having been able to work for the Lord, and we anticipate great outcomes from our work.

A Word from the president, Dr. Veroni Krüger

2009-12-11T09:39:25-05:00

Golf Day Fundraiser

2009-12-02T09:19:50-05:00

A Golf event was held at a Country Club in Vereeniging, South Africa.

40 Players paid R250 each to participate, and were invited to sponsor a hole for R1000. It turned out to be a very cold, rainy and windy day but golfers are brave! R51 000 was raised for Bible translation work in Ethiopia.*

It was a great and enjoyable day, playing together to help bring God’s Word to all people in their heart language.

Thank you to all who participated.

* The Word for the World is involved in 12 translation projects in Ethiopia. You help to translate the entire Bible into the heart languages of 12 people groups!

Would you like to organize a fundraiser for Bible Translation?

Please contact us at info@twftw.org.

October '09 E-Vis-À-Vis

2009-11-09T10:40:38-05:00

Click here to read our latest e-newsletter!

Welcome to TWFTW?s new web site!

2009-09-09T09:06:40-05:00

There will be frequent postings here on our homepage so visit us often!

Come and celebrate with the Chikunda people of Zimbabwe! They recently received The New Testament in their heart language, for the very first time! On the 1st August 2009, many government and church leaders, dignitaries, school teachers and children celebrated with supporters and local people. So many TWFTW partners and team members worked together to accomplish this victory! All glory and honour to God.

There were several outreaches by churches to the Achikunda. These churches also bought copies of the Bibles and distributed them. Please pray for provision for the 3,600 remaining copies of the Chikunda New Testament.