God has opened the door for us to equip national Bible translators in 10 language groups in the Middle East.
Some are not even living in their own home countries anymore—they’ve had to run for their lives. But they have ways to get God’s Word to their people, the ones left behind. It just has to be translated into the language of their heart.
It’s nothing short of a miracle that God has connected us to Christians in these areas. Persecution is so intense—it’s almost beyond describing. Owning a Bible can get you thrown in jail, tortured, or even executed. Life has no value to the government authorities there. We’ve heard that in some of these areas, people testing positive for COVID-19 are not even treated—they are simply shot to death and buried in mass graves.
Yet God has given us ways to train and equip these Christians to translate the Scriptures into their own heart language—safely, secretly—and deliver God’s Word to their own people. And they are asking for the chance. They’ve prayed, they’ve hoped, and they’ve wept before the Lord, asking God to somehow give them a way to share the life-transforming power of His Word with their countrymen who are hungry for His word.
Let’s listen to Dr. Tim Neu, the Chief Operating Officer of Wycliffe Associates, share a message, from the edge of the Sea of Galilee, about Jesus's words after miraculously feeding multitudes. . . and how today there are many who have experienced the harsh reality of life without God and now are hungry for His Word.
Yes, so many people in the Middle East desperately want God’s Word for their church, their friends, their families. But helping them translate Scripture into their heart languages must be done quietly—even in secret.
I began to wonder what Jesus says about secrets. Look what I found in the book of Matthew.
But when you give to the needy,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-5 (NIV)
But when you pray, go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting,
but only to your Father, who is unseen;
and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV)
My dear prayer partners, there are many times our Bible translation partners need us to do our work quietly—in secret. The door has opened for Wycliffe Associates to assist believers in the Middle East get the Bible translated into their heart languages. This is an unprecedented opportunity. In fact, it is a miracle.
I know that you will want to join us in getting Scripture to these brothers and sisters who are so desperately hungry to read and study God’s Word in their own language. Let’s pray together. . . .
Show us, Lord, the Bible translators, pastors, and believers who need MAST training but have not heard of it yet.
Help us, Lord, to gather the funds to assist the national believers who are ready and waiting for training in Bible translation—they are hungry for God’s Word.
Lead us, Lord, to make decisions and move forward together advancing Bible translation—bringing glory to You, Lord God.
Move us, Lord, to give, to pray, to fast, in secret, so everyone in the world will have Your Word in their heart language—sooner than later.
Praying with you,
Prayer Coordinator
Wycliffe Associates
