Did you know there are 6912 languages spoken in the world?  I didn't either until about four years ago.  The next thing I learned was less than half of those languages had any Scripture.  Hundreds of millions of people are Bibleless.  Below are several numbers displaying the need for Bible translation. There are also some frequently asked questions.  Numbers were obtained from the Wycliffe website.

Why not just teach people English?

This is a very logical question although when explored proves not a viable option.  First of all, teaching English as a second language, no matter how well it is taught is still a second language to those being taught.  If you have ever attempted learning a second language, you know what a task this can be.  No matter how many years you study it, it cannot be completely mastered.  Imagine trying to read the Bible (especially a book like Romans) in the foreign language that you spent four years learning in high school.  It would be quite difficult!  Not only would it take years for these Bibleless peoples to learn English well enough to read the Bible in English, it would also require much more effort on the part of the missionaries to make sure all of those people learn English that well.  Another reason that we choose translation in the mother tongue versus teaching English is that we are following the model set before us through the incarnation of Christ.  On a cosmic level, Jesus adapted to the host culture (humanity) and sought people in the midst of their own culture and language.  We seek to do that on a lesser scale but nonetheless seek people where they are.

How long does it take to translate the Bible?

As one can imagine, translation is a long and very involved process involving the commitment of missionaries to a career on the field somewhere.  In years past, Bible translation was done by sending one team of translators (typically a family) to one language group until the project was done.  Sometimes a New Testament translation alone would take nearly 20 years!  With a new sense of urgency, Bible translation visionaries are coming up with improved methods for maximizing resources to get the job done faster with the same amount of attention to detail and accuracy.  New developments in computer software as well as the training of nationals to do the work are a few of the ways that we are attempting to shorten the amount of time it takes to produce a translation.  Under ideal conditions it may take less than 15 years for a complete Bible!

We Believe...

We believe that God, in his wisdom and mercy, entered time, space, language, and culture to communicate his message of love to the world.  We believe Jesus has commanded us to spread that message of love to those who have not yet heard it.  We also believe that the ministry of Bible translation provides unique opportunities for sharing this message of love by communicating through the very process of translation that God loves people enough to speak their language.  He has given us the abilities and resources to pursue that very goal and we strive towards that end for His ultimate glory.  It is our prayer that all peoples may know his glory and come together at that great assembly spoken of in Revelation 7:9-10.  “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.  They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands.  And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!"

Why Missions?

Aside of asking 'why Bible translation?', we also want to address why God wants us to be involved with missions.  Missions is emphasized throughout the entire Bible, not just one book.  We can also see that God has been working towards the same goal since the fall of man, not just since the New Testament.  Consider these verses:

Genesis 3:14-15 ¹⁴ So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

God spoke these words to the serpent directly after the fall of man.  In verse 15 God reveals a clue about how he would save mankind.  Jesus was the seed (son) who would crush the power of the serpent (Satan) and Satan would bruise his heel (crucify on the cross).  God knew from the beginning how he would save us.  He has been working towards this goal ever since.  Consider these verses:

Genesis 12:1-3 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. ² "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Here we can see that God was not just concerned with raising a nation of people (Israel) but intended to bless the entire earth through Abram's family (whose descendant was Jesus).  Consider the next verse:

Exodus 9:16 ¹⁶ But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

These are the words of God, spoken through Moses, to Pharaoh, king of Egypt .  God allowed the slavery of the Israelite people so that His power would be shown and His name proclaimed throughout the earth.  Furthermore, he placed Pharaoh in power to accomplish this.  God's wisdom just blows my mind.  

There are so many verses that show God's heart for the world.  Here are just a few more:

Joshua 4:23-24 ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

1 Kings 4:34 ³⁴ Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

2 Kings 5:15 ¹⁵  Then Naaman (a man from the nation of Aram ) and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel . Please accept now a gift from your servant." 

Esther 8:17 ¹⁷ In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

Isaiah 49:6 ⁶ he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Daniel 6:25-27 ²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! ²⁶ "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. ²⁷ He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

Psalm 67:1-7 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah ² that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. ³ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. ⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah ⁵ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. ⁶ Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. ⁷ God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

These are only a fraction of the verses which reveal God's heart for the whole world (ask me in email and I will send you more).  Please look up and read the context of these verses.  Pray that God reveal himself and his plan to you.  Pray that your heart will become more and more like His.  Praise God for his merciful heart and ingenious plan to save mankind.