Streams of Prayer for 1 April 2024
The Streams of Prayer for 1 April 2024, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
March 31, 2024 – April 6, 2024
Bible Translation Programmes
The current theme for Streams of Prayer is Bible Translation Programmes, one of the Alliance participation streams.
Wycliffe Global Alliance serves Bible translation movements because we long for language communities to encounter God through his Word. As written in the Alliance Foundational Statements, one of our core values is “trusting God to transform lives through His Word translated into the languages and cultures of the world’s peoples”.
We will pray for Bible translation efforts around the world. We will also celebrate lives changed through Scripture and pray that many more communities will be powerfully impacted by encountering God through the Bible translated into a language they can understand.
Applause from the audience at the celebration of the completion of the American Sign Language Version of the Bible. Photo: Taylor Flowe (2021)
Changed lives through oral Bible translation: Nigeria
Together with local language communities the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust (NBTT) is making good progress in translating the Bible into various languages in Nigeria through both written and oral Bible translation (OBT) programmes. Recently, a translation team approached a native language speaker to help with a community check of an OBT draft. While listening to portions of the Word of God in his mother tongue, he was deeply moved and turned to Christ for salvation, along with his family. Praise God for this powerful testimony of changed lives that highlights God’s faithfulness to reach people through NBTT translation programmes. Rejoice with NBTT staff as they continue their vital mission, thanking God as he works out his divine purpose through their involvement in Bible translation
Cree and Indigenous Translation Initiatives: Canada
Two projects of Wycliffe Canada train and support First Nations people in Canada to do Bible translation and promote the use of God’s Word in their heart languages. The Cree Initiative focuses on three language groups: Western Swampy Cree, Oji-Cree and Naskapi. Praise God for a successful First Nations Translation Workshop held last November in Guelph, Ontario. It was the seventh such workshop since 2015 and included staff from Wycliffe Canada, SIL International and the Canadian Bible Society. Praise God that for the first-time guests from Blackfoot-speaking communities in Alberta joined. In partnership with Wycliffe Canada’s Indigenous Initiatives, representatives from the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations are joining to launch Bible translation initiatives for their respective nations. Bible translation has helped many Cree individuals reclaim their mother tongue in spiritual contexts for prayer, worship and Bible study. Pray that through the Indigenous Initiatives in Canada, many more communities of believers may experience Jesus speaking their language.
Oral Bible translation project for three languages: Philippines
The Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP) and the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) are collaborating for an oral Bible translation project for three language communities in the mountain province: the Tingguian Inlaud, Isneg-Conner Apayao and Sadanga. Three people from TAP and six from PBS visited these language communities 25-29 February to begin initial preparations and planning for the project. Ask the Lord to bless the collaboration among the two organisations and the three language communities. Pray for the Lord to guide each step and bring success to the project. Pray that he will transform people’s lives as they gain access to Scripture in their languages.
Bible translation in Standard Romani transforms lives: Romania
Representatives of the Bible translation project for the Standard Romani language in Romania met with Roma church leaders and received encouraging feedback. Inspired by the project, church leaders expressed willingness to collaborate and offer support. Many Roma pastors have invited the project staff to visit their churches and share the Gospel of John in Standard Romani. As a result of the collaboration among the translation project’s committee, Wycliffe Romania and Faith Comes by Hearing, a version of the LUMO Gospel film of John in Standard Romani has been produced. The videos are available on the project’s website and shared throughout the Roma community, and have greatly impacted those who have watched them. The translation team also finalised the Book of Acts and completed the audio recording in February. They continue work on Mark, hoping to complete it by September. Thank God that Roma Scriptures have brought transformation, especially in the lives of the translators. Pray that God’s Word will continue to transform the lives of the Roma people.
Bunong audiovisual distribution: Cambodia
Praise God for the funds to build an addition to the recording studio for the Bunong language team. Thank God also for a donation of equipment from a videographer friend of the translation advisor. Pray for the team as they prepare MP3 players for distribution with the New Testament and several Old Testament books, plus some new worship songs. Ask God to be with the team as they do a consultant check of the book of Exodus. Pray that these Scriptures will transform Bunong people’s hearts and minds.
Bible translation, a lifetime project: Paraguay
Josema and his wife Pauli are the directors of LETRA Paraguay. Josema has been in the ministry since 2016 and Pauli since 2020, and they consider their service in Bible translation a lifetime project. Josema does consultations in Bible translation from the original biblical languages for five indigenous languages in Paraguay. He is studying for a PhD in theology. Pauli serves in the administration and management of operational teams and is also studying for a master’s degree in theological studies and a diploma in NGO management. Pray that God will guide Josema and Pauli in their work as directors of LETRA Paraguay and for Josema’s work as a consultant for the five Bible translation projects in progress.
New Testament soon to be released: West Africa
A language community of West Africa is close to publishing its translation of the New Testament. The typesetting of the Roman script version is almost complete. Pray that it will be finished soon and sent to the printers. The typesetter has also begun working on the Ajami script version (that uses Arabic letters). Pray for good progress and that the final details of the manuscript preparation will go smoothly. The audio recordings of this New Testament which were made by Faith Comes by Hearing have just been released on a Scripture app which will allow people to listen to God’s Word on their electronic devices. Praise God for this resource! Pray that God will use the Scriptures to touch people’s lives with his truth. Ask God to use the app to create a hunger for the printed New Testament when it is published.
Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
Valrie McCarthy
Language Development Officer
Wycliffe Caribbean
7A South Avenue
Kingston 5
JAMAICA, W. I.
876 754 9334, 908 2970, 582 6592
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