Streams of Prayer for 13 December 2022
The Streams of Prayer for 13 December 2022, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
Bible Translation Programmes
Wycliffe Global Alliance serves Bible translation movements because we long for language communities to encounter God through his Word. The Alliance trusts “God to transform lives through His Word translated into the languages and cultures of the world’s peoples”. (From the Alliance Purpose, Mission, Vision & Values)
The current theme for Streams of Prayer is Bible Translation Programmes, one of the participation streams for the Alliance. More than 50% of Alliance organizations manage Bible translation programmes. Bible translation programmes require teams of people with various skills. Together they strive to ensure that the translated Scriptures are clear and easy to understand, accurate in reflecting the original meaning, and accessible in appropriate formats. Team members also engage communities to use the Scriptures effectively. It is important for us to pray that God’s Word will be translated well and efficiently into each language. Ask God to impact language communities around the globe as people read, listen to, or watch translated Scripture. Pray that they will understand it and be transformed.
Exegesis seminar partnership: Philippines
Racquel Mijares, a translation consultant of the Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP) helped teach the Basic Exegesis Seminar to translation teams of TAP and Wycliffe Philippines for five consecutive Saturdays to help project managers, facilitators, and others to better understand the significance of rightly done exegesis, and the profitability of going through the correct process in Bible translation. Praise the Lord for his wisdom and guidance to Racquel as she prepared and shared her expertise. Pray for the participants to continue to improve their skills as they practice their learnings from the seminar. Ask the Lord for good teamwork for those working together in partnerships.
Celebration and moving forward: South Africa
Thank God that Wycliffe South Africa has celebrated the completion of Scripture portions in several languages. Thank God that each of these teams has completed a phase of translation and met their goals. Most of these languages are now proceeding with a new phase of translation. Two clusters of languages will disband, and each language will now be a separate project with separate goals, consultant checking, and workflow. Please pray for the adjustment for these teams. A few languages are moving from a part-time, workshop-based approach to doing full-time translation. Some have the goal of translating the whole New Testament in five years. Please pray for consultants to do the checking of all this translation work. Also, pray for the right partners and financial provisions to fall into place.
Kaugel Old Testament project: Papua New Guinea, Australia
Give thanks that Rob Head of Wycliffe Australia was able to spend over two months in the Kaugel village in Papua New Guinea earlier this year. For two years he was not able to do this because of COVID. Rob worked with Rambai, the key translator for the Kaugel Old Testament project. They completed the checking and editing of the translations of Joshua, Ruth, and Jonah.
Give thanks that Rambai now has a new computer with the latest version of Paratext software to help him with his translation. Thank God for Willy, another Kaugel man who received translator training recently to help Rambai and Rob. Pray that Willy will be keen and able to do back translation of the Old Testament books. Also, pray for a laptop for him so that he can do that work. Pray for strong support among the Kaugel people for the Kaugel Scriptures, and for dedication to following Jesus.
The Paicî and Hmwaveke language work: New Caledonia, New Zealand
Thank God that Ian Flaws from Wycliffe New Zealand completed his lengthy research proposal for a study of the Paicî language. The Paicî language is widely spoken in New Caledonia. He did an oral presentation in person to a committee in the University of Waikato. The committee gave their approval. Ian is continuing his linguistic research and is working with an Australian colleague to organize his Paicî data in the best format for analysis. This language analysis will be helpful in producing an effective translation of the Scriptures in Paicî. Ask the Lord for strength, stamina, and wisdom for Ian. Pray for his wife Marietta as she assists the translation team working on chapters of the Gospel of Luke in the Hmwaveke language. Praise the Lord for this help that Marietta is giving to the Hmwaveke team.
Using a cluster approach: Cameroon
CABTAL‘s language programmes are managed by staff in the Department of Operations and Development, with input from other technical and administrative departments. Thank the Lord for the cluster system that makes work with language communities easier by bringing together several language groups based on their geographical and linguistic proximity to work on translation together under the supervision of a cluster facilitator. Each language programme has its own internal organization and is headed by an InterChurch Committee. Thank God for this system which allows teams in the same cluster project to interact, to exchange experiences, and also maintain a healthy spirit of cooperation and mutual encouragement. CABTAL currently has 14 clusters in the three major regions of Cameroon. Pray for the 13 cluster facilitators who usually travel long distances between some language families. Ask God to continue to provide them with resources for the cross-cultural management of the clusters.
Romanian Sign Language: Romania
The Bible translation into Romanian sign language for Deaf people in Romania started in 2015. The Deaf desired to have access to God’s Word in their language, therefore a set of 32 Bible passages were translated during the first phase of the project. The Deaf community appreciated these passages, and many Deaf people had asked for more Bible portions to be translated. The translation continued with the Gospel of Mark, which is expected to be completed by the end of December.
Pray that God will give the team and consultant wisdom as they check the last six chapters of Mark. Also, pray that the final form of the translation of Mark will help Deaf Romanians gain a deeper understanding of the Word of God. The team needs new members to join and help with the translation work. So pray that God will guide the recruitment of dedicated people. For the translation process to continue, the project needs new financial supporters. Pray and ask God to fulfill all needs so the Deaf in Romania can receive the Word in the language of their heart.
Strategic prayer needs for the whole Alliance: Global
During Global Connect the Executive Director of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, Stephen Coertze, reminded us to thank God for the foundations to our work that those who went before us have contributed to the Bible translation movement. Ask God to use our contributions to bring fruit all around the world in the coming years. We praise God for churches in many countries giving leadership in Bible translation programmes. Please pray for three areas highlighted by Stephen.
- A discussion on People Serving in Mission will be launched in January. So pray for robust and fruitful discussions with solid outcomes.
- A new funding model was launched this fiscal year. The Alliance is now funded through both fees and projects that Alliance organizations can contribute to. Pray also that many will give generously.
- Thank God that we are growing in understanding and practicing collaboration. Pray that we will continue to grow in collaborating well both within the Alliance and with outside partners.
Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
–
Valrie McCarthy
Proclaimer Officer
Wycliffe Caribbean
7A South Avenue
Kingston 5
JAMAICA, W. I.
876 754 9334, 908 2970, 582 6592
Let us know if you wish to also receive the “Streams of Prayer” bulletin sent to your inbox. If so, send us an email at webmaster@gmc-mca.org and we will gladly add you to our list.
