Streams of Prayer for 30 June 2025
The Streams of Prayer for 30 June 2025 is a circular from the Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
June 29, 2025 – July 5, 2025
Celebrating what God has done through Vision 2025: Transformation
This year, we are celebrating all that God has done through Vision 2025. Just over 25 years ago, Bible translation movements were challenged to embrace changes that would help us to work more effectively so that Scriptures could become available much more quickly to every language community that needs access to the Bible in a language they can understand. We will look periodically at how God has worked to bring this vision closer to reality, and we invite you to join us as we celebrate the wonderful ways in which God has changed Bible translation movements.
This week, we are celebrating the various forms of transformation that have taken place in Bible translation movements over the past 25 years.
National flags of multiple countries are displayed on the first day of the Wycliffe Global Alliance Global Gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa,
31 October 2024, to illustrate the diversity of participants’ nationalities. Photo: Jennifer Pillinger
Sharing the gospel in a language she did not speak: Madagascar, Global
At Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in different languages so that visitors to Jerusalem could hear and understand the good news of Jesus. When we see lives transformed through Bible translation, we know that it is God’s Holy Spirit at work. Praise God for this testimony from Madagascar, where a consultant was able to share the gospel in a language which she was not normally able to speak. As more people encounter God’s Word in a language they understand, continue to pray that lives, communities and nations will be transformed.
Advancing new translation initiatives: Paraguay
Reflecting on Vision 2025 prompted LETRA Paraguay to accelerate efforts for translation of the Bible in Paraguay, as it reminded them that every person deserves access to God’s Word in their own language. This year, staff will visit four indigenous communities in Paraguay who have not yet received the complete Bible in their language. LETRA Paraguay wants to confirm which language each community understands best, and determine if they need a separate translation of the Bible. Pray for their visits to these groups:
- Maká: They have the New Testament so far, but they face many social problems, so LETRA Paraguay must approach with care and respect.
- Paĩ Tavyterã: Their language is disappearing little by little, so it is urgent to know their situation to help preserve it and share the Word of God with them.
- Toba Qom: Staff need to asses if they understand the Toba Qom Bible which was translated in Argentina, or if there is a need to make a version closer to how they speak in Paraguay.
- Guarayo: LETRA Paraguay will assess whether the Bible translation from Bolivia is comprehensible to this group or if a tailored adaptation is necessary.
LETRA Paraguay is moving forward in faith. Pray for wisdom in making project decisions based on these visits. Thank God for the donors who support the organisation in this beautiful task.
Well-rounded consultant training: Africa
Assuring both the accuracy and impact of Scriptures in areas where it is translated is fundamental for sound Scripture engagement and teaching in the church. The quality of the process is as important as the quality of product or outcomes. How can consultants, consultants-in-training and translators model not just the technical but also the relational and spiritual aspects of a translation project to ensure that the reasons for which the translation is done are achieved? This was the premise of the first cohort of translation consultant training held in Yaoundé, Cameroon in January, bringing together participants from 15 Alliance organisations in Africa and a resource person from Asia. Together, they experienced the value of coming together, the joy of sharing and peer mentoring and mutual encouragement. Pray for the follow-up which is taking place virtually that began in June and for the second group planned for later this year, that the participants will be able to take what they learn and put it into practice on the field.
Growing commitment to whole Word Bible translation: Global
In 2015, only one-fifth of Bible translation projects included work on the Old Testament. Research showed this was largely due to lack of proficiency in biblical Hebrew among translators and consultants. Churches and language communities around the world have increasingly expressed the deep desire to have the whole Bible translated into the languages that they understand best. In 2017, the Alliance board approved a statement expressing commitment for translating the whole Bible. It said: ‘Language groups desire to reach their communities and enrich their churches with a whole-Bible-based gospel, a gospel that is centred in the entire written revelation of God to his people’.
- Praise God for the growing commitment in the global Bible translation movements to whole Bible translation.
- Praise him for the expansion of biblical Hebrew instruction and related training in the cultural, theological and historical background of the ‘Original Testament’.
- Pray for the many students developing skills in Hebrew and learning about the land of the Bible, preparing to serve as Old Testament translators and consultants.
- Pray for God’s provision so that more translators and consultants will be able to get this preparation.
Transformation to serve the church: France
Motivated by Vision 2025, Wycliffe France has undergone a profound transformation in order to return to a fundamental value: service, in order to transform lives and advance the kingdom of God in France and beyond. Initially the team focused on sending translation workers to other countries. After a process of rethinking its internal strategy, Wycliffe France has moved from sending cross-cultural workers to instead supporting programmes (through finances and prayer) in collaboration with partners, to equip churches in various countries with translated Scriptures. Wycliffe France also desires to serve churches in France. They aim to help churches raise awareness about the global needs for Bible translation and enable Christians to rediscover the richness of Scripture to which they have such free access. Pray that the Lord will continue to guide the Wycliffe France team in this transformation and that he will give them wisdom for the next steps in his glorious service.
Bible stories impact six communities: Indonesia
Translations of audio Bible stories were completed recently in six languages in the DeSuTu cluster translation project. During the community testing and Scripture engagement phases, 30 people responded to place their faith in Christ and be baptised. Some women in the community also shared the stories with their Bible study groups. Praise God for the impact of these translated Scripture stories. Pray for ongoing impact in people’s lives and the multiplication of storytellers in these communities.
Increased collaboration worldwide: Global, Americas
Praise God for the great increase in the past 25 years of the number of mission organisations, networks, churches and denominations that have become involved in Bible translation around the world. Thank him for the increase in collaboration among this mosaic of partners – sharing expertise, resources and decision-making. Greater collaboration means greater effectiveness and more efficient use of resources worldwide. In the Americas, the Alliance has helped establish national MESA* roundtables that bring together many partners to cooperate in Scripture translation efforts. Meeting together has helped foster an environment of friendship, trust and generosity among the diverse groups around the tables.
In 2024, David Pickens, Latin America Director for SIL Global, participated in Bolivia’s Bible translation roundtable meeting. In 2025, an Ese Ejja community requested help from SIL staff to train literacy educators to help people learn to read the New Testament. The Ese Ejja New Testament was translated by a team affiliated with Ethnos 360. The team and Ethnos 360 staff provided access to all the materials produced in Ese Ejja, and invited the SIL workers to adapt them as needed. The Bible Society of Bolivia offered to help with printing materials. ‘What a blessing to be able to work as a team with that level of trust!’ Pickens said. ‘These are the fruits of our investment in the Bible translation roundtable movement.’
*MESA (Mission, Structure, Health and Action, by its acronym in Spanish)
Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
Copyright © 2025 Wycliffe Global Alliance, All rights reserved
Valrie McCarthy
Language Development Officer
Wycliffe Caribbean
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