Streams of Prayer for 31 March 2025
The Streams of Prayer for 31 March 2025 is a circular from the Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
March 30, 2025 – April 5, 2025
Bible Translation Programmes
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 and specific ways that Alliance organisations participate in the Bible Translation Programmes participation stream. We will also celebrate lives changed through Scripture and pray that many more communities will be powerfully impacted as they encounter God through the Bible translated into the language they understand best.
Monica “Emma” Somlea holds the white board while Zoltan Babos prepares to record Ladislau “Laci” Bortos signing a Bible story in
Romanian Sign Language. (2016) Photo: Marc Ewell
Translation plans to be implemented: Equatorial Guinea
The Asociación Cristiana de Traducciones Bíblicas (ACTB) is convinced of the importance of Bible translation for the sustainability of Christianity in the indigenous cultures of Equatorial Guinea. Pray for plans to translate the Old Testament into the Fang language of Equatorial Guinea. This language already has the New Testament and is spoken by more than 85 percent of the country’s population. Pray also for plans to translate the New Testament into another language, Ndowe-Kombe. Pray for the oral Bible translation (OBT) programme, which needs to train translators. Pray for the implementation of the plan to launch two more OBT programmes before the end of 2025: for the Creole language (Pidzin of Equatorial Guinea) spoken on the island of Bioko, and for Balengue/Molengue, a Bantu language group on the country’s coast.
Saved by God’s grace: Peru
Roger Márquez, a Shipibo man, has just published his autobiographical book, Soiniwe. Shortly after his birth, he was buried alive by his mother, but providentially, the chief of his tribe rescued him. Later, he came to know God’s love and received forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ. In his new life in Christ, he was able to forgive his mother, and since then he has dedicated himself to serve fully in the many facets of God’s mission. Among these is his participation in the translation of the New Testament into the Shipibo-Konibo language. ‘And we all heard them speak in our language about the wonders of God.’ (Acts 2:11) Let us praise God for Roger’s life and his participation in the translation of the New Testament into his language. Pray also that his autobiography will be a blessing to many.
God’s Provision of New Translators: Caribbean
Wycliffe Caribbean is grateful to God for his provision of new translators for the Jamaican team in the Western Caribbean Creole Old Testament translation project. This team has had a faithful group of translators since 2020, when they first volunteered for the project. Phase 1 came to an end in September 2024. At that time, one full-time member of the team had to move on. Wycliffe Caribbean prayed and told one of their partners about the vacancy. God responded by providing two excellent candidates, but Wycliffe Caribbean only had one position. After the interviews, one candidate was selected, and the other said: “I will be willing to work as part of the team without remuneration.” She said it was the first time she felt so excited about taking on a job for which she would not be paid. Praise God for his abundant provision.
Effective Scripture engagement: South Asia
Please pray for the following Scripture engagement activities in South Asia:
- The Sarmaya* language communities have 15 Bible study groups, with 10-12 participants each, meeting once a week to study God’s Word in their heart language. Over the past year, they were able to systematically study the Gospel of Mark. Quiz competitions and other engaging activities are often organised and the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.
- Digital campaigns are progressing well in five languages: Ghambali*, Baaveli*, Sarmaya*, Badri* and Gaira Koimo*. As a result of these campaigns, thousands have downloaded Scripture Apps, watched gospel movies and read the Scriptures in their heart languages.
- Ethnomusicology workshops were conducted in two languages. Participants from the Olla Nago* and Mati-chun* communities composed seven songs in each language. They are continuing to compose more songs in their ethnic style, using the Scriptures produced in their heart languages. In addition to that, printing and distribution of various materials (such as posters, charts, calendars and stickers) to promote Scripture engagement in these languages received encouraging responses from members of these communities.
*Pseudonym
Translating the Bible into Standard Romani: Romania
Wycliffe Romania gives glory to God for the fruits of the first three years of translating the Bible into Standard Rromani. With his help, this period has been completed with the publication of a book containing the Gospels of Mark and John and the book of Acts. Thank the Lord for the approval of the second period of work. Please pray:
- For God to give grace and guidance to the Rromani team in the next stage of translating the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, and the epistles of Romans, 1,2 Corinthians and Galatians.
- For the team to work in unity and good collaboration with the Roma churches;
- That the Holy Spirit will bring spiritual awakening among the Roma people and that they will use the translated Scriptures.
Completing translations, beginning work, new staff: Philippines
Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP) asks for prayer for the following translation projects:
- Praise God that the Ginsalugen Subanen and Gaddang New Testament translation projects are nearing the finish line. Pray for protection and also provision for the printing costs. Praise God for the completion of the audio recording of the Ginsalugen Subanen New Testament.
- Pray for the Bayyo and Can-eo language groups in Bontoc, Mountain Province. The Can-eo people are enthusiastic about having an oral Bible translation project in their language. Pray for more workers and more prayer and financial partners.
- Praise God for three TAP membership applicants. Pray for more young people to respond to Bible translation needs. Also, pray for those who will be trained as translation consultants. Pray for our leadership team to see things from Jesus’ perspective and be empowered to do his will.
Efforts that are not held back by challenges: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The vision of ACOTBA-SUBO is to be a model organisation for Bible translation and literacy in the mission of God in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in order to have lives transformed for the kingdom of God. With this in mind, praise God that the organisation has already translated and dedicated two Bibles in Ngbaka and Mbandja, and four New Testaments in Pagabete, Mono, Ngbandji-ngriri and Lobala. Ongoing Bible translation programmes cover eight languages: Budja, Fulu, Ngombe-North, Ngombe-South, Gobu, Ngbundu, Togbo and Yakpa. Let us pray for the efforts in these programmes, including oral Bible translation in the language of the Aka people and 10 newly mobilised communities. Pray also that the Lord will help ACOTBA-SUBO to overcome enormous technical, logistical and financial challenges. Ask the Lord to continue to support their service in Scripture translation in different forms and media.
Streams of Prayer is the prayer bulletin of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
Copyright © 2024 Wycliffe Global Alliance, All rights reserved
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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