Streams of Prayer for 4 December 2024
The Streams of Prayer for 4 December 2024, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. Wycliffe Caribbean makes this available.
December 1, 2024 – December 7, 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.
In Bangladesh, a woman reads her Bible in Bengali. (2015) Photo: Marc Ewell
New area programme manager serving language teams: Papua New Guinea
The area programme managers (APM) in the Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association play a vital role in helping to monitor and coordinate the language teams in various areas. On 10 August, the APM for the Madang and Sepik provinces, Orim Joel, died after a short illness. Orim’s death created a huge gap for the language projects he coordinated with his wife, Tingkui. Pray for Tingkui as she continues serving without the support of her husband and colleague. She will hand over the APM responsibilities to William and Fajiaki Kubo in the new year. Thank the Lord for the Kubos’ availability to serve in this capacity. Pray for a smooth transition for them as they assume this important role in language programme coordination.
Gaining prayer support for five communities: France, Africa, Russia
Wycliffe France is striving to familiarise French churches with five communities of interest for Bible translation with which they are involved. Praise God for progress being made in Togo and Benin, with 24 programs underway. Another community, the language groups in the Russian steppes, is also making progress, but team members there need all the encouragement they can get through prayer. Wycliffe France is also asking for prayer support for translation efforts in the three other communities: language communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Roma community in France and the French Deaf community. Pray that the Bible will become accessible in the language of each man, woman and child concerned.
Serving in member care and translation consultancy: Australia, Papua New Guinea
Thank the Lord for Alan and Faye Canavan of Wycliffe Australia. Faye is part of the member care team, ensuring that Wycliffe Australia’s personnel continue to flourish despite the pressures of ministry. Alan is a translation consultant, providing final quality checks of translations in the Milne Bay province of Papua New Guinea. Pray for their success and health as they serve in these capacities. Alan recently checked parts of the Maiadom Old Testament on Ferguson Island in Milne Bay. Give thanks for the quality of the Maiadom translation. The project’s team leader has been experiencing significant health challenges. Pray for her protection and complete recovery. Thank God that most Maiadom identify as Christian. Pray that they are blessed as they follow Christ through the Scriptures that have been translated, including the Gospel of Luke.
Partnership is essential: Central Africa Republic
The Association Centrafricaine pour la Traduction de la Bible et l’Alphabétisation (ACATBA) and the churches in the Central African Republic (CAR)work in synergy to translate the Word of God. They partner in Old Testament translation in three languages—Bhianda, Bhokoto and Banda linda—and New Testament translation in 15 languages. There are also oral Bible translation programmes in progress in three languages. Thank God for this cooperative effort between the church in CAR and ACATBA. Thank God for the impact of his translated Word in Gbaya Bianda, Gbeya, Kaba and Ngbugu. Pray for the extensive literacy programme that ACATBA is planning throughout the country. Pray for discussions taking place between ACATBA, churches and other partners regarding new translation programmes in the Banda ndélé, Banda Mbré, Langbashi, Ngbaka Mandja, Gbaya Bozoum and Ngombé communities.
Butbut Kalinga Old Testament translation project: Philippines
The Butbut Kalinga New Testament was completed in 2016. Since then, they have yearned for the complete Bible. God answered their prayers. Romie Yac-ao, who leads the Old Testament translation project, said, “From the time the New Testament was in the last stage of translation, I was praying that God would make a way so that the Old Testament would also be translated. I am very grateful that our people were given the favour to begin the Old Testament translation project.” Romie is certain this undertaking will generate a great legacy as people read the Bible and are convinced of its authority and its testimony about Christ. Pray that it will result in great joy, and that God will be glorified. Pray for all involved in this project and also for Mary Joahnna Acob, field coordinator for the Pangako cluster that includes the Butbut Kalinga project.
Language communities receive New Testaments: Papua New Guinea, South Korea
The Uare and Nara communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) launched their New Testaments in September and October. Thank God for personnel from Global Bible Translators (GBT), working in partnership with SILPNG and these language communities to reach this milestone. Several GBT leaders and office staff participated in these celebrations. Also, the Meramera New Testament which was completed with translation advising help by GBT personnel, was launched in April. Thank the Lord for the opportunity for GBT personnel to contribute to the work of Bible translation in PNG. Pray for a revival for these language communities to know the Lord through his Word and worship him.
Long journey to receive the Word of God: Venezuela
Several people from a Warao community left at 3 a.m. from their community to arrive at 7 a.m. at the house of Warao Pastor Juan Carlos Valenzuela in the community of Arature. They came to pick up 15 books of the Bible in their language: Luke, Acts, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude. Give thanks to God for the translation work that is being carried out in the Warao communities. Pray for the spiritual growth of each member of the Warao community as they read and study the Word of God in their language.
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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