Streams of Prayer for March 14, 2021

The Streams of Prayer for March 14, 2021, is a circular from Wycliffe Global Alliance. This is available through Wycliffe Caribbean.

The current theme for Streams of Prayer is Training. We will pray for those who are teaching, their students and the institutions that host these training programmes. We will ask God to provide staff, finances and equipment for training programmes, so that translation programme staff will be equipped in the many disciplines required to finish translations of the Bible well.

Missions belong to God and the agent of missions is the Church. Please join with us as we pray for Alliance organisations engaged in the Church Participation Stream. We pray also for the Church as it participates in the Bible translation movement.

Training consultants and specialists: South Africa and Asia

The Masters of Language and Translation in the Mission of God is a two-year course offered via a partnership of Seed Company and the Wycliffe Global Alliance. Nine students from Southern Africa and Asia are currently taking the course in preparation to become exegetical and translation specialists or consultants-in-training. They have been able to continue with the modules online during the pandemic. However, only about half of the practicums, where the students visit a translation project, have been able to continue. 

• Pray for programme staff to find different ways for students to have exposure and mentoring at projects. 
• Pray for the students as they think about their topics for their dissertations. They do not have ready access to libraries. Pray that staff can find ways for them to get all articles and books online. 
• Staff and students hope to meet in June in Cape Town. Pray that it will be possible for all to travel again.

 Literacy training for pastors and leaders: Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) and the Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) have embarked on a new partnership initiative in literacy training. In February, the literacy coordinator of PNGBTA began a training module for pastors and leaders attending the CLTC Port Moresby campus. This training will provide the skills and knowledge for pastors and leaders to produce literacy materials and conduct adult literacy classes in their churches and communities.

Both organisations would like to see literacy training expand and be integrated into church ministry to help people in language communities engage with the Word of God. 

• Pray for the leaders in both organisations as they collaborate in developing church pastors and leaders to strengthen the churches through this literacy training initiative.
• Pray that many more people will encounter God in powerful ways through his Word as a result.

 Language workshops equip churches and translators: Philippines

Wycliffe Philippines praises the Lord for the positive responses from various partners in different locations of the Philippines to hold language workshops. A language workshop equips mother-tongue translators and local churches to translate God’s Word into their heart language. The event is designed to strengthen local church ownership of Bible translation projects. There are two workshops this year: Diangan Language Workshop at Calinan, Davao City and Mansaka Language Workshop. 

• Pray for unity of hearts and minds and effective coordination and planning for these two workshops. 
•  Ask the Lord for favourable weather, organised logistics, and safety as the team and participants travel to the venues. 

 Training challenges, training opportunities: United Kingdom, Europe and Africa

The School of Language and Scripture is a programme of Moorlands College in partnership with Wycliffe UK. The school’s MA programme equips students to serve alongside local language communities as they address their language development and Bible translation needs. Carrying on this programme remotely has been a challenge for both staff and students, as they seek to build relationships and connect with each other. 

• Praise God for the ongoing online study options, but pray that on-campus teaching can resume soon. 
• Pray that students and staff would have the strength and inspiration to push through the remainder of this year working remotely, and fresh energy to focus on new opportunities as lockdown eases. 
• Pray for a few students who are currently based in their home countries of Germany and Nigeria, that their online studies will go well and that they will be able to discern when best to travel to the UK. 

A conclusion and a beginning: Peru

Give thanks to God that the 13 students in training for linguistics, literacy, and Bible translation in CILTA successfully concluded the 2020 academic year. 

• Praise God for working out His plans for these graduates despite many challenges due to COVID. 
• Pray for their next steps. Some are currently collaborating on existing translation projects, while others prepare for new assignments in the world of Bible translation. 

Although 12 new students were planning to study in 2021, eight had to cancel because of difficult economic situations. Praise God for three students from Argentina and one from Peru, who began the course on 8 March. Pray:       

• That God will provide economic resources for the new students. 
• For a full staff of professors to teach the classes. 
• For good health for all staff and students throughout the academic year. 

 Training Intercultural Partners Workshop: United States

On 12 February 2021, 37 new cross-cultural workers finished a three-week workshop entitled Training Intercultural Partners. The purpose of this learning experience is to help new candidates further their interpersonal skills. Also to understand differing worldviews, and deepen their relationship with God. The programme, usually held on-site at JAARS in the USA, was taught virtually because of COVID restrictions. 

• Give thanks to God for each student who dedicated time to the challenges of the workshop. 
• Pray that the lessons learned will stay firmly impressed in their memories as they work out details to begin serving in the areas to which God has called them. 
• Also, ask God to be at work throughout their service careers to help them apply these principles to future life situations.

 Restarting translation consultant training: Papua New Guinea

Covid disrupted translation consultant training in Papua New Guinea for the whole of last year. Two groups of people are at various levels of the translation consultant training track. Discussions are in progress for a third group to begin training as soon as possible. Stephen Moyaru, Language Services Director for the Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) says, “The need for translation consultants is acute. We want to be able to move as many of the trainees as possible to finish in the next couple of years.” 

• So pray for Stephen to have wisdom as he works with others to restart the translation consultant training in 2021. 
• Pray also for effective relationships and collaboration between PNGBTA and the various organisations involved in this training programme. 

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