Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada • Winter 2009
CentRAl AfRicA: In PeRson Featuring one of the world’s regions with the greatest need for Bible translation. Special Issue
2010 Calendar
Foreword Winter 2009 • Volume 27 • Number 4 Word Alive, which takes its name from Hebrews 4:12a, is the official publication of Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada. Its mission is to inform, inspire and involve the Christian public as partners in the worldwide Bible translation movement. Editor: Dwayne Janke Designer: Laird Salkeld Senior Staff Writer: Doug Lockhart Staff Writers: Janet Seever, Deborah Crough Staff Photographer: Alan Hood Vice President of Communications: Dave Crough Word Alive is published four times annually by Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada, 4316 10 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6K3. Copyright 2009 by Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada. Permission to reprint articles and other magazine contents may be obtained by written request to the editor. A donation of $12 annually is suggested to cover the cost of printing and mailing the magazine. (Donate online or use the reply form in this issue.) Printed in Canada by McCallum Printing Group, Edmonton. Member: The Canadian Church Press, Evangelical Press Association. For additional copies: media_resources@wycliffe.ca To contact the editor: editor_wam@wycliffe.ca For address updates: circulation@wycliffe.ca Note to readers: References to “SIL” are occasionally made in Word Alive. SIL is a key partner organization, dedicated to training, language development and research, translation and literacy.
Wycliffe Canada Vision Statement: A world where translated Scriptures lead to transformed lives among people of all languages. Translating Scripture, Transforming Lives Together with partners worldwide, we serve indigenous people through language-related ministries, especially Bible translation and literacy. Our goal is to empower local communities to express God’s love in Word and deed—for personal, social and spiritual transformation. Wycliffe personnel currently serve globally in nearly 1,500 language projects for more than a half billion people. However, about 2,400 minority groups still wait for the power of God working through their own languages. Wycliffe invites you to participate in this effort through prayer, service and funding. Canadian Head Office: 4316 10 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6K3. Phone: (403) 250-5411 or toll free 1-800-463-1143, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. mountain time. Fax: (403) 250-2623. Email: info@wycliffe.ca.
In Others’ Words “ You want to send me historical works? That would be fine. But it would be even better if you sent me the Bible (both Testaments). I need it.” —Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), the great Russian novelist, while imprisoned at St Petersburg, in a letter to his brother.
Personalizing 500 Bibleless Groups Dwayne Janke
O
ur best estimate is that Bible translation still needs to begin in about 2,400 languages worldwide. These languages are not evenly distributed around the globe. In fact, four-fifths of them are located in just three main regions: 1) Mainland Asia; 2) Central Africa and Nigeria; and 3) the Indonesia-Pacific Archipelago. In the 2009 calendar issue of Word Alive, we featured the first of these regions of greatest Bible translation need—Mainland Asia. In this 2010 calendar, we present images from the Central Africa and Nigeria area, which lies in the very heart of the African continent (see map below). In this region, you can find more than 500 language groups without Bible translation projects even started. To break things down further, there are two centres of concentration in the region. The first one is the nation of Nigeria. In this country, 510 languages are spoken among the population of 137 million. Bible translation has not even started there for more than 250 of those languages. The region’s second centre of concentration is Central Francophone Africa, which includes such nations as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. This area is home to 250plus languages needing translation of the Scriptures. These impressive language statistics represent something more substantial— tens of millions of human beings without God’s Word in their heart languages. They also represent a broad range of geographies, livelihoods, cultures, ethnic traditions, political circumstances and religious practices. To help personalize this, we are presenting photographs of people from the Central Africa and Nigeria region with each month. We trust that this will be the calendar of choice in your home or office, as you keep track of important dates and personal events in 2010. But, more significantly, we want it to be a reminder for key partners like you that there remains a huge unfinished task in this part of Africa. As you refer to the calendar, please pray that: • Bible translation will begin soon for the remaining languages there. • Wycliffe and other organizations can partner with local churches and agencies in the region. • God will send the required personnel, prayer and finances to see the translated Word presented with clarity—in print and non-printed form. We know that the Bibleless language groups of Central Africa are on our Lord’s heart. May they also be on yours in 2010 and beyond.
We trust that this will be the calendar of choice in your home or office.
Word Alive • Winter 2009 • wycliffe.ca 2
Photo Credits: Genesis Photos (May, July, August, December); Esther Havens (Cover, January, March); Dave Crough (Below, February, June); Alan Hood (April, September, October, November).
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
January
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
December
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
“ If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
—Matthew 7:11 (NIV)
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
January
27 28 29 30 31
February
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8 9 10 11 12 13
Friday
Saturday
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New Year’s Day
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day (U.S.)
31 Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
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February
Sunday
January 1 2 3
Monday
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Wednesday
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Saturday
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St. Valentine’s Day
28
Presidents’ Day (U.S.)
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. —Psalm 112:4 (NIV)
February Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
Ash Wednesday
March
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
www.wycliffe.ca
March
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February 7
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7
Daylight Saving Time Begins (some exceptions)
Palm Sunday
St. Patrick’s Day
April
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. —Proverbs 25:25 (NIV)
March Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
First Day of Spring
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
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April
Sunday
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March
Even to your old age . . . I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. . . .
1 2 3 4 5 6
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8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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Good Friday
—Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
April
28 29 30 31
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May
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
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Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
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May
Sunday
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April
June
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
1 2 3
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5 6 7 8 9 10
—Psalm 42:2 (NIV)
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 2 3 4 5
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Saturday
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May
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Mother’s Day
Victoria Day (Can.)
Memorial Day Obsrved (U.S.)
Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
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June
Sunday
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May 1 2
Tuesday
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Father’s Day
Flag Day (U.S.)
First Day of Summer
National Day (Qué.)
July
Whoever is wise, let him . . . consider the great love of the LORD. —Psalm 107:43 (NIV)
1 2 3 4
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June Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
www.wycliffe.ca
July
Sunday
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June
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
“ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. . . . For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
—Matthew 11:28, 30 (NIV)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Wednesday
7 8 9 10 11 12
July
27 28 29 30
August
Thursday
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Saturday
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Canada Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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Independence Day (U.S.)
Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
www.wycliffe.ca
August
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July
Civic Holiday (Can.—except Qué., Nfld., P.E.I.)
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Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. —Psalm 119:73 (NIV)
August
September 1 2 3 4 5
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www.wycliffe.ca
September
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Tuesday
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Monday
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Your beauty should . . . be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Wednesday
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—1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
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September
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October
Labour Day
First Day of Autumn
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Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
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October
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
September
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
—Psalm 34:11 (NIV)
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Saturday
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October
26 27 28 29 30
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November 1 2 3 4 5 6
Friday
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Thanksgiving Day (Can.)
31 Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
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November
Sunday
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October 1 2 3
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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Daylight Saving Time Ends (some exceptions)
Remembrance Day (Can.) • Veterans Day (U.S.) • Wycliffe World Day of Prayer
Thanksgiving Day (U.S.)
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. —Psalms 29:11 (NIV)
November Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada
December 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
www.wycliffe.ca
December
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Monday
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November 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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You turned my wailing into dancing . . . O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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—Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV)
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December
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January 2011
Boxing Day (Can.)
First Day of Winter
Christmas
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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Inspiring stories from Alaska to the Himalayas! Angel Tracks in the Himalayas
F
ew know the price of the Gospel like Gary Shepherd, a veteran of Wycliffe Bible Translators since 1969. Angel Tracks in the Himalayas is his life-changing story of what it really takes to follow God’s call. You may never look at the Bible the same way again . . . Gary’s simple faith, captured in eloquent detail, will make you feel as if you are right in the centre of the action; facing the King Cobra, hearing the witch scream, feeling the searing bullets. If you have ever wondered where the real Kingdom is operating, then read this book. With honesty and craftsmanship, Softcover. 268 pages. Gary relates his journey in a way that $15.95, plus GST and shipping/handling. will comfort those who have served and Use the reply form in this know . . . and inspire those whose time magazine to order, or call has yet to come. 1-800-463-1143, ext. 283. Explore all our books, videos and gifts online at <www.wycliffe.ca/store>.
Whiter Than Snow
A
fter the death of her mother, a 10-year-old girl is called to missions among the Eskimos. Despite many obstacles, Hildegard Seiler is determined to follow God’s leading. In 1972, she and her husband reach northwestern Alaska where they work with the Inupiaq people to translate God’s Word into their language. Whiter Than Snow tells how they raised their two children in the Arctic, came to love the people they served, while battling extreme cold, raging blizzards, extended power outages, serious illness, depression and anxiety. Many of the Inupiaq people, upon hearing their Scriptures in their “heart” language, Softcover. 264 pages. came to faith, and became, in God’s $15.95, plus GST and shipping/handling. sight, “whiter than snow.” Use the reply form in this This new book is a great way to present magazine to order, or call missions to young Christians not only as 1-800-463-1143, ext. 283. Explore all our books, something to pray for, but as a career videos and gifts online at <www.wycliffe.ca/store>. choice in the years ahead.