Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (JN 8:32)

U.S.

Friday, Feb 10, 2012

Bible Translators' Campaign Draws Over $117M in Support

0
  • Kathie Watters Wycliffe Bible Translators
    (Photo: Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators)
    Kathie Watters (far left), developer of Wycliffe Bible Translators' AIDS program and co-author of AIDS education shell booklets known as Kande's Story, works with a translation team in this undated file photo.
By Eric Young , Christian Post Reporter
April 13, 2009|8:28 pm

The world's largest Bible translation organization has received over $117 million in gifts, pledges, and other commitments since launching a billion-dollar effort late last year.

Starting with a $50 million gift - the largest single donation in its history - in November 2008, Wycliffe Bible Translators has been pressing ahead with its Last Languages Campaign to provide literacy, life-saving health information, and the Bible to all the world's small language groups in need of language development by 2025.

"Helping a mother become literate can make a more lasting impact on a community than providing a doctor," says Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe Bible Translators.

"While a doctor can fight disease and sickness with medicine, mothers - and ultimately communities - are better served through literacy programs that help mothers read prescriptions, medicine bottles and educate themselves on healthcare," he adds.

Over the next 16 years, Wycliffe looks to reach the remaining one-third of the world's language groups (some 200 million people) through the Last Languages Campaign in hopes of enhancing millions of lives around the globe.

According to the organization, the provision of critical community development often starts with Bible translation and the language development that is foundation to it.

Like us on Facebook

In Africa, for example, Wycliffe's staff and the African translation teams have translated booklets for an AIDS education program into the heart language of scores of communities in Africa, providing easily understandable AIDS education for the first time in most of the communities.

The booklets, called "Kande's Story," are currently being developed or used in 11 countries and 80 language communities in Africa.

"Being part of a translation team and having a background in nursing, I believed Wycliffe could have an impact on AIDS in communities where language development was underway," reported Kathie Watters, developer of Wycliffe's AIDS program and co-author of the "Kande's Story" materials.

Currently, Wycliffe has plans to recruit 3,000 additional personnel to press ahead with its billion-dollar campaign, which has drawn impressive support despite the United States facing the weakest spending environment in 17 years.

Since its founding in 1942, the Orlanda, Fla.-based non-profit has been responsible for more than 600 Scripture translations.

0
Top Stories

Religious Liberty Issue Not Settled by Revised Contraceptive Mandate

Religious leaders say the newly announced change ...

Santorum Brushes Off Money Concerns, Blasts Obama on Religious Freedom

Rick Santorum disregarded Mitt Romney's money-flush campaign in his CPAC 2012 address saying that the presidential race is not about who has the most cash, but about stopping Barack Obama and his growing grip on American freedoms.

Elevation, 50 NC Churches to Serve Homeless for LOVE Week

Over 50 churches in the Charlotte, N.C.-area will ...

Lawsuit Claims Unlawful Distribution of 'Charitable Assets' by TBN Directors

A lawsuit recently filed by the former head of finance for the Trinity Broadcasting Network claims that the directors of the widely-viewed Christian television network have illegally taken advantage of more than $50 million in "charitable assets" for their own good.