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Dear Friends,

I believe God is calling us to be part of a once-in-history opportunity as the last remaining languages are engaged for the very first time. 

All around the world, the global Church is rising up and asking for — and sometimes even starting — Bible translation for themselves. They don’t want access to God’s Word in a few months or even years; they want it now. 

So far, God has equipped Wycliffe to be able to say “yes” each time a partner has asked us to come alongside them so that their people can encounter Jesus through Scripture in a language and format they clearly understand. As a result of this collaboration, we have seen Bible translation accelerate in unprecedented ways. 

As we look back at 2023, we are overwhelmed by all that God has done. He continues to be so faithful, and His power is on display in amazing ways. I’m reminded of Isaiah 12:4-5, which says, “... Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world” (NLT). 

We are so grateful to partner with you in this life-changing work. Because of your faithfulness to seeing the gospel advanced, people around the world are experiencing God personally as they read, hear or see His love firsthand in a language that speaks directly to their hearts. This is why Bible translation is so important: because everyone should be able to understand the depth of God’s love for themselves.

Until all the nations worship,
John Chesnut Signature
 
Dr. John Chesnut
President/CEO
Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA

God is on the move, using the global Church to impact the Bible translation movement in ways that we have never seen before! 

His name is being made known among the nations as the Bible — God’s very Word to us — is made available in every language still needing it. When people encounter Jesus through Scripture in their language, lives change in amazing ways.  

That’s why Wycliffe exists: to work with churches, communities and numerous organizations until everyone can access God's Word for themselves. We won’t stop until all people — speaking or signing more than 7,300 languages worldwide — have the Bible.

For more than 80 years, Wycliffe and like-minded organizations have led efforts to advance Bible translation around the world. But that’s changing! Today the local church is taking ownership of Bible translation themselves. And they don’t want to wait for the work to start; they want to start it now.

Wycliffe desires to continue saying yes when churches ask us to collaborate with them. One of the key ways Wycliffe has been able to do so is through generous giving to the Worldwide Projects Fund. These donations allow us to be nimble and strategic, equipping Wycliffe and our partners to come alongside hundreds of language communities that are craving access to God’s Word and provide resources to give where needs are greatest. 

We’re excited to join God in what He’s doing around the world. Thank you for saying yes to His invitation to advance the Great Commission through Bible translation. What a privilege it is to see God’s name made known among the nations!

Family Values of Biblical Generosity

When Michael and Jamie Higdon first became parents, they were challenged to identify traits that they’d pray over their son, believing that with the Lord’s help, he would become the fullness of who God created him to be. They went through that same exercise two years later when they were expecting their daughter. This time, they also decided to create family values that would shape the way they made decisions moving forward.  

The Higdon family talks about these values a lot. The values provide guardrails for life’s big decisions, and help the family members explain what they do, as well as what they don’t do. 

Jamie shared, “In other words, they inform our yeses and our nos. … Our strategic nos position us to respond to what we truly feel like the Lord is inviting us to say yes to.”

Over the years, Michael and Jamie have felt the Lord challenge them to bigger yeses. Some of those decisions have been harder than others, but in those moments where fear and doubt crept in, they have consistently returned to several core values.

“We believe that God can do more with 90% than we can do with 100%. … Bible translation has become an integral part of our family’s financial discipline,” Jamie shared.

Their family partners with a Bible translation project in northwest Tanzania and as a result, their vision for the world has been enlarged. Jamie noted: “God has cultivated our longing to one day know that boys and girls just like our son and daughter will be able to read about the life-giving, life-changing story of Jesus in their … language.” 

Jamie said: “We consistently ask ourselves, ‘How can we position ourselves to say yes to the things that we truly feel called to step into?’”

“We long to live open-handed lives,” she continued. “We long to see God work through us to fulfill what He’s already promised He will accomplish. His Kingdom come, His will be done. Biblical generosity reminds us that our time, talents and treasures … [are] all His! And for whatever reason, He’s entrusted [them] to our care. We, as a family, have the tremendous privilege of joining Him in the work that He’s already begun and He will be faithful to complete: Every man, woman and child knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God speaks their language.” 

Jamie closed by sharing, “Why does our family say yes to joining God’s global mission through Bible translation? We’re convinced the better question is, ‘How could we say no?’” 

The Impact of a Toast

Larry Cheng — Wycliffe donor and former Wycliffe board chair — was born to Chinese parents, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan. As was typical in the Chinese immigrant community at that time, parents wanted their children to stay close to the culture. 

During Larry’s childhood the family would have weekly dinners with extended migrant Chinese families. The name of the dinner, when translated into English, was “big eat meeting.” Larry went to Chinese school when he was younger to learn the language and culture. As he grew up, Larry’s friendships expanded beyond the Chinese community. That’s when he became best friends with a young man named Everett. 

The two were neighbors, carpooled to school together, took all the same classes, participated in the same sports and experienced all aspects of life together. There was one problem though: Everett always felt distanced from Larry’s parents, who didn’t fully embrace him since he wasn’t Chinese. 

Everett ended up studying East Asian studies in college. He went to Taiwan to study abroad and vowed to not speak a single word of English while doing an intensive Chinese language program there. He then graduated and went on to work for a multinational oil and gas company where he traveled from New York to Taiwan and China every few weeks for three years. 

Everett learned to negotiate business contracts and deals in Chinese. He became so fluent that he continued a study program in joint international relations and business to study Chinese even more intensively. 

Around this time, Larry and his now wife, Joanne, got married. As one of his groomsmen, Larry asked Everett if he would give a toast at the wedding reception. The reception was filled with extended family who were mostly native Chinese speakers and understood English to a certain degree. 

When Everett stood up to give his toast, he gave it in Chinese — the language of the people he was surrounded by. The crowd erupted in joy, clapping and cheering. Larry had never seen a group of Chinese people erupt with this much enthusiasm!

It was an amazing moment. All Everett did was give a toast, but he bridged a gap that for years hadn’t yet been bridged. “He did that by speaking their language,” Larry shared. 

The same is true for the Good News of the gospel, Larry noted: “When you translate the Word of God into a language, generation upon generation upon generation will benefit.” 

That’s why Larry is so passionate about Bible translation: He believes that all people should be able to erupt in overwhelming joy because they encounter Jesus personally in their language. 

A Church’s Heart for Thailand

Casa del Alfarero (CDA), meaning “The Potter’s House,” is a Hispanic church in Orlando. In conversation with members of Wycliffe’s Church Relations team, the church’s heart for Thailand became evident. 

Over the years, CDA has invested in missions work through praying and sending people to Thailand. They were introduced to the Thai Sign Language project and became excited about the opportunities to participate in what God was doing in this community. 

CDA had set aside $20,000 to open a coffee shop in Thailand, but the project didn’t move forward. In prayer, they asked God what could be done with the funds. It was then that they learned about the Thai Sign Language project — an opportunity they felt God wanted them to invest in. 

The remaining need for the project was $40,000. Through the Bread of Life Church Match — a matching gift program for churches that give to Bible translation for the first time — their gift was matched, dollar for dollar. 

We praise God for this opportunity and are excited to see what God is going to do — not only through the generosity of CDA, but through the lives they will impact in the Thai Deaf community as a result of people having access to Scripture in Thai Sign Language. 

Family Values of Biblical Generosity

When Michael and Jamie Higdon first became parents, they were challenged to identify traits that they’d pray over their son, believing that with the Lord’s help, he would become the fullness of who God created him to be. They went through that same exercise two years later when they were expecting their daughter. This time, they also decided to create family values that would shape the way they made decisions moving forward.  

The Higdon family talks about these values a lot. The values provide guardrails for life’s big decisions, and help the family members explain what they do, as well as what they don’t do. 

Jamie shared, “In other words, they inform our yeses and our nos. … Our strategic nos position us to respond to what we truly feel like the Lord is inviting us to say yes to.”

Over the years, Michael and Jamie have felt the Lord challenge them to bigger yeses. Some of those decisions have been harder than others, but in those moments where fear and doubt crept in, they have consistently returned to several core values.

“We believe that God can do more with 90% than we can do with 100%. … Bible translation has become an integral part of our family’s financial discipline,” Jamie shared.

Their family partners with a Bible translation project in northwest Tanzania and as a result, their vision for the world has been enlarged. Jamie noted: “God has cultivated our longing to one day know that boys and girls just like our son and daughter will be able to read about the life-giving, life-changing story of Jesus in their … language.” 

Jamie said: “We consistently ask ourselves, ‘How can we position ourselves to say yes to the things that we truly feel called to step into?’”

“We long to live open-handed lives,” she continued. “We long to see God work through us to fulfill what He’s already promised He will accomplish. His Kingdom come, His will be done. Biblical generosity reminds us that our time, talents and treasures … [are] all His! And for whatever reason, He’s entrusted [them] to our care. We, as a family, have the tremendous privilege of joining Him in the work that He’s already begun and He will be faithful to complete: Every man, woman and child knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God speaks their language.” 

Jamie closed by sharing, “Why does our family say yes to joining God’s global mission through Bible translation? We’re convinced the better question is, ‘How could we say no?’” 

The Impact of a Toast

Larry Cheng — Wycliffe donor and former Wycliffe board chair — was born to Chinese parents, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan. As was typical in the Chinese immigrant community at that time, parents wanted their children to stay close to the culture. 

During Larry’s childhood the family would have weekly dinners with extended migrant Chinese families. The name of the dinner, when translated into English, was “big eat meeting.” Larry went to Chinese school when he was younger to learn the language and culture. As he grew up, Larry’s friendships expanded beyond the Chinese community. That’s when he became best friends with a young man named Everett. 

The two were neighbors, carpooled to school together, took all the same classes, participated in the same sports and experienced all aspects of life together. There was one problem though: Everett always felt distanced from Larry’s parents, who didn’t fully embrace him since he wasn’t Chinese. 

Everett ended up studying East Asian studies in college. He went to Taiwan to study abroad and vowed to not speak a single word of English while doing an intensive Chinese language program there. He then graduated and went on to work for a multinational oil and gas company where he traveled from New York to Taiwan and China every few weeks for three years. 

Everett learned to negotiate business contracts and deals in Chinese. He became so fluent that he continued a study program in joint international relations and business to study Chinese even more intensively. 

Around this time, Larry and his now wife, Joanne, got married. As one of his groomsmen, Larry asked Everett if he would give a toast at the wedding reception. The reception was filled with extended family who were mostly native Chinese speakers and understood English to a certain degree. 

When Everett stood up to give his toast, he gave it in Chinese — the language of the people he was surrounded by. The crowd erupted in joy, clapping and cheering. Larry had never seen a group of Chinese people erupt with this much enthusiasm!

It was an amazing moment. All Everett did was give a toast, but he bridged a gap that for years hadn’t yet been bridged. “He did that by speaking their language,” Larry shared. 

The same is true for the Good News of the gospel, Larry noted: “When you translate the Word of God into a language, generation upon generation upon generation will benefit.” 

That’s why Larry is so passionate about Bible translation: He believes that all people should be able to erupt in overwhelming joy because they encounter Jesus personally in their language. 

A Church’s Heart for Thailand

Casa del Alfarero (CDA), meaning “The Potter’s House,” is a Hispanic church in Orlando. In conversation with members of Wycliffe’s Church Relations team, the church’s heart for Thailand became evident. 

Over the years, CDA has invested in missions work through praying and sending people to Thailand. They were introduced to the Thai Sign Language project and became excited about the opportunities to participate in what God was doing in this community. 

CDA had set aside $20,000 to open a coffee shop in Thailand, but the project didn’t move forward. In prayer, they asked God what could be done with the funds. It was then that they learned about the Thai Sign Language project — an opportunity they felt God wanted them to invest in. 

The remaining need for the project was $40,000. Through the Bread of Life Church Match — a matching gift program for churches that give to Bible translation for the first time — their gift was matched, dollar for dollar. 

We praise God for this opportunity and are excited to see what God is going to do — not only through the generosity of CDA, but through the lives they will impact in the Thai Deaf community as a result of people having access to Scripture in Thai Sign Language. 

A Milestone in Deaf Bible Translation


EURASIA

In April 2023, a milestone was reached in Deaf Bible translation when Deaf leaders representing more than 50 sign languages came together for a consultation. At this consultation, churches and organizations asked themselves the question: “How do we address Deaf Bible translation needs across Eurasia and start a translation project in every sign language still needing it within the next three years?”

This consultation was an opportunity for Deaf leaders to come together and collaboratively discuss how to address these remaining language needs in their surrounding communities and countries so that all people can encounter Jesus personally. 

At this consultation, there were eight interpretations happening simultaneously — American Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, International Sign, Arabic Sign Language, Polish Sign Language, Bulgarian Sign Language, Swedish Sign Language and spoken English — just to lay a foundation for any additional group-led interpretation so that all participants could understand the presenters and surrounding conversations. 

Adan Burke is a sign language partnership specialist at Wycliffe. His life was changed when he encountered Jesus through Scripture in ASL. Today Adan plays a vital role in Deaf Bible translation. 

During the consultation, a group discussed the “how” of Deaf Bible translation. It can be easy to assume that a partner organization such as Wycliffe USA is the one empowering others to do the translation work, but that’s not really true. 

Adan shared with the group, “We’re just here to encourage you. You are the movers and the shakers. It isn’t us empowering you; you are able to see God empowering you. God did that and He moved, and He’s going to continue to move.”

Throughout the consultation, the group coined a phrase and a corresponding sign from these discussions: “God-empowered.” 

“It’s not us-empowering, but God-empowering,” Adan shared. “The sign for ‘empowerment’ comes from just that: me empowering you and implying that I have the power, I have the control and I am the one that is now relinquishing it to you. But that’s not the case in this situation. We have to be very intentional about making people aware that it’s not me, it’s not us. It’s God empowering us!” 

This is a beautiful representation of the true heart of Bible translation: It’s not about us empowering each other, but is instead about God empowering us to see His name made known among the nations. 

In many ways, this milestone in Deaf Bible translation is just the start. All around the world, more and more Deaf leaders, churches and organizations are coming together and asking themselves the same question: “How do we address Deaf Bible translation needs in our community and surrounding regions?” 

The answer is that we can only do this when we’re empowered by God. Because when He is at the center of our efforts — and when we intentionally lay aside our differences in pursuit of a common goal — we can trust that God will move!

Celebrating the New Testament


KABWA | TANZANIA

In 2009 the Kabwa partnered with SIL International and Wycliffe to launch their own project to invest not just in Scripture translation but also in the language development and Scripture engagement work needed to prepare the community to receive God’s Word. Now, 14 years later, they celebrate the completion of their New Testament! 

During the ceremony, the translators stood in the back of the church holding a large box wrapped in paper and ribbons of shimmering green and yellow. As an upbeat song played, they danced forward through the crowd. Almost everyone behind them followed. The procession circled and weaved, finally stopping in front of the long table of honored guests where the translators handed the box to the guest of honor: a high official in the local government.

As cameras snapped and people clapped, the box was opened and the first Kabwa New Testament was held high. A Kabwa speaker offered a prayer of thanks and dedication. Boxes and boxes of New Testaments had been ordered and paid for in advance by churches and other groups in the community. The churches and groups were recognized, thanked and given their New Testaments one after another — for over 20 minutes.

“We sold many New Testaments on that first day,” said Kitajo Nyemaga, a member of the Kabwa Language Committee. “Our churches were well-prepared to receive the New Testaments, so they bought more than 380 copies at the celebration.”

Then the invitation was made to all: “If you want a Kabwa New Testament for your own, you can buy from these boxes here. We have plenty!” The overwhelming response from those gathered kept the team busy for a while. Another choir sang while people filed, lined up and traded their 5,000 shillings (about $2.10), receiving their copies with joyful smiles.

Afterward a young man read a passage in Kabwa, and one of the local pastors followed, sharing a brief word to encourage everyone in their new journeys as God speaks to them when they read or listen to Scripture..

Emmanuel Makingi, a Kabwa Scripture engagement worker, talked about how now the challenge “is how to get the Old Testament translated for the Kabwa. But the joy we have now is to use the New Testament in the Kabwa language and to see our community understand God’s Word directly for themselves.”

Watch a video of the Kabwa New Testament dedication produced by our partner, SIL Tanzania. 

 

Journey to the Isnag Bible


ISNAG | PHILIPPINES

Nard Pugyao was 7 years old when a missionary, Dick Roe, moved into his village of Dibagat, Philippines. In the remote northern reaches of the country, Nard became a believer when he encountered Jesus through the Gospel of Mark in Isnag. From the moment that he said yes to God’s invitation for relationship, Nard has been on a journey of walking with the Lord and encouraging others around him to do the same. 

In 1971, Rudy Barlaan moved to Dibagat to do a year of language learning for his role with SIL Philippines. Rudy hadn’t planned on staying in Dibagat, but God had other plans. Rudy ultimately joined Dick in the translation work and in 1982, the New Testament was dedicated. In 2006, a revised New Testament, plus Genesis and Exodus, was dedicated. At the time, Old Testament translation wasn’t part of SIL Philippines strategy, so it seemed like the work would not continue. But God had other plans and brought in someone to help Rudy with the work: Mark Pugyao, Nard’s nephew. 

Mark pastored the Dibagat Bible Church for a year when Rudy invited him to join in translating the Bible for his community. Mark ultimately said yes, and after completing school, translated the Old Testament while Rudy served as consultant. 

On June 25, 2023, more than 66 years after the gospel first arrived in Dibagat, the full Isnag Bible was dedicated!

As the Bibles were being handed out at the celebration, people could swap out their New Testaments for the full Bible. Copies of well-worn Scripture, filled with notes and highlights, were replaced with beautiful, fresh pages. Looking around the room, you could see the joy and excitement across many faces at this priceless gift they’d just received. After the ceremony, 34 Isnag believers were baptized in the river as they publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus Christ.

God has been faithful to the Isnag, and now they’re able to hold His complete Word in their hands. Nard has waited his whole life to read the full counsel of God’s Word in Isnag. Today we rejoice that their wait has ended, and praise God for this generation of children who will never remember a day where they didn’t have Scripture in their language.

Virginia Beach Community Chapel (VBCC) has partnered with the Isnag for years. They’ve formed relationships with Nard, Rudy and Mark, and have faithfully prayed for and given to this Kingdom work. 

Robb Esperat, senior pastor of VBCC, shared that even the kids in their church are invested. “They may not know where the Philippines is, but they know about the Isnag people!” Even now these kids are being given the chance to invest in Great Commission activities and rejoice with the Isnag all the way from Virginia Beach! 

Robb also shared, “We have learned that when it comes to establishing the Church, there is no greater investment than Bible translation. Therefore, we have invested heavily in translation work in multiple parts of the world — from the Philippines to Papua New Guinea and beyond. But more specifically, our love for the Isnag has grown through personal relationships over the decades. The church in Dibagat is not a project we invest in, but a sister church we are privileged to serve and grow with. One of our older [members] visited Dibagat when he was around 80 years old and told Nard, ‘I want to die here.’ Another member of our congregation married Enol, Nard's niece, and they now serve together in Manila. We are family in the truest sense of the word, and our life as a congregation is richer and fuller as a result.”

Watch a video of the Isnag celebration!

A Milestone in Deaf Bible Translation

EURASIA

In April 2023, a milestone was reached in Deaf Bible translation when Deaf leaders representing more than 50 sign languages came together for a consultation. At this consultation, churches and organizations asked themselves the question: “How do we address Deaf Bible translation needs across Eurasia and start a translation project in every sign language still needing it within the next three years?”

This consultation was an opportunity for Deaf leaders to come together and collaboratively discuss how to address these remaining language needs in their surrounding communities and countries so that all people can encounter Jesus personally. 

At this consultation, there were eight interpretations happening simultaneously — American Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, International Sign, Arabic Sign Language, Polish Sign Language, Bulgarian Sign Language, Swedish Sign Language and spoken English — just to lay a foundation for any additional group-led interpretation so that all participants could understand the presenters and surrounding conversations. 

Adan Burke is a sign language partnership specialist at Wycliffe. His life was changed when he encountered Jesus through Scripture in ASL. Today Adan plays a vital role in Deaf Bible translation. 

During the consultation, a group discussed the “how” of Deaf Bible translation. It can be easy to assume that a partner organization such as Wycliffe USA is the one empowering others to do the translation work, but that’s not really true. 

Adan shared with the group, “We’re just here to encourage you. You are the movers and the shakers. It isn’t us empowering you; you are able to see God empowering you. God did that and He moved, and He’s going to continue to move.”

Throughout the consultation, the group coined a phrase and a corresponding sign from these discussions: “God-empowered.” 

“It’s not us-empowering, but God-empowering,” Adan shared. “The sign for ‘empowerment’ comes from just that: me empowering you and implying that I have the power, I have the control and I am the one that is now relinquishing it to you. But that’s not the case in this situation. We have to be very intentional about making people aware that it’s not me, it’s not us. It’s God empowering us!” 

This is a beautiful representation of the true heart of Bible translation: It’s not about us empowering each other, but is instead about God empowering us to see His name made known among the nations. 

In many ways, this milestone in Deaf Bible translation is just the start. All around the world, more and more Deaf leaders, churches and organizations are coming together and asking themselves the same question: “How do we address Deaf Bible translation needs in our community and surrounding regions?” 

The answer is that we can only do this when we’re empowered by God. Because when He is at the center of our efforts — and when we intentionally lay aside our differences in pursuit of a common goal — we can trust that God will move!

Celebrating the New Testament

KABWA | TANZANIA

In 2009 the Kabwa partnered with SIL International and Wycliffe to launch their own project to invest not just in Scripture translation but also in the language development and Scripture engagement work needed to prepare the community to receive God’s Word. Now, 14 years later, they celebrate the completion of their New Testament! 

During the ceremony, the translators stood in the back of the church holding a large box wrapped in paper and ribbons of shimmering green and yellow. As an upbeat song played, they danced forward through the crowd. Almost everyone behind them followed. The procession circled and weaved, finally stopping in front of the long table of honored guests where the translators handed the box to the guest of honor: a high official in the local government.

As cameras snapped and people clapped, the box was opened and the first Kabwa New Testament was held high. A Kabwa speaker offered a prayer of thanks and dedication. Boxes and boxes of New Testaments had been ordered and paid for in advance by churches and other groups in the community. The churches and groups were recognized, thanked and given their New Testaments one after another — for over 20 minutes.

“We sold many New Testaments on that first day,” said Kitajo Nyemaga, a member of the Kabwa Language Committee. “Our churches were well-prepared to receive the New Testaments, so they bought more than 380 copies at the celebration.”

Then the invitation was made to all: “If you want a Kabwa New Testament for your own, you can buy from these boxes here. We have plenty!” The overwhelming response from those gathered kept the team busy for a while. Another choir sang while people filed, lined up and traded their 5,000 shillings (about $2.10), receiving their copies with joyful smiles.

Afterward a young man read a passage in Kabwa, and one of the local pastors followed, sharing a brief word to encourage everyone in their new journeys as God speaks to them when they read or listen to Scripture..

Emmanuel Makingi, a Kabwa Scripture engagement worker, talked about how now the challenge “is how to get the Old Testament translated for the Kabwa. But the joy we have now is to use the New Testament in the Kabwa language and to see our community understand God’s Word directly for themselves.”

Watch a video of the Kabwa New Testament dedication produced by our partner, SIL Tanzania. 

 

Journey to the Isnag Bible

ISNAG | PHILIPPINES

Nard Pugyao was 7 years old when a missionary, Dick Roe, moved into his village of Dibagat, Philippines. In the remote northern reaches of the country, Nard became a believer when he encountered Jesus through the Gospel of Mark in Isnag. From the moment that he said yes to God’s invitation for relationship, Nard has been on a journey of walking with the Lord and encouraging others around him to do the same. 

In 1971, Rudy Barlaan moved to Dibagat to do a year of language learning for his role with SIL Philippines. Rudy hadn’t planned on staying in Dibagat, but God had other plans. Rudy ultimately joined Dick in the translation work and in 1982, the New Testament was dedicated. In 2006, a revised New Testament, plus Genesis and Exodus, was dedicated. At the time, Old Testament translation wasn’t part of SIL Philippines strategy, so it seemed like the work would not continue. But God had other plans and brought in someone to help Rudy with the work: Mark Pugyao, Nard’s nephew. 

Mark pastored the Dibagat Bible Church for a year when Rudy invited him to join in translating the Bible for his community. Mark ultimately said yes, and after completing school, translated the Old Testament while Rudy served as consultant. 

On June 25, 2023, more than 66 years after the gospel first arrived in Dibagat, the full Isnag Bible was dedicated!

As the Bibles were being handed out at the celebration, people could swap out their New Testaments for the full Bible. Copies of well-worn Scripture, filled with notes and highlights, were replaced with beautiful, fresh pages. Looking around the room, you could see the joy and excitement across many faces at this priceless gift they’d just received. After the ceremony, 34 Isnag believers were baptized in the river as they publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus Christ.

God has been faithful to the Isnag, and now they’re able to hold His complete Word in their hands. Nard has waited his whole life to read the full counsel of God’s Word in Isnag. Today we rejoice that their wait has ended, and praise God for this generation of children who will never remember a day where they didn’t have Scripture in their language.

Virginia Beach Community Chapel (VBCC) has partnered with the Isnag for years. They’ve formed relationships with Nard, Rudy and Mark, and have faithfully prayed for and given to this Kingdom work. 

Robb Esperat, senior pastor of VBCC, shared that even the kids in their church are invested. “They may not know where the Philippines is, but they know about the Isnag people!” Even now these kids are being given the chance to invest in Great Commission activities and rejoice with the Isnag all the way from Virginia Beach! 

Robb also shared, “We have learned that when it comes to establishing the Church, there is no greater investment than Bible translation. Therefore, we have invested heavily in translation work in multiple parts of the world — from the Philippines to Papua New Guinea and beyond. But more specifically, our love for the Isnag has grown through personal relationships over the decades. The church in Dibagat is not a project we invest in, but a sister church we are privileged to serve and grow with. One of our older [members] visited Dibagat when he was around 80 years old and told Nard, ‘I want to die here.’ Another member of our congregation married Enol, Nard's niece, and they now serve together in Manila. We are family in the truest sense of the word, and our life as a congregation is richer and fuller as a result.”

Watch a video of the Isnag celebration!

Wycliffe USA recognizes that the need for Bible translation is so great we can’t do it alone. One of our core values is collaborating with humility and interdependence, and we seek to partner in this spirit of mutuality so that every person can have access to God’s Word.

One of our key partnerships is the illumiNations collective impact alliance — a group of Bible translation agencies who are working together to provide God’s Word in every language. We also engage with many other organizations through Global Partnerships, a multi-organizational collaboration working together to accelerate the work of Bible translation around the world through engaging the local church. While our full partner list — currently more than 1,200 partners— is too long to include here, we are incredibly grateful for everyone working in unity to spread God’s Word.

Thank you for being a part of the work of Bible translation and for saying yes to God’s invitation to make His name known among the nations in languages and formats that speak directly to people’s hearts. Because of your partnership, more people are encountering Jesus through Scripture in their language and their lives are transformed forever. All glory to God!  

2023 Audited Financials

2023 Audited Financials

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— Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

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