How the Bible Is Changing Lives Around the World
Do you remember the first Bible verse you ever heard or read?
Maybe it was John 3:16 (NIV): “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Every word of the Bible is God-breathed into existence for His glory and our good. Through Scripture, His heart speaks to our souls and comes alive in people everywhere. There, we encounter the living God, who knows us intimately and wants to transform us through His Spirit. And, by far, it’s best shared when it’s in a language and format people clearly understand.
Mark Pugyao, an Isnag translator in the Philippines, described, with tears in his eyes, what it means for him to have the Bible in his language: “My heart is just melting. It’s like butter melting when I read it in my own heart language. I understand every single word that the Lord says in His Word. I am really excited to share what I felt when I read through all this — the whole Bible in my heart language.”
We could tell you countless stories of people just like Mark who have experienced the hope and joy of meeting Jesus in their language. (In fact, simply follow us on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to get a taste of the global impact!) For now, here’s a glimpse into a few communities that have experienced firsthand exactly how the Bible changes everything.
Weh New Testament | Cameroon
The long-awaited Weh New Testament dedication took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on May 18, 2025! About 320 people gathered together that afternoon to welcome the Scriptures in their language.
The presence of so many leaders and people from within the Weh community — both young and old — dressed in their traditional regalia is a testament to the fact that the people cherished and anticipated the day God would finally speak to them in their own language. The theme of the celebration was based on Psalm 119:105 (ESV): “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
After the guests arrived, Rev. Kang Michael Samba presented a brief but impactful history of the Bible translation project — outlining the vision, challenges and triumphs that led to the completion of the Weh New Testament. This was followed by speeches from other leaders involved with the translation project or community.
One of the most exciting, colorful moments was the procession and presentation of the Weh New Testament. A vibrant procession with a traditional dance group, notables adorned in traditional attire and clergy members in their official ecclesiastical robes danced and ushered in the New Testament. The book was carried in a basket by a little girl; it symbolized the fact that the Weh New Testament is the best harvest achieved by the community — a harvest that will serve as nourishment for the Weh people.
Rev. Samuel Ngeh, the Weh Bible translation consultant, was presented with the New Testament during the dedication ceremony. He then declared the authenticity of the Weh New Testament, stressing the fact that it has undergone all rigorous checks and translation processes. He encouraged the community that the New Testament was fit for them to read, study and consume.
The dedication concluded with the Fon (the chieftain or ruler of the region) recognizing key translation project workers, showing appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice.
The Fon declared: “The Bible in the Weh language is a miracle in our hands. [It] communicates to us the truths of God as He expects us to understand. Matthew, for example, now has [a] direct connection to us because it is translated in a way we, the Weh person, will understand. Matthew 6:33 says that as we seek first the Kingdom of God, every other thing will be added to us.”
He continued: “As the Fon of Weh, I have put and continue to put the Word of God first in this kingdom. I know [that,] because we have done that, and as we continue to do so, God’s blessing will be part of our lives and will transform our community. I know God will remember each son and daughter of Weh favorably. As the Fon, I order that every village meeting, be it in the community or out, must start with the reading of Scriptures. Let literacy classes be [multiplied] in every town where Weh people are. My prayer is that we are not going to end here. I have the strong belief and desire that one day very soon, we as a community will celebrate the complete Bible — both Old and New Testaments in the Weh language.”
Praise God that Weh men, women and children now have access to the New Testament in their own language! Pray that as people engage with Scripture, their hearts and lives will be changed forever.
Gbadi New Testament | Côte d'Ivoire
Praise God: The Gbadi New Testament dedication took place in Côte d'Ivoire in December 2024.
A wide range of people attended the ceremony at St. Ann Cathedral in the city of Gagnoa — ranging from religious and administrative authorities to executives, community leaders and numerous speakers from various villages. The day was full of exciting events, including speeches, performances by local language choirs and even a screening of the “JESUS” film.
One of the most symbolic moments was when a copy of the New Testament was presented to representatives of several Christian denominations; this emphasized the inclusive and interdenominational nature of the translation project. The dedication of the Word of God in the Gbadi language took place in an atmosphere full of emotion and celebration.
The dances people performed, songs they sang and joy expressed from the speakers all testified to how enthusiastic the community was about receiving their Scriptures. Thanks to the generosity and prayers of people just like you, the Gbadi community can now read, listen to and celebrate the Word of God in their own language! This moment marked a strong spiritual and cultural turning point for these people.
As the community celebrates their Scripture, pray also for all that the team has planned next, including conducting training sessions for reading classes in Gbadi, distributing copies of the New Testaments to churches and homes, and outreach to encourage the use of texts, audio and other tools in the local language!
Rwandan Sign Language | Rwanda
Yassin, a Rwandan Sign Language user, is proud to assist with programs at his church for the Deaf. He has seen church staff and Bible translators work together to serve people who have distanced themselves from God or never recognized Him as the Creator.
Not long ago, Yassin didn’t feel close to the Lord either.
That began to change one day when he was scrolling through social media posts. He stumbled on some videos the Rwandan Sign Language Bible translation team had created. Each one took a portion of Scripture and delivered it as a story — a format that resonates deeply with many Deaf individuals.
As he watched biblical narratives signed in his language, he felt touched. He wanted to know more about the God they proclaimed. Yassin continued watching the Scripture stories. Through them, he discovered foundations of the Christian faith. From the story of creation, for instance, he learned that God made the world and everything in it.
Eager to learn even more, Yassin contacted the translation team. They offered answers to the questions running through his mind. “I want to thank [the] staff for taking their valuable time to teach me about the Bible,” he shared later.
Now Yassin is grateful that he, too, can use Scripture in his sign language to help others at his church draw near to the Lord. In light of the impact he’s already seen, he declared, “Bible translation work in Rwanda is changing a lot of lives.”
Thanks to the perseverance of the Rwandan Sign Language translation team, Deaf Rwandans are finally enjoying over two dozen Bible narratives in a format they clearly understand!
And these Scripture videos have triggered even more awe-inspiring transformation. Deaf Christians are forming Bible study groups where they watch and discuss the translated Scripture. This material has even inspired some to lead Sunday church services on their own. Others visit the Rwandan Sign Language Bible translation office every week to study the Word of God.
The translation team is delighted by God’s work among their people, and they can’t wait to see what else He has in store as they produce more sign language Scripture.
Ndokwa New Testament | Nigeria
“I was just 16 when I began translating 3 John into [Ndokwa], not knowing that one day it would ignite a movement.”
Rev. Roland Ejam, translator for the Ndokwa language in Nigeria, continued: “I never imagined that my teenage devotion would one day reach the entire Ndokwa nation. The journey wasn’t easy: I lost my manuscript to fire, my second draft to a crashed laptop and spent years rewriting with nothing but grace and a pen. But God sustained me.
With the support of mentors, Roland mobilized the Ndokwa people and formed a 12-member translation team. The team received intensive training and developed literacy materials. They produced the Gospel of Luke, the “JESUS” film and ultimately the entire New Testament in their language!
“I witnessed firsthand the trials Roland endured,” Rev. Gibson noted. “But to now hold this [New Testament] in our hands is to hold a miracle. It reminds us that even through fire and loss, God preserves His purpose. This [New Testament] is not just ink on pages; it is a testament to divine faithfulness and human perseverance.”
Following the New Testament’s arrival, the Ndokwa people began preparations for two historic dedication ceremonies in January and February of 2025. At both events, Christians from various church denominations gathered together in unity to celebrate.
When Scripture was dedicated and people publicly read it in the Ndokwa language for the first time, it was a deeply emotional moment.
The dedications symbolized the beginning of a new spiritual era for the Ndokwa people. The communities received the New Testament with great joy; testimonies poured in from people of all ages, expressing how the translation brought God's Word to life in a language they truly understood.
Reflecting on the joy at the celebrations, a Ndokwa elder said, “We danced — not for entertainment but because the Word had finally returned in our own tongue.
A Ndokwa teenager echoed this and said, “Before, church sometimes felt confusing because I didn’t understand all the English in the Bible. But now, with the Ndokwa [New Testament], I get it. I can read it by myself. I can even help my younger siblings understand stories about Jesus. For the first time, I feel like the Bible is also meant for people like me. … I’m proud that Jesus speaks my language too.”
Bishop Dickson Ozah, Ndokwa project chairman, reflected on how the Scripture dedications were a picture of what heaven will look like: “Watching entire communities dance through the streets, celebrating the arrival of God’s Word in [their language], was a glimpse of heaven. This translation is not just a book — it’s a restoration of identity, faith and destiny for the Ndokwa people.”
What began as a quiet, personal translation project has become a historic and transformational movement, bringing the Word of God to life for the Ndokwa people. Praise God for His faithfulness!
The Bible and You
This is the power of the Bible: It transforms lives and hearts when people understand it in a way that speaks directly to their hearts. Truly, the Bible changes everything — changes that start today, as new people encounter the gospel for the first time, and end with us all together, standing before the throne to worship God in our own languages, having encountered Him personally through His Word.
So what about you? How has the Bible changed your life? If you have personally experienced the transformative power of knowing and understanding God’s love for you through His Word, then consider how you can be part of seeing this same transformation happen for others!
Pray
Every story of transformation begins with prayer. It is where we must first join God in His work, asking Him to move in the lives of people who are still waiting for Scripture. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful ways you can take part in Bible translation. As you pray, you stand with translators, local churches and entire communities longing to experience God’s love in a language and format they clearly understand.
Join Wycliffe’s Prayer Community to receive timely requests and updates from Bible translation projects, and pray alongside others who share your passion for God’s Word.
Advocate
Think about what it meant for you to understand John 3:16 for the first time — to know personally that God loves you. Millions of people still haven’t had that experience, but you can help change that by telling their story. When you share what God is doing through Bible translation, you help others imagine what life would be like if the pages of their Bible were blank. Advocacy is simply opening someone else’s eyes to the urgency and beauty of this mission.
You can start by sharing the Bible Changes Everything video with your family, friends or church — or you can explore more ways to advocate for Bible translation.
Give
The Bible is God’s love letter to the world — but millions of people still can’t experience it in a language or format they clearly understand. You can help change that. By giving, you’re not just supporting translation projects; you’re part of someone’s transformation. And there are simple, meaningful ways to get involved:
- Adopt-a-Verse: Partner with your church or group to sponsor the translation of specific verses for $35 each, helping complete Scripture for a community still waiting. (Want to see how easy it is? Watch this short video outlining three simple steps to get your church involved!)
- WordGivers: Join a community of monthly donors committed to seeing lives changed by ending blank Bibles and giving the Word to others around the world.
Choose your way to give today and help bring the Bible — God’s living Word — to those still waiting to understand it.
Together through prayer, advocacy and giving, we get to be part of what God is doing — bringing His Word to every nation, people and language. And one day, the story will end just as Scripture promises: with all of us standing before the throne, worshipping Him in our own languages, transformed by His Word.
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