Expanding the Kingdom: How Volunteering Makes a Difference
What if you could use your time to make a meaningful impact on Bible translation?
At Wycliffe we believe we all have a role to play in God’s global mission. You could serve from your home and contribute to this Kingdom work! By volunteering your time, expertise and experience, you join what God is doing among communities and churches worldwide.
Ken Figueroa serves as the senior director of mobilization. He said, “Every person’s contribution helps us achieve our vision for people from every language to understand the Bible and be transformed.” He continued:
Three current volunteers shared about their journey to Wycliffe, what it’s like to serve and how volunteering makes a difference!
Meet Lisa
Lisa Delaney has operated her own graphic design company in Pennsylvania for 30 years. But in 2023 she wanted to find a way to serve God in a new way as she continued to lead her company. She said, “I wanted to do something where I could connect people to God’s Word. I didn’t know what that [could look] like.”
Lisa turned to social media, where she came across a post advertising an opportunity to serve short term and support a specific project with Wycliffe. She said, “I thought, maybe that’s a way that I could … get into Wycliffe, see what it was all about [and] see if it was a good fit.”
She began her role, got involved with the team and contributed to projects in meaningful ways. She shared:
So What’s Next?
When the short-term project concluded, Lisa wanted to keep serving in Bible translation part time — she didn’t want to leave! Through a series of conversations with her manager and others, she discovered a way to use her graphic design and social media skills to impact communities in Central and South America while working from her home. She said, “I was really excited about the potential of different projects. … It's a lot of fun; I look forward to the volunteer work.”
As part of her role, Lisa works on social media, recruiting and web projects. She’s seen engagement on platforms grow as more people learn about Bible translation in Central and South America! She said, “I’m learning Spanish. And I just love it. … I’m on [a team] with people from Ecuador and from Brazil and from Peru. I just love the global aspect of being on the … team.”
Sometimes entering a new space can feel uncertain or scary. As Lisa contributes to teams across countries, she finds herself exercising flexibility and patience. She emphasized the importance of making yourself available to God. She said, “You have to sign up and start someplace. … I’m always asking the Lord: ‘Help me understand where you want me to be, how I can serve you best.’” Lisa’s go-to verse is found in Proverbs:
Meet Drew
In 2018, after more than 25 years of working as an attorney in private practice in Minnesota, Drew and his wife felt a new season of life was beginning. Their children had graduated from high school, and God was leading them to something new.
It wasn’t long before they learned about Wycliffe’s commitment to serve with the global body of Christ to advance Bible translation so people can encounter God through His Word. Drew realized he could use his skills and experience to contribute to Bible translation, and he quickly got connected to a coach who shared about opportunities to serve.
Finding a Fit
During his discernment journey, Drew met a Wycliffe missionary who served as a field coordinator. He said, “I thought, ‘That sounds really neat’ because I had been doing something very similar during the previous 10 years. I had been coordinating a number of water projects that our Rotary Club had sponsored in the Dominican Republic.”
By the end of October 2019, Drew and his wife moved to Orlando, Florida, where he began serving on Wycliffe’s legal team. Drew also began serving as a field coordinator! He thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work directly with translation teams and see the impact of Bible translation. He said, “If your heart is willing, if you’re willing to serve God, He’ll find a place for you.”
Five years later, Drew followed God’s lead to a new role as general counsel at his alma mater. Though he was excited about this new opportunity, he was especially happy to learn that he would be able to continue serving as a field coordinator in a volunteer capacity. Drew said, “I thought I was going to have to give that up, which I didn’t want to do.” He was so thankful to be able to stay connected to Bible translation as a volunteer.
The Journey Continues
Now Drew continues to serve as a part-time field coordinator remotely from Illinois. He manages projects, travels, sustains relationships with partners and colleagues, and works with 22 language groups in Asia. Drew said, “Serving as a field coordinator is an opportunity to use the gifts I have to make a difference for the Kingdom. I see the impact directly. I’m talking to friends and partners in [Europe and Asia] on a regular basis, and I’m hearing the impact stories.” He concluded:
Meet Amy
In 2022, Amy felt that something was missing from her life: “I felt like I was just going to work and coming home, and I was really seeking something more meaningful,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing in relation to the Kingdom.”
Amy prayed, and God reminded her of a Wycliffe missionary she had met years before. Amy was immediately excited about the thought of serving in Bible translation, so she met with a coach and attended events to learn more.
She considered pursuing a degree in linguistics, but she didn’t feel God leading her to go back to school for more education. So she waited on God to provide clarity about how He might be inviting her to join His mission. Amy said:
Making an Eternal Impact
Amy began as a volunteer in 2023 and now serves on the Learning and Development team as a project coordinator from her home in Kansas. Amy said, “The work is just very enjoyable to me. It meets my interests, it meets my passion, [and] it meets my skills and abilities. … It’s something to look forward to [every day].”
Amy appreciates the emphasis Wycliffe places on spiritual development — for both individuals and teams. She noted, “It’s unique to be able to be in an organization that’s [faith]-based, where part of your work is to have those times of reflection on the Scriptures and connection with others.” Accurate, clear and natural translation of the Bible in accessible formats leads people into a life-changing relationship with God. Amy concluded:
Join the Movement
We’re pursuing a day when all nations can worship God in the languages and formats that capture their hearts and transform their lives. When you serve with Wycliffe, you’ll find purpose and be part of a global faith community.
As Scripture reminds us: “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT).
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