Many people who live and work on the island of Ambon off the coast of Papua in Indonesia embrace the daily rhythm of fishing. In these villages, each person plays a role in providing for the community — even the women and children who gather at the shore, waiting for the day’s catch. Indonesia is a collectivist culture; whether it’s religion, relationships or a livelihood like fishing, the focus is on the group and the greater good, not on the individual.

Ampi isn’t a fisherman; he took on a different calling that brought great value to his community — one with the power to shape his community for generations to come. Ampi served as part of the Ambonese Malay Bible translation team, working to bring translated Scripture to his people.

When people finally understand God’s truth in the language that resonates with their hearts, communities are strengthened and churches grow. God’s Word changes everything. That’s why the Ambonese Malay translation team devoted themselves to Bible translation work: They were driven by the hope that one day everyone in their community would have the chance to encounter God through His Word in the Ambonese Malay language.

Translating Scripture for Understanding

For over 13 years this multinational team has been working to translate the New Testament into the Ambonese language. Though the Ambonese have had access to the Bible in Indonesian for many years, its message hasn’t stuck. They might understand it, but it doesn’t click in the same way as their primary language.

“It’s important to have the Ambonese translation for those who don’t have a high education, so they can clearly understand what is in God’s Word, and what his truth is for them and their lives,” Ampi said. “When they read it everybody says, ‘Oh yes, there is a good use for having this. We can understand God’s Word.’”

The team approached Ampi four years ago to help them test one of their translated passages and make sure it was accurate and sounded natural. They quickly discovered Ampi had the skills for translation and asked him to join the team.

“The Ambonese Malay team, to me, … is just like my family at home. We’re always sharing with one another, and we feel like a family,” Ampi said. “We enjoy joking with one another, having a good time with each other. Myself, I like to make the team laugh so that we’re more energized to keep working and keep going.”

A Community Effort to Bring Scripture to Life

Just like a good team that has different crucial members, a good Bible translation in this culture needs several key players. To truly be accepted, the translation team can’t function autonomously; it’s part of a larger body that includes the local community around it.

Since Indonesia is a collectivist culture, people study Scripture almost exclusively as a group, either at Sunday services or as a family. It would be rare to see an Ambonese retreating away for a “quiet time alone with God” as we often do in our culture.

So what better way for a translation team to help a community experience the Scriptures together than to involve them in the process? Once a story or passage is drafted, the translation team invites people from the neighborhood to help them check their work.

“Part of the process we go through after the initial draft is … to do a check with them, just making sure everything is clear and natural. We’ll go through verse-by-verse, asking comprehension questions,” said Carrie, one of the team’s translation coordinators.

“The first time we did a test with the community, there was a certain man who participated,” recalled Ocha Hitalessy. “We asked him, ‘Sir, why are you crying? Have you not known about Jesus Christ before now?’ He said,

As community members experience the Scriptures in their language through checking sessions, they share the stories and passages with their families and neighbors. News of the translated Scriptures and the principles they teach begins to spread.

As community members engaged with Scripture in their own language, they began sharing what they learned with their families and neighbors. But for the Ambonese Malay Scripture to truly take root, one more key partnership was foundational — the local church.

The Role of the Church in Bible Translation

The translation team operated under the umbrella of the Protestant Church of Maluku, the local church (denomination) with congregations in Ambon and the surrounding province. A review team of pastors checks all of the work they’ve done. Pastors typically preach using Indonesian, and in the past they didn’t have much vision for Bible translation or feel a need to learn the minority languages that the Scriptures were being translated into.

“Ambonese Malay has been the bridge that has allowed the church leadership to see what it is that we do, how Bible translation is done and that it can be trusted,” Stephanie, the translation team leader, said. “They know that we’ll be faithful to the text.

“We work very hard when we’re translating to make sure that it’s accurate with God’s Word,” Ampi shared, “and that we don’t change any of the meaning in the original text so that when people read it they will say, ‘Oh yes, this is accurate. This is God’s Word.’”

One of Stephanie’s greatest joys was when the church asked her team to translate their liturgy into Ambonese: “That’s key here. Christianity came to this region four centuries ago, so it’s long-rooted in tradition. To worship in Ambon, you need liturgy, songs and Scripture. If we didn’t provide all three in some form, they wouldn’t use the [translated] Scripture in church. We take every opportunity we can to meet felt needs of local churches and other organizations.”

This translation doesn’t belong to Wycliffe or any outside group — it’s the Ambonese people’s translation. The goal was always to serve, equip and train local translators so they can continue the work themselves.

A strong translation team is meant to be sustainable, ensuring that the work doesn’t rely on one person. When those who have been trained can confidently carry the work forward on their own, the mission is being accomplished.

Integration and Generational Impact

As the translation of God’s Word reaches completion, the greatest impact happens when the local church and community embrace Scripture in their language, allowing it to take root and transform lives. Stephanie noted:

“If there’s a foreign organization giving this church a Bible in their language, there’s no telling what will be done with it. They might just put it aside,” Stephanie continued. “Because this church is so involved in this New Testament translation … we have some assurance that they’re going to be using it in the future.”

Ampi was thrilled to know that he could bring the Ambonese Malay translation back to his family and his fishing village, and that they’d be able to use it: “My family would understand the results of our work very well. It makes me very happy to be part of this team.

“It brings me a lot of joy thinking about the results of this translation work, knowing generations ahead will be able to read the Scriptures.”

Opportunities for Your Church

Bible translation isn’t just about words on a page — it’s about transformation. When people receive God’s Word in their own language, it takes root in their hearts, strengthens their faith and equips people to share the gospel. The Ambonese Malay translation is a reflection of what can happen when churches and communities come together to ensure Scripture is understood, embraced and passed on to future generations.

As the body of Christ, we are called to build one another up, working together to strengthen the global Church and steward God’s Word well. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) reminds us, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Many churches worldwide are already advocating for Bible translation. How could you and your church come alongside them?

A church relationship facilitator can help you explore what partnership could look like for your church — whether it’s through prayer, advocacy or direct involvement in supporting Bible translation efforts. How will you take part in bringing God’s Word to those still waiting?

Involve Your Church in Global Bible Translation

Be part of bringing hope and transformation to every nation through the power of God’s Word. Your church can make an eternal impact by supporting Bible translation — through prayer, resources and partnership — equipping believers worldwide with Scripture in a language they clearly understand. Together let’s take the next step in fulfilling the Great Commission.

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