On Feb. 17, 2024, the Kaluli community in Papua New Guinea celebrated the historic dedication of the New Testament in their language. The ceremony was planned by the Kaluli church, and this milestone marks the result of nearly 40 years of hard work!

The Journey of the Kaluli Bible Translation: Church-Led Excitement

A Kaluli church was established around 1985, but they didn’t have access to any Scripture in their language yet. The church was eager for God’s Word, so they appointed two translators who started work with a notebook and a pencil. The translators eventually reached out to SIL, a strategic partner, to ask for help translating their Scripture. Missionaries joined the work in Papua New Guinea in 1991, but ever since that time, the Kaluli church has continued to appoint local translators to join the Bible translation efforts.

Like all Bible translation projects, translating the New Testament into Kaluli involved many people working in different roles. Missionaries, translators, local proofreaders, typesetters and others helped create print and oral formats of Scripture. The Kaluli church-appointed translators from 1985 still work as part of the project today, and everyone else who has been appointed by the church is also a part of the translation team.

Bible translation work, especially work that takes place over the course of many years, often faces challenges — ranging from team member illnesses to environmental obstacles to financial struggles and more. But overcoming these difficulties is worth it, as Bible translation allows people to engage with God’s Word in a language and format that they understand — essential for evangelism, discipleship and church growth in remote communities like the Kaluli.

Praise God: The translators persisted and got the chance to experience the joy of dedicating their New Testament!

Kaluli New Testament Dedication Ceremony in Papua New Guinea

A few days before the ceremony itself, boxes of the Kaluli Scriptures were flown into the area. The Kaluli people eagerly awaited the arrival of the New Testaments.

On the day of the dedication, the translators unloaded the boxes and prayed over them. Nearly 2,000 people from villages across the region made the long trek to the celebration site, with some people hiking for days in order to attend. They all gathered to witness the culmination of years of hard work, prayer and God’s faithfulness to the Kaluli.

The Kaluli translation team, national and regional church leaders, international guests and the community formed a sacred procession that would lead them into the heart of the village. The men on the translation team walked up the hill in the procession, carrying boxes of unopened Scriptures with them. When they arrived at the top of the hill, there was a palm archway with a palm “ribbon” that would be cut before everyone entered.

A pastor read Scripture and prayed in a loud voice, then he cut the palm ribbon. At that point, the translation team handed over the boxes of the Bibles to the waiting Kaluli pastors, symbolically “passing the torch” and putting God’s Word into Kaluli in their care.

At the celebration, numerous team members shared their testimonies. Then, when the Kaluli Scriptures were revealed to the community for the first time, people cheered, clapped, shouted with joy and spontaneously danced!

The crowd worshipped together, praising God with their voices lifting to the heavens in celebration of His goodness.

Throughout the day, participants experienced moments of deep meaning. Speakers and attendees shared heartfelt testimonies and joined together in worship, illustrating the impact of the Scriptures on those who had already begun to read them. Organizers honored the translation team with awards, honoring their tireless work and unwavering commitment. The national church leader delivered a message that emphasized the importance of Scripture in the life of the church and community.

Receiving God’s Word

As the ceremony drew to a close, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived — copies of the New Testament were distributed. People lined up, their faces shining with anticipation. Along with their New Testaments, they received solar-powered audio Bibles, reading glasses and SD cards containing Kaluli audio and video Scriptures. The stock of audio players sold out quickly, and the team took orders for 200 more!

This dedication marked the beginning of a new chapter in this community’s spiritual journey. For the first time, Kaluli men, women and children can understand God’s Word in the language that touches their hearts.

A Divine Promise

As the day came to a close, there was one final blessing — a stunning rainbow appeared. The left end touched the grandstand where the Kaluli New Testaments were dedicated. For those present, it felt like God’s divine seal on the entire celebration. It was a vivid reminder of His faithful promises and the treasure of His Word. The rainbow served as a beautiful conclusion to a day filled with God’s love and faithfulness.

The dedication of the Kaluli New Testament was more than just a ceremony; it was a day of celebration, unity and profound spiritual significance.

Praise God for His enduring love and for the joy of seeing His Word come alive in the hearts of the Kaluli people!

A New Chapter Begins

The dedication of the Kaluli New Testament is just the beginning. While they now have access to the New Testament, they — and other communities like them around the world — still need the full counsel of God’s Word, including the Old Testament in a language format that they can clearly understand.

The Bible brings hope, unity and transformation. In communities like the Kaluli, where access to God’s Word has been limited, receiving Scripture allows people to deepen their faith while understanding important biblical truths that can transform and unify their entire community. As the Kaluli people access God’s Word, their lives and communities will be changed, touched by God’s truth and promises.

Revelation 7:9 reflects this global vision: “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands” (NLT).

Many communities around the world are still waiting to receive even a portion of the Bible in their language. The heart of Vision 2025 is to see a Bible translation project started in every language that still needs one. There’s still more to be done, and you can be part of the movement that brings hope and transformation to these communities.

Continue the Journey

Join the ongoing story of Bible translation by praying and supporting work that transforms lives. The Kaluli now have the New Testament, but the journey isn’t over. Pray that the church would continue to grow in their community and that Scripture will impact people’s lives.

Want to learn more about how you can partner with people groups like the Kaluli? Check out how you can pray for the Northeast Cluster project in Papua New Guinea.

If you’re looking for creative ways you can help bring God’s Word to more communities, check out our blog, “4 Ways to Get Involved in Bible Translation.”

God is at work around the world today, and it’s a privilege to get a front-row seat to how He is transforming lives through His Word!