Serving with SIL Nigeria since 2014

Being Igbo, a people who have had God’s Word in their language for over a hundred years, Richard understands the transforming power of God’s Word in his own heart language. He is committed to helping extend this blessing to other peoples of Nigeria. He loves languages (obviously!), music (singing and playing piano and guitar), games and sports (especially playing chess and ultimate frisbee), and learning about how different cultures interact.

Richard and his wife Anna are part of the Koro-Waci and Koro-Miya language projects. They facilitate the technical process of translation, as well as overseeing and coordinating every part of the work underway in the communities. They also equip Nigerian translators through teaching part-time in the SIL Bible translation degree program. Several members of the Koro-Waci and Koro-Miya communities were recently trained to tell Bible stories orally. As members of the community hear these stories in their own language, they have started asking meaningful questions and expressing emotional responses of anger, joy and concern at the events being recounted to them. These are stories people are familiar with in Hausa and English but now the community is responding in a way that shows they believe it really happened.

Richard works closely with church leaders, encouraging them to include vernacular worship songs, Scriptures, and Bible stories in their services, and to take ownership of the translation work.

Your partnership matters. Consider joining Richard's journey of transformation.