But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man [and woman] of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
“Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.” (Isaiah 12:4-5)
“And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
The Holy Bible – God-breathed scripture – bears witness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (John 5:39). The Bible is a “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Through the Bible, the Word of God can dwell in us richly. (Colossians 3:16) And for those who do not yet believe, faith comes from hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
How could the people of God live without the Bible? How could we even become a Christian? Yet there have been times when God’s people had to live that way.
The Old Testament describes two times when God’s people lived without God’s Word until God gave His Word back to them. In the time of King Josiah, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law in the Temple during a time of building repairs. When the Book was read, Josiah tore his clothes in grief, inquired of the Lord, and initiated profound reforms that included restoration of the Passover feast. (2 Kings 22-23) “… [T]here was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might.” (23:25)
Later, as the Jews returned from Babylonian exile and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, God sent Ezra the scribe to read the Book of the Law of Moses to all the people, and they both wept and rejoiced. (Nehemiah 8)
History describes centuries in Europe and Northern Africa when both Christians and not-yet-Christians were denied access to reading the Bible in their own language. The Church headquartered in Rome translated the original Hebrew and Greek into their own Latin language but prohibited other translations. So, if one of those three was not your language, you had no Bible at all.
Heros like John Wycliffe were declared heretics because of their efforts to correct this travesty. Jan Hus and several others were burned alive. As a result of their courageous faith, Americans now have 450 English translations available to us. But among the 7,000 languages in our world, there are still 1,000 people groups waiting for their first translation. You can help.
Wycliffe Bible Translators is partnering with other bible translators worldwide to make the Bible available to all people in their own language by 2033, and to have a translation project initiated in all languages by the end of 2025. We have established the Tennessee/Virginia Word-Giver Project to join them in that effort, uniting the local churches in our region to fund the Tuzweyo Twake (“Arise and Shine”) Cluster Project, which will translate New Testament books for the last nine languages in Uganda needing translation. Our efforts will impact over 785,000 people at a total cost of under $450,000.
The average cost of translation (written, digital, and oral) is $35 per verse. This project makes absolutely no demand on a church budget. Instead, it provides congregational members the opportunity to personally fund one or more verses. Each congregation will determine the number of verses they choose to make their goal, along with the language and scriptures within the project they fund thereby.
For added impact, a national Wycliffe donor will match funds collected by any congregation participating with Wycliffe for the first time, up to $50,000 per church. Those matching funds will be used to complete another project.
Can you imagine a greater gift for the God-beloved people of Uganda? Can you imagine a better way for churches of all shapes and sizes in our region to unite in a common goal for God’s glory?
So far, we have spoken with seventeen churches. Six are fully committed and nine others have reacted positively but must consult with other leadership before making a final decision. Two of the six have already completed their project and both exceeded their goal!
Talk to your pastor. Every church interested can email me or text/call me at 423-863-2058. Let’s do this! Together!
God bless you, and God bless our community.