Wycliffe.net: Prayer Items feed

Amazing progress: India

2013-05-17T16:12:00Z

One leader in India says, "last March, I completed 20 years of serving in Bible translation ministry. I can testify without any hesitation (in the context of Bible translation ministry) that Mission belongs to God. He will make the crooked path straight so that all people on earth will have the opportunity to read or listen to the word of God in their own heart language. In 1993 over 250 languages needed translation of the Bible in India, Today, after twenty years, just over 100 languages need a translation of the Bible. This is God's doing and it is marvelous in His eyes!"

Still waiting: South Asia

2013-05-17T15:59:00Z

One people group in South Asia is still waiting for development. They live in a horseshoe-shaped valley with abundant natural resources. Their traditional healers know much about the medicinal herbs available locally. But most of them live without formal education. Pray for a committed couple to live among them and initiate a language development project leading to translation of the Word. Ask God for wisdom about other areas of need for community development.

One dedicated life: South Asia

2013-05-17T15:54:00Z

The life of Deva, Bible translator for the Koya tribe in Andhra Pradesh, is amazing. Five years prior to the completion of the Koya New Testament, in 1999, Deva had a paralytic stroke. He completed the Koya New Testament working out of a wheelchair. Recently, he was still in his wheelchair, but with severe restrictions in his movements. He is almost totally paralyzed, neck downward, but his mind is as active as ever. Deva continues working on the Old Testament translation with the help of a young assistant. Deva's response is, "God is faithful, I have not done enough for Him."

Perseverance in trouble: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-15T16:19:00Z

Even in the face of many challenges and problems, the Amam translation team under the leadership of Awi Manga is moving forward with their work. Tribal fighting continues amongst four tribes in the language area. Praise the Lord for His protection over the translation work, the team members, and their properties. Pray for these men and their families to persevere and hope in the Lord. And pray for them in their efforts to bring peace to the warring peoples.

Bible Storytelling workshop, follow-up: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-15T16:03:00Z

Pray for Oral Bible Storytellers in the Sepik Province. Pray for those in the Kwomtari, Kukwo (Urim), Pouye, Malinguat, Kombio and Urat languages as well as the Tok Pisin team in city of Wewak. Thank the Lord for the Bible stories that are being told in these language communities and bringing encouragement and blessing to the Body of Christ there.

Mekeo translation awareness workshop: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-15T15:51:00Z

Praise the Lord for a successful three-day workshop on translation awareness held in the Mekeo language area. Thank the Lord for the new people who attended the workshop. They learned about Bible translation and the processes involved in this task. Pray that the Lord will continue to stir ther hearts to participate in Old Testament translation in various ways. Also, pray for interest to promote and distribute the New Testament which was finished in 1999. Pray for Victor and Ana Opungu as they provide leadership in the Mekeo work.

Enga teamwork: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-15T15:43:00Z

Pray for the Enga Bible translation project. Ask the Lord to prosper the work of translator Yakasa Maniosa and his team in their work. Pray for special wisdom when they translate difficult passages into Enga. And praise the Lord for good leadership and teamwork in this group.

Maring translators receive computer: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-15T15:37:00Z

Pray for Anselm Kuloi and Martin Ponomb of the Maring translation project. They have been provided a new computer for use in keyboarding their work. Thank the Lord for Mara Iyama's visit last month to deliver the computer and train them in the basics of the Paratext computer program. Thank the Lord for the new resolve of the Church and community to complete the translation. One of the leaders challenged his people saying, "If we don't have the Word in our own language, then we are missing a very important part of our lives...we must complete the task!"

EthnoArts students need scholarships: Thailand

2013-05-15T15:28:00Z

From August to October, around 25 students from ten countries are planning to take training in EthnoArts at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. These students will learn how to research and analyze their own or host culture's art forms, and then apply this knowledge to their work in language development, multilingual education, literacy or in the local church. Many of these students have requested scholarships. Please pray that God would provide.

Old Testament translation: Philippines

2013-05-14T15:11:00Z

Thank the Lord for the faithful team working on the Old Testament translation for the Matigsalug people. Bern, Ricky and Diony are being trained to work with Alex in the translation office. Another person, Tano, is finishing his advanced degree. Then he hopes to split his time between translating and serving as a translation consultant for other teams. Pray for ongoing funds for these talented translators. The translation facilitators are having difficulty finding funding for a trip back from New Zealand to work with the team. Pray that funds are provided for their coming trip and also for their monthly needs.

New vehicle needed

2013-05-14T00:00:00Z

Kenya: The Weera* project vehicle urgently needs to be replaced after it was involved in a serious accident last year. Please pray that God would provide the right vehicle, robust enough to cope with the difficult terrain it will be used on. Praise God that two thirds of the cost of a new vehicle has been raised. Please pray for the remaining money and ongoing protection for the team as they travel on roads in poor condition.

*pseudonym

Still waiting for New Testaments: Chad

2013-05-14T00:00:00Z

The Chadian Arabic New Testament was recently dedicated in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital. 20,000 copies in Arabic script are now available for sale, but the container with 20,000 copies printed in Roman script has still not arrived in Chad. Having the New Testament available in both scripts will mean more people can read it in a language they understand. Pray that God will use this translation mightily to reveal Christ.

This New Testament is a joint project of WEC International, Bible Societies and SIL International, Wycliffe's key partner.

Four fabulous specialists-in-training: Canada

2013-05-09T21:53:00Z

Bill and Norma Jean Jancewicz are translators working on the Naskapi Bible translation in Quebec. They were invited by the Naskapi Development Corporation to choose persons for positions as "Naskapi Language Specialists-in-training" to help them with translation projects. Bill interviewed, then hired four, nicknamed the "Fabulous Four" because they have made tremendous progress during their probationary period of employment. They have received some grammar and literacy training, and are now each working on a book of the Old Testament. Pray for these new candidates as they continue to learn the skills and art of crafting a translation of the Bible into their own mother tongue.

Intensive Scripture checking: Ghana

2013-05-09T21:45:00Z

Early in May, Marcus Pewudie and Andy Ring began a consultant check of the remaining Lelemi* Old Testament books. Marcus is located in Accra, Ghana, and Andy is in the USA. Pray that the technology will work well as they work via Skype. With God's help, the whole Lelemi Bible will be ready to typeset this year. Andy also needs to write up information he gathered about cluster projects**. Pray that he can finish an initial document before his next trip. From May 30 to June 29 he will do Bible translation consulting in Nigeria. Andy and wife Kate write: "Thank you for your love and prayers. We rely on God's answers."

*About 50,000 people speak Lelemi.

** A language cluster refers to languages that may be linguistically related, and/or from similar geographic regions or cultural backgrounds.

Learning to praise: Peru

2013-05-08T14:14:00Z

The Panao Quechua people of Peru are learning more about praising God. Translation team leaders Terry and Karla Smith give thanks that as the Psalms are being translated and taking form, people are interacting with the message and learning to praise. They recently concluded one good Psalms workshop and another was held May 13-15. Pray that the translations and studies of the Psalms will touch the hearts of the Panao Quechua people, and that they will begin to experience the joy, safety and life found in God's closeness, as opposed to seeing Him as distant and disinterested.

Participate in the Global Day of Prayer: Global

2013-05-07T19:55:00Z

Sunday, May 19, 2013 is the Global Day of Prayer. Christians from all over the world, from different cultures and denominations, and from many diverse streams will gather in their homes, or assemble in stadiums, public auditoriums and open squares for united prayer. Many will devote portions of their Sunday morning service to united prayer. A comprehensive prayer guide is available at this link in more than 60 languages. The guide for the ten days leading up to the Global Day of Prayer is especially helpful. Everyone can join in beginning on May 9. We can love our hurting world together through united prayer.

Continuing leadership growth: The Americas

2013-05-07T19:38:00Z

Praise God for the Leaders Moving Forward event in early May for the Southern Cone.* An event leader writes: "Our expectations have been surpassed at this event! One participant said: 'God is using this time to renew me, speak to me and confirm my call to be a cross-cultural missionary. I can only say, thank you!'" There were 23 participants from five countries, representing 13 organizations. It was a vital time of interaction among leaders who influence the Bible translation and mission movements in this part of the world. Pray for continued encouragement as they work together.

*a geographic region composed of the southernmost areas of South America

Preparing to serve: Solomon Islands

2013-05-06T09:14:00Z

Wilfred is a young man from the Touo language and is currently working as a taxi driver to save enough money to send himself to Bible school. Wilfred wants to complete the training to one day work on a Bible translation into his own language. Wilfred says, "I really need prayers - for people to pray for me to achieve my dreams. My goals are there, my dreams are there, but I need people to mentor me and to give me advice. I really need that encouragement from elders."
Please pray for Wilfred - for guidance, wisdom, patience and perseverence. Please pray for the right person to mentor him and that he will be able to save the money to attend Bible school. Click here to read Wilfred's story.

Muliplying Oral Bible Storytelling: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-03T16:56:00Z

Ask the Lord to give the leadership of the Bible Translation Association wisdom as they develop a roadmap for the Oral Bible Storytelling work. Facilitators in 8-9 language communities in the East Papua Area have been trained. This training has now been multiplied to seven more languages in the Sepik* in the last two years. Additional training needs have been identified that will equip facilitators and trainers to prepare them well in training others. Many more languages are asking for training in Oral Bible Storytelling.

*the Sepik refers to the region of the Sepik River, the longest river on the island of New Guinea

Preparing Old Testament books: Papua New Guinea

2013-05-03T16:51:00Z

Pray for translation consultant, Aluis Simatab, as he prepares for checking translation work in the Guhu Samane and Somba Siawari languages in Morobe Province. Ask the Lord to give him wisdom and insight in his preparations. Pray also for him to maintain good health at this time. Books that he is preparing to check include Isaiah, Micah, Esther and Ezra.