An international organization that pioneered a new method to accelerate Bible translation and put God’s Word in the hands of more people worldwide is adding 35 indigenous languages thanks to their Bible Translation Acceleration Kits.
Wycliffe Associates partners with native speakers and local churches to support Bible translation work through a combination of training and technology. Bible Translation Acceleration Kits have various features, including special translation software and a satellite connection.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Mark Stedman, vice president of technology for Wycliffe Associates, said the group’s Bible translation methods put local believers “in the driver’s seat of that process.”
He said, “We help them through that process, but they do all that Bible translation on their own in the sense that they’re the ones who speak the language.”
Indonesia is a majority-Muslim country, and the best way for Wycliffe Associates to conduct its ministry there is to have a for-profit company supporting the Bible translation process.
Stedman estimated that about 50 to 60 translations are underway in Indonesia.
Wycliffe Associates’ annual budget for its work in Indonesia is around $400,000 to $500,000, with the amount varying by year.