Amuenoon is a word from the Sarpo language of Liberia that means, “We can do it!” Deaf churches and communities in Liberia, Gambia and Sierra Leone are starting sign language Bible translation. One hundred Liberian Deaf people gathered to be trained to translate the Bible into their sign language! Join us in praying for those involved in the project.

Praise God with us! Three projects were approved to launch Bible translations in 40 languages across Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan and Gabon. As a result of these projects, there will be zero people groups in Ghana, South Sudan and Gabon without Scripture in their language! And the number of remaining needs in Nigeria continues to decrease. Join us in praying for the teams involved and the anticipated impact on these 40 communities as people encounter Jesus through the Word of God!

Albarka is a Hausa word that means “blessing.” The Albarka project in Nigeria will bless people with their very first Scripture, translate the Gospels and Acts (60% of the New Testament!), and produce the “JESUS” film in six different languages! Praise God that local churches desire for these communities to know God’s love and are committed to making Scripture available in the languages and formats they clearly understand.

As a group of Ndokwa people walked together down the streets of their Nigerian community, they heard an unfamiliar sound.

They drew nearer to the voice and found a man reading aloud from John 1:1 — but there was something different about his words.

In the past, they’d heard Scripture read in another language that was spoken in their region. But this man was reading in Ndokwa, their own language.

Curious, they approached the man and learned that he was an Ndokwa Bible translator. The Scripture he’d been reading was from a draft of the Gospel of John, and he was asking a small group of people for feedback to ensure the meaning of the text was clear and easy to understand.

As the translator continued to read, he attracted more curious listeners. Some nearby children began to ask questions. Meanwhile, adults were delighted to discover God’s Word was being translated into their language.

“When will it be finished?” they asked.

Numerous joy-filled stories just like this are emerging from Nigeria as Bible translation efforts grow across the country.

People light up when they hear the gospel in their language.

One meeting between five Nigerian partners resulted in the launch of the Aminci Cluster project. In Hausa, Aminci means “reliable” or “trustworthiness.” This four-year project will introduce 49 people groups to Jesus through Scripture.

The Aminci Cluster project is moving forward in partnership with the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust, Faith Comes By Hearing and multiple local churches and associations.

Praise God! Nigeria, once known as one of the top countries with the highest number of languages that needed Bible translation to begin, dropped from 250 languages to a few dozen in just two years. Join us in thanking God for how He’s raising up local churches to start Bible translation now.

Bikuli Lugha means "in every language" in Sudanese Arabic. A current project by the same name is enhancing local translation training in Sudan and starting Scripture translation for four languages! Join us in praying that these efforts will strengthen the spiritual foundation of local churches and support sustainable church growth across the country.

After 37 years of work, the full Duruma Bible was dedicated in November 2021! More than 1,000 churches had a hand in planning the dedication and distributing the printed Scripture. People came from all corners of Kenya and walks of life: young and old, Christians and adherents of other faiths — including some who, not long ago, might have persecuted Duruma believers. Now, those same people shared in their joy at receiving all of God’s Word in a language that will speak to and transform their hearts!

On March 10, 2023, the Ikoma New Testament was celebrated! After the dedication, a Wycliffe team stopped for lodging, four hours away from the dedication site. They met a man named Chacha who asked where they were coming from and what they were doing there. The team shared that they’d had the privilege of celebrating with the Ikoma people as they received their New Testament. He then responded, “I am Ikoma and I am a pastor!”

A team member pulled out an Ikoma Bible from his backpack and gave it to Chacha, who was so thankful to be given the New Testament in his own language. What a God-orchestrated encounter!

Deus nos vê orar is a Portuguese phrase that means "God sees us pray." The goal of the Deus Nos Vê Orar project is to engage every sign language — potentially 22 across 19 countries — in southern Africa so the approximately 900,000 Deaf throughout the region will have the Word of God and know that God sees them when they pray.

The project employs a strategy centered on multinational Deaf “camps” to rapidly and thoroughly engage the Deaf communities who sign these 22 languages. The camps will be a place where teams, sponsors and partners can gather to encourage the Deaf church, cast vision for translation work led by the Deaf communities in these countries and provide a forum for the Deaf to learn from one another to advance sign language translation.

The project is the result of collaboration of multiple partners, including Hands with Words, Wycliffe South Africa, Lumina South Africa, DOOR International, United Bible Societies, Seed Company and Global Partnerships. Praise God for this collaboration, and may the efforts result in thousands of people encountering Jesus through Scripture!

Did you know that roughly 14 million people in Madagascar identify as Christians? Yet they don’t have God’s Word in the languages they clearly understand. That’s why the “Ampio! Gasikara!” project is so exciting! Over the next eight years, Bible translation projects will be launched in eight languages, impacting 8 million people. Join us in praising God for this exciting partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, and pray that the translations will equip people to encounter Jesus personally.

Bible translation isn’t just about spoken and written languages; it’s about signed languages too! That’s why the new “SLAm! 43” Cluster project is so exciting. SLAm (short for Sign Languages America) aims to engage 43 sign languages in 37 countries or territories across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, to ensure that these Deaf communities have the opportunity to encounter Jesus through Scripture in a way that captures their hearts forever.

Please join us in praising God for this effort and praying for all involved. As a result of this project, Vision 2025 — a vision to see Scripture translation started for every language still needing it by the year 2025 — will be accomplished in 30 countries and territories throughout the Americas!

Do you remember the first time you truly understood how much Jesus loves you? It’s a transformational moment! That’s why we’re so excited about “JESUS: A Deaf Missions film.” The American Sign Language community can see the story of Jesus come to life through film for the very first time. Join us in praying that this portrayal of Jesus will draw people to Himself!

The Choctaw Scripture project will complete and distribute the New Testament to the almost 10,000 Choctaw speakers in the U.S. over the next three years. The existing Choctaw Scripture dates from the 1800s, using language few people can read. As a result, in 1992, Choctaw churches began revising the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament.

Praise God that more than a dozen Choctaw churches and various communities are engaged with the project today. These efforts will contribute to revitalizing the language, giving the Choctaw a strong identity as a people group created by God and valuable to Him!

Nicaragua has achieved Vision 2025! The "Exploración Mayangna" project will build a foundation for local churches that have the vision for Bible translation to take ownership of and responsibility for the work. Join us in praying that God would equip local churches and agencies with everything they need so that their communities can encounter Jesus through Scripture in the languages and formats that capture their hearts.

Praise God! In April 2023, the Cuiba New Testament was celebrated! The Cuiba are a minority group located in both Colombia and Venezuela. Formerly nomads, there were no Cuibas villages established when a translation team arrived to learn the language and translate the Bible. When the gospel was introduced, many people responded, happy to know that God loved them. Now they have the New Testament in a language and format they clearly understand and are able to understand His love personally.

The Sihuas Quechua people were first introduced to Christianity over 500 years ago. Since then, aspects of traditional religion have been mixed into Christian teachings. Today, people are opening their eyes to the truth as they encounter Sihuas Quechua Scripture!

Translation work is in progress for various New Testament books, Scripture-based literacy materials, a Genesis story book and Bible videos for kids. Pray that Scripture and Bible-based materials will have a lasting impact on the community — for God’s glory and the good of the Sihuas Quechua people!

The Xavante New Testament was published in 2005. Since then, all of the copies have been distributed, and the translation team has received many requests for more to be printed! Young people have expressed a strong desire for an updated version, as the language has evolved since the first publication. The translation team has already revised three Gospel accounts and Acts and are working to wrap up the remainder of the New Testament.

Xavante believers use translated and updated Scripture for personal devotions, Bible study groups and church services. They find it’s helpful when they’re sharing the gospel message with others. Schools also use God’s Word in their religious courses and in literacy classes, and many students are learning to read using written Scripture.

There are 30,000 Deaf people in Azerbaijan and only 300 are Christians. More than 85% of Azerbaijanis follow another major religion. But God hasn’t forgotten the Deaf in Azerbaijan, and work is in progress to bring Scripture to life in Azeri Sign Language!

Pastor Israil, a member of Azeri Sign Language translation team, shared, “Long before this work started, I have constantly been translating from the Bible to people. Since we have very few educated Deaf people in our country, I have always been the ‘book’ for people here. I was the only Bible they could ‘read’!”

Today, that is changing for the Azeri Deaf community. The Gospels and Book of James have already been translated and produced as videos. The team is now working to translate 20 more New Testament books, publishing them on memory sticks and posting them online.

What would you do if you wanted the Bible in your own language NOW instead of later? A Deaf team in India began recording videos of a pastor as he read the Bible in English and signed in Indian Sign Language. Pray for Bible translation needs to be met for communities around the world.

All around the world, God is doing incredible things. In one country in Asia, local churches have been praying for the need of a revised Bible in their community. Right now, the most widely used version is more than 180 years old! That’s why churches are going to implement oral Bible translation to create a revised, current version that is understandable to people. As passages are translated, they will be shared on social media platforms so the community can access them directly and immediately. Join us in praying for the work so that people can clearly understand what God’s Word says!

Kegembiraan means "joy" in a local language in Asia. The hope is that as a result of the K Cluster project, the remaining 40 people groups in two countries will experience the joy of the Lord through the Word of God in the languages that serve them best. Join us in praying that local churches will take ownership of the work for their communities. As a result, Vision 2025 will be achieved in both countries!

The next time you read your Bible, join us in praying for the Tewoyan translation team in Indonesia. The New Testament is in the final editing process, and the hope is that it will go to print later this year. May God give the team wisdom as they work toward the day when the printed Scripture can be placed in the community’s hands!

Haksolok means "joy" in Tetun Dili, a primary language spoken in Timor-Leste, a nation in Southeast Asia occupying half the island of Timor. The hope is that, as a result of a newly launched Bible translation project called Haksolok, 23 people groups in Timor-Leste will soon experience the joy of the Lord through the Word of God in the languages that serve them best!

Join us in praising God for partnership and local ownership, as more than 100 people from 80 different local churches have already volunteered to be a part of the Haksolok project, mobilizing their communities for translation and Scripture engagement!

For many years, the Deaf community in Estonia was overlooked by hearing people. In 2007 the country officially recognized Estonian Sign Language as an independent language, and it’s now being used in schools, daily television programs and government services.

This has led to a thriving, connected Deaf community where Bible translation has begun! A translation team produced the Gospel of Mark in Estonian Sign Language, heightening the Deaf community’s desire for Scripture. Translation is ongoing, and a project facilitator shared, “Deaf Estonians have the desire to understand God's Word without depending on pastors and church leaders.”

Join us in praying for translation work in Swedish Sign Language! Bible translation first went on between 1998-2008, which resulted in a few Scripture portions being available to the Deaf in Sweden. However, awareness of and access to the translation has been limited. This new project will work toward providing the Swedish Deaf with their first translation of a Pauline Epistle. Many Deaf have expressed their joy that the translation of the Bible will start again! Please pray that this project will be a springboard to inspire continued support from local funders in Sweden, and that the translated Scriptures will be widely used and bring transformation.

The Veditz Cluster Regional Plan is the single largest Bible translation initiative ever undertaken among the Deaf! It seeks to engage and mobilize Deaf churches and communities that sign 49 different languages that are used by more than 886,000 Deaf people in 46 countries.

This bold strategy is possible because all 49 languages are influenced by American Sign Language! It will address almost 20% of the remaining sign language translation needs.

The ‘Are ’are project in the Solomon Islands, a nation in the South Pacific made up of hundreds of islands, seeks to train, motivate and empower people for the ongoing work of Bible translation — work led and owned by the local church. The project team’s aim is to see the Scriptures used in churches and homes, and viewed as relevant for fostering reconciliation and restored relationships. Will you join us in praying for the team as they work toward specific goals of getting 100% of the New Testament drafted and 60% checked by a consultant by September 2026?