The president of the world’s largest Scripture translation organization, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, hopes that his new book, released earlier this month, will inspire more people to help finish the remaining translations of the Gospel, which he thinks will need the help of the next generation to complete the original goal of starting every translation by 2025.
Since 1999 when Wycliffe and its partner ministries adopted the goal of having the Bible translation process underway for every unreached language in the world by the year 2025 as a part of the Vision 2025 movement, they have strived to put an end to the world’s “Bible poverty”. With close to 7,000 different languages across the globe, Creson said that Wycliffe has about 1,870 languages remaining that have yet to begin the translation process.
Although 120 different language translations processes begin each year, Creson told The Christian Post that the current pace does not put Vision 2025 in position to become a reality unless there is Divine intervention.
“Unless the Spirit of God energizes this, all of our human efforts won’t accomplish it,” Creson said. “We believe that we have aligned ourselves to what God is already decided He is going to accomplish.”
Creson, who has spent over 30 years working in the Bible translation field, released his new book, The Finish Line: Stories of Hope Through Bible Translation. The book details the journeys of those answering God’s call to spread the Gospel while breaking down language barriers. He said he wrote the book in hopes that readers will see the life changing effect Scripture has on the lives of people when it is made available in their “heart-language” and will offer their own time and services to the effort.
“What we are trying to do through the book is attract a new generation of people that will help us finish the task of Bible translation,” Creson said. “It’s geared to people in their 20’s and maybe early 30’s who we hope will be inspired to engage through praying, giving and even going.”
Wycliffe is operating in 97 countries and oversees more than 7,000 people including translators, aviators, linguists, humanitarian aid workers, and educators.
Source : Christian Post