Why Translate the Bible?

The Bible is dynamic. It can meet the spiritual needs of every man, woman and child on earth. But they need to read it in the language they understand best. Over 3,000 people groups, more than 380 million people, still don't have the Bible translated into their language."Isn't there someone who can learn my language and give us the message in words we can understand easily?" pleaded a Caquinte Campa woman in Peru after hearing the Bible read in another translation.

Without a Bible in her language, the Bible stories she hears by word of mouth can be confused. Most importantly, she may never hear the message of life through Jesus Christ.

Bible translation can provide her and millions more with God's Truth.

Do you have a Bible translated into...?

Wycliffe Bible Translators is a Bible translation organization only. Wycliffe members and their coworkers have translated over 500 New Testaments and are working on more than 1,095 others. We do not publish Bibles or dictionaries--we rely on other organizations to publish the Bibles we translate. These Scriptures are published primarily by The Bible League, the American Bible Society and the International Bible Society and are distributed in the country where used. We do not have them for sale in the US.

To check the availability of scripture in a language, try www.scriptureresources.com. If you just came from that site, please return to it and fill out the SRC Resource and Information Request Form. Your information will be sent to someone at the publishing agency who can help you.

The following organizations can help you find a Bible (printed or audiovisual) in almost any language:

• American Bible Society
• International Bible Society - has Scriptures available in many languages.
• Bibles in Your Language Ethnic Harvest has information about and online scripture from 140 major languages.
• Multi-Language Media
• The JESUS Film Project
• Gospel Recordings
• Audio Scriptures International
• Faith Comes by Hearing - Hosanna
  If you'd like more information on a language, the Ethnologue is a great resource.
  Our Lord has called Wycliffe to the task of translating His Word into those languages that have never been written. More than 380 million people still don't have the Bible translated into their language

How long does it take to translate a New Testament?

It often takes ten to twenty years, depending on many factors such as:

• the level of the peoples' participation


• living conditions


• health of the translators


• other mission responsibilities of the translator.
  

To get some idea of the factors involved, you can download a free Wycliffe game which simulates field work.

How did Wycliffe get its name?

In the late 1300s, John Wycliff became the first person to translate the Bible into English. Before that English speakers had to learn Latin to read the common Bible translation. Wycliff wanted the Bible available to every person. Cameron Townsend, Wycliffe Bible Translator's founder, choose to use the name "Wycliffe" because both John Wycliff and Wycliffe Bible Translators have a common passion: that every person should have a Bible in their language.

Does Wycliffe plant churches?

Yes...and no. As a Bible translation organization, we are focused on a specific part of fulfilling the Great Commission--providing people with God's Word in their language. Our staff are not pastors; they do not organize large-scale evangelistic meetings or seek to start churches. However, they do review translated Scripture with people as a part of their work, and they often hold Bible studies or teach literacy with Scripture materials as well. God uses these efforts and the witness of translators' lives to bring people to Himself.

As national believers come to know the Lord and are instructed by His Word in their language, they form and oversee their own churches.

The Tzeltal people of southern Mexico are a great example of this. In 1939, a Mexican anthropologist described the Tzeltal as "impervious to change." At that time, there were no evangelical churches among them. Then in 1941 a Bible translator began working with the Tzeltal, and today there is an evangelical community of 30,000 among the 50,000 Tzeltals. What made the difference? We would answer, "God, using the translator's work and witness to plant His Word in the hearts of the Tzeltal people."
Can you give me an e-mail address for a Wycliffe member?

If you give us your email address, we will have our member to contact you.

How many are involved in Wycliffe?

Cameron Townsend recruited the first two students for linguistic and translation work in 1934. Wycliffe has since grown to include over 5,180 career and short-term members, plus 590 others preparing for service. More than 1500 additional workers are still needed in both language-related and support roles.

Where does Wycliffe work?

In more than 70 countries, and all continents except Antarctica! The majority of the work in the Americas has been completed, but in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific there are still thousands of language groups needing translators.

What should I do to best prepare myself for service with Wycliffe?

Now is the time to start; for future translators, extensive Bible training is a necessity. All who work in language related areas will need to take linguistics courses such as those offered through the SIL International or the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL). Wycliffe also has many other areas where you can use your skills to speed the work of Bible translation. Check out the service opportunities list for an idea of the kinds of skills currently helping to speed Bible translation. Besides having technical skills, Wycliffe also expects its members to be healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually. If you are weak in one of these areas, start now to strengthen that area.

What college should I attend if I want to go into Wycliffe?

First of all, we do not have a list of recommended schools for those wishing to serve with Wycliffe. There are many good colleges out there so we are hesitant to recommend any one to the exclusion of others. Second, more important than a degree from a specific school is a young person's development of character, spiritual maturity, personal purity, and moral integrity. One important piece of information to keep in mind while looking into potential colleges is that Wycliffe has a limit of how much a candidate can owe on school loans (otherwise candidates must be debt-free). The limit is $24,000 for singles and $36,000 for couples.

In general, those wishing to join Wycliffe need to ask, "In what area will I be serving with Wycliffe?" There are two broad categories of service within Wycliffe which helps determine the type of schooling chosen--language work and support roles.

Language related personnel are schooled in linguistics, literacy, and anthropology. Those wishing to be involved with language work will need to pursue a bachelor's degree. Some possible degree options may be Missions, Intercultural studies, Linguistics, English as a Second Language (ESL), Anthropology, or Bible. Wycliffe does not require any specific degree to do language work though some may be better preparation than others. The reason that those interested in Bible translation do not need a specific degree is that Wycliffe's sister organization, The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), has it's own graduate level training program.

Support personnel join with a wide variety of skills, some professional (computers, accounting, managerial, communications, teachers, pilots, etc.) and some technical (carpentry, auto & aircraft mechanics, truck drivers, etc.). Those wishing to do support work will want to pursue a degree or vocational training in their specific field of interest. Wycliffe has a need for new members in many skill areas.

Do you have youth programs?

We have one program where we'd welcome an entire youth group! How about a short-term mission trip to Guatemala, called Guatemala Tours? The youth group and its leaders embark on a ministry and sightseeing trip with a Wycliffe guide. A new program is beginning for youth next summer. Check out GET Global. If your youth group is not available or interested in this trip, we recommend Teen Missions and Teen Mania for exposure to missions work overseas. Both are designed for groups or individual teens.

Are there short-term opportunities?

Yes, see our list of short-term programs and opportunities.

How can I be a Wycliffe employee?

Wycliffe is a mission organization whose members--whether translators, administrators or support workers--raise their own financial and prayer support. Though we are always looking for more people to join Wycliffe, most paid staff fill clerical, receipting or housekeeping positions.

What training do I need to be a translator?

A good understanding and working knowledge of Scripture is important; check out the FAQ about biblical studies for Bible translation personnel.
SIL International offers training for applied linguistic fieldwork at 13 institutions around the world. Topics for courses include phonetics, phonology, grammar, language learning, linguistic field methods, cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, literacy, translation, and language program planning.
The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) offers programs of study with different emphases, including Bible Translation, Literacy and Sociolinguistics. Each program requires a minimum of 39 hours of graduate instruction.

On the field, seminars and workshops, published helps for linguistic and translation work, and consultant help are all available.

Are others needed, besides translators?

Are we glad you asked that question! Hundreds of literacy workers are needed to develop teaching materials and train local people to teach reading classes. We also need secretaries, teachers, accountants, computer technicians and programmers, mechanics, pilots, printers and many others. Chances are, you could use your professional skills on the Bible translation team.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit for joining Wycliffe?

Those joining Wycliffe as career members must be between the ages of 21-59. For those wishing to serve from one to five years, Wycliffe's short-term assistant (STA) program accepts application from persons between the ages of 18-64. Wycliffe's Graduate Intern Program (GRIP) accepts college graduates up to the age of 30.

Volunteers ages 18 through retirement and in good health, wishing to work for a year or less, may work as guest helpers.

Do you have to be debt-free before you can become a member?

A person must be debt-free, except for school loans, in which case a maximum of $24,000 per individual, $36,000 per couple is permitted. Those seeking short-term assistant (STA) positions rather than membership have a different set of financial guidelines and should contact us for more information.

How much financial support do I need to join Wycliffe? How is that support raised?

We provide a rough estimate (which differs for each individual) early in the membership process because so many variables exist (field chosen, size of family, etc.). A person raises his or her own financial support through the leading of God and the responsiveness of family, friends and church congregations.

What kind of schooling options are there for my children?

WBT USA acknowledges the responsibility parents have for their children and maintains the Children's Education (CHED) department to support them. Options for education depend on factors such as available facilities, personnel and finances, transportation and communication, and more.

Parents and administrators work out which options most suit the needs and best fit the location, though flexibility is a key element. Traditional options include Wycliffe-staffed schools, other mission schools and international schools. Nontraditional options include one-room schools and parents as teachers (home schooling, with help from professional teachers when available).

Can you translate a foreign document I've received?

Nearly all Wycliffe translators work overseas with the people for whom they're translating. They aren't able to take on outside translation projects.

The Translator's Home Companion web page would be a good place to start your search for commercial translation services; Northern California Translator's Association (NCTA) has a searchable translator database. Or you could try out the translation engine that Alta Vista has available online for some Western European languages. Be careful; it is machine translation! You might want to translate the results back into English to be sure nothing has gotten lost in the process.