Celebrating what God has done in Bible translation around the world since 1942.
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It all began in 1917 when William Cameron Townsend (known by friends as “Cam”) went to Guatemala to sell Spanish Bibles. When Cam realized that most of the people he was meeting didn’t understand the Bible in Spanish, he knew something had to change. Deep down, Cam thought everyone should be able to read God’s Word in the language of their heart. And it’s that belief that ultimately led him to establish Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.
This year we celebrate 75 years as an organization involved in Bible translation all around the world. Join us in rejoicing over what God has done and is continuing to do as more and more people gain access to the Bible in the languages they understand best!
Wycliffe’s History
Follow the journey of Bible translation from how it started to where we are today.
1917
William Cameron Townsend goes to Guatemala to sell Spanish Bibles.
1931
The Cakchiquel New Testament is completed.
1933
At least 1,000 languages around the world are believed to still be without Scripture.
1934
Summer linguistic courses begin. Later, they would become known as SIL International.
1942
Wycliffe Bible Translators USA is founded.
1955
Another 1,300+ languages are discovered in the Pacific alone. Wycliffe’s job is more than doubled overnight!
1976
The first portable computer is used for linguistic fieldwork.
1982
An estimated 5,000 languages are spoken in the world. Of those, 3,000-3,500 are still without Scripture.
1999
"Vision 2025" is established with a goal of a translation program in progress for every language still needing one by the year 2025.
2001
John and Bonnie Nystrom pioneer cluster translation projects in Papua New Guinea.
2015
Nearly 7,000 languages are spoken around the world. Up to 1,800 languages still likely need Bible translation to begin.
2017
Wycliffe Bible Translators USA celebrates 75 years as an organization.
Today
More than 550 languages have the complete Bible, with an additional 2,400 that have either the New Testament or different books. That totals almost 3,000 languages with some Scripture! But the work is not yet done. There are still an estimated 1,800 languages that likely need Bible translation to begin. And Wycliffe is working faster than ever to help reach them with the life-changing message of the gospel.
Celebrate 75 Years of Bible Translation!
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