Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus called the whole Church to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:18, NLT), a command often referred to now as the Great Commission. God’s plan was to build His Kingdom in and through the Church, including local churches in every corner of the globe.
And that’s exactly what’s happening today! God is on the move, and His Spirit is being poured out upon the earth in ways we’ve never seen before, particularly in the history of Bible translation.
For so long, the Church was viewed as having the deepest roots and strongest influence in the West, with the West sending out Bible translators to the farthest reaches of the world. But over the last half century, the Church has exploded, expanding South and East and shifting the landscape of Bible translation with it.
Johnstone Ndunde, executive director of SIL Global, a key partner of Wycliffe’s, shared: “In the world where we serve, we have many churches that have discipled, educated people [who] are able to serve the Lord as well. God’s mission is no longer from the West to the rest. It is from everyone to everywhere.”
“God’s mission is no longer from the West to the rest. It is from everyone to everywhere.”
This is God’s hand at work. He desires for people from every language and community to experience His redemptive power through the blood of Jesus, leading to life transformation. Scripture in a language and format they clearly understand plays a vital role in that, enabling them to know God more deeply and grow through discipleship.
Today, as the Great Commission is being advanced by the global Church, local churches are taking ownership and linking arms with Wycliffe and other Bible translation agencies around the world to ensure that their communities, countries and even entire regions have God’s Word.
Prayer is foundational to seeing God’s Word translated and made accessible to every person still waiting. Whether you’re praying for local churches, translation teams or communities, your prayers matter.
Here are five ways you can pray for Bible translation today:
- Pray for Local Churches and Bible Translation Partnerships
- Pray for Wisdom and Strength for Bible Translation Teams
- Pray for Deaf Communities to Encounter Jesus Through Sign Language
- Pray for More People to Join the Work of Bible Translation
- Pray for the Translation of the Full Bible
1. Pray for Local Churches and Bible Translation Partnerships
As a result of missions and technology, the gospel has spread to more communities than ever before, and now local churches worldwide are rising up to establish evangelism, discipleship, church planting and other activities in their own communities — with Bible translation central to all of those efforts!
As local churches work with Bible translation organizations to translate Scripture for their own communities, that partnership is accelerating the pace of the work. This shift to local church ownership is a direct answer to decades of faithful prayer and service. Praise God!
PRAY WITH US
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for how You are raising up men and women who not only love You but who want to be part of sharing the gospel in their own communities, countries and regions. Your love is capturing more people as they encounter You personally in a language and format they clearly understand. Equip local churches to spread Your light and love to their families and neighbors, drawing people to You through Scripture. Amen.
Your Prayers Keep Us Going | The Philippines
Divine Grace Leparto, a Bible translation field coordinator in the Philippines, shares the story of a translator who returned home from a weeklong Bible translation workshop to find that much of her land had been seized while she was away. Despite this difficult loss, she continued serving in Bible translation, grateful for the ways she could see the Lord at work in her community.
Her experience is just one example of the challenges translation team members can face as they work to make God’s Word accessible to their communities. Yet even in difficult circumstances, Divine is witnessing God change the lives of the people around her — and He is changing her own life too!
2. Pray for Wisdom and Strength for Bible Translation Teams
Today, Wycliffe is engaged with thousands of language communities through our global staff and funding, seeking to translate the Bible into the languages and formats people clearly understand.
Every Bible translation project we support has a plan with detailed goals and objectives. More and more, these goals are developed by the community for the community. And based on these plans, the work begins.
Along the way, as verses, stories and chapters are translated, these Scripture portions are then tested in the community to see how they resonate with people. Are they clear? Are they natural and meaningful? Are they accurate to the original biblical texts?
Through this process, these Scripture portions trickle into the hearts and hands of the community, and transformation begins before a single book is published. As people engage with God’s Word along the way, the translation process itself becomes a life-changing and community-changing endeavor!
PRAY WITH US
Lord Jesus,
As people work together to translate Your Word, we ask that You would give them wisdom. Show them the right words to convey with accuracy, authenticity and clarity the truths found in Scripture. Give them strength and endurance to accomplish this work, and keep them safe and healthy. May their efforts be pleasing to You, knowing that the work of their hands is providing opportunities for people to read, hear or see Your Word come to life in a language and format they clearly understand. Amen.
A Heartfelt “Thank You” After 40 Years | Nicaragua
Your prayers and generosity as part of the global body of Christ matter more than you know. They encourage people like Celia to keep serving and remind them they’re not alone in the work God has called them to do.
Celia is a field coordinator in the Americas and began serving as a missionary when she was just 22. Forty years later, Celia is grateful for the people and churches who have prayed for, given to and supported her throughout her ministry. Even amid struggles, Celia shared this about her team: “[We] never feel alone because we have tons of people behind us, praying for us, supporting us.”
3. Pray for Deaf Communities to Encounter Jesus Through Sign Language
Around the world, there are nearly 400 unique sign languages in use. Deaf communities have often been marginalized, and until recently, only 2% of the global Deaf community had been introduced to the gospel. Furthermore, only one sign language — American Sign Language — has had the full Bible. But all of this is changing!
Today, we know that a visual language deserves a visual Bible, and Bible translation is happening in sign languages all across the globe. With each new community engaged, Deaf people are given the opportunity — many for the very first time — to experience Jesus’ love for them as it comes to life in their unique sign language. Jesus is no longer a stranger; He’s the One who knows them, sees them and loves them deeply.
Want to pray more specifically for Deaf communities? Explore how to pray for sign language translation and learn more ways to support this important work through prayer.
PRAY WITH US
Lord God,
Thank You for creating each of us in Your image. Thank You for knowing and understanding each of our languages and cultures. Thank You for seeing us, valuing us and loving us deeply. As more Deaf people around the world learn about You through sign language Bible translation, we pray that You would capture their hearts and draw them close to You. May they be transformed by Your love as they see Your Word brought to life in their own sign language. Amen.
Reaching Deaf Communities in the Pacific | Solomon Islands
Amazing things can happen when Deaf communities are given the opportunity to know and worship God!
Jo Tuitoga, a project coordinator and pastor in the Pacific, has seen firsthand how Deaf communities are often overlooked. But Bible translation efforts in the Solomon Islands are helping the Deaf feel a greater sense of belonging and inclusion. Jo witnessed an incredibly emotional moment during a Sunday church service when, with tears in their eyes, Deaf communities were able to worship God together.
4. Pray for More People to Join the Work of Bible Translation
Bible translation isn’t possible without people using their time, talents and resources to advance the mission together. It takes all of us, linking arms and working in collaboration and unity, to make God’s Word accessible to everyone, everywhere.
And no contribution is small or unimportant! If God has called someone to pray, may they intercede for His people with passion. If God has called someone to give, may they do so with joy. If He has called someone to serve, may they do so with faithfulness and determination. And if God has called someone to invite others — whether individually or as a church — to participate in this Kingdom mission, may they do so boldly.
As the body of Christ, we all are invited — and called! — to make disciples of all nations. May we do so with faithfulness, passion and joy, knowing that God is drawing all people to Himself through His Word.
PRAY WITH US
Savior,
Before You ascended to heaven, You gave us a command: to go out into the whole world and make disciples. Bible translation is a response to that command because we know people need to understand Your love in a language and format that captures their hearts. Continue to unify us as Your people, Lord. Equip and empower us to advance Your Kingdom by working together to see Your Word translated for all people so that everyone can read, hear or see Your love on display in a way that changes them forever. Amen.
A Glimpse of Heaven in the Global Church
What does it look like when the global Church comes together around a shared purpose?
Bible translation is one of the clearest pictures of the global Church working as one body. People from different cultures, countries and backgrounds are collaborating around a common goal: helping all people encounter God’s Word in languages they clearly understand.
Mats-Jan Söderberg from Wycliffe Sweden reflects on the beauty of engaging with Christians from every part of the world who are contributing their unique gifts, perspectives and resources to the work of Bible translation. He reminds us that the God-given mission of Bible translation is not a Western endeavor, an American endeavor or a European endeavor. It is a global movement of God’s people serving together to advance His Kingdom.
5. Pray for the Translation of the Full Bible
Imagine reading the second book in a duology. While you’d understand the final outcome, wouldn’t you also want access to the first book, to understand why the ending was so significant? Without the first part of the duology, context is missing, leaving you with gaps in understanding.
The same is true in Bible translation. For many languages, a complete New Testament is prioritized in their project goals and objectives. After all, the New Testament narrative allows us to encounter Jesus personally and understand God’s redemptive plan for humanity!
But the Old Testament plays a crucial role in helping people understand the full scope of that plan. It provides evidence supporting Jesus’ claim as Messiah and Savior of the world, proving He is who He says He is. When people have the full counsel of God’s Word — from Genesis through Revelation — they can understand the entire story.
PRAY WITH US
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word and the truths that we discover when we read, hear or see it come to life in a form we clearly understand. Thank You for the opportunities we have to discover Who You are, to learn more of Your character and to see how You’ve called us to live. We pray that You would continue to guide Your people as they translate the Bible for those waiting for the full counsel of Your Word. May their hearts be captured and their lives transformed when they understand Your great story in its entirety. Amen.
God Answers Impossible Prayers | Nigeria
What happens when God calls His people to pray for something that seems impossible?
Jackson Vusaka, director of projects for Global Partnerships*, shares how God answered prayers for communities across Nigeria who were still waiting and yearning for portions of Scripture in their language. As teams sought God’s wisdom and direction, God opened unexpected doors, raised up partnerships and accelerated Bible translation efforts in remarkable ways.
*Global Partnerships is a collective impact alliance that desires to receive inspiration and leadership from the global Church in the Bible translation movement. As organizations explore new ways of cooperating with each other and working interdependently, transformational impact through translated Scripture is accelerated and partnerships are strengthened locally, regionally and globally.
Linking Arms With the Global Church
As churches, partners and language communities work side by side, it’s a glimpse of what heaven will one day look like — where people from every nation and language will worship God. Through Bible translation, we see the richness of God’s design and the power of unity in the global Church. And partners like you are part of the story God is writing!
Want to see more of how God is answering prayers around the world? Read stories of answered prayer from people who are witnessing the impact of Bible translation firsthand.
When challenges become overwhelming, the prayers of people who are lifting up Bible translation help teams persevere and refocus on what God has called them to do. “I think ‘thank you’ is not enough,” Divine Grace shared. “You are a part of whatever we are accomplishing in the community.”
Your prayers make a difference! Here are some easy ways to continue engaging in the mission of Bible translation through prayer:
- Sign up for weekly SMS prayer updates. There are so many amazing things happening around the world, and we want to share them with you! Sign up to receive a short, weekly update with a prayer request via text. Text SIGHTINGS to 407-358-0916 →
- Download monthly prayer lists. Pray for translation teams as they translate Scripture for communities still waiting. Whether you want to pray through a global prayer list, by region or for sign language projects, you can intercede for specific, timely requests! Explore prayer lists →
- Teach kids about the importance of prayer. Prayer is just an ongoing conversation with God, and kids can be taught how easy it is to chat with Him as if He’s their best friend — because He is! Use our 5-day devotional on YouVersion to teach kids to bring big and small requests to Him — praying like Jesus, using Scripture and lifting up people around the world. View the plan →
Thank you for partnering with us in praying for a day when every man, woman and child can encounter Jesus through Scripture in a language and format they clearly understand. What a glorious day it will be when all people — from every nation and language community — worship before the Lamb together. To God be the glory!
