How Do I Pray for Bibleless People New | Wycliffe Bible Translators

Who Are the Bibleless People?

A Bibleless people group is a language community in need of a Bible translation. They have no known Scripture and no active translation project.

Believe it or not, about a quarter of the world’s languages are still waiting for a single word of the Bible — millions of people are without the hope and transformation power of God’s Word! We believe that the Good News of Jesus Christ is for all people, and they need access to him through a language and form they clearly understand.

So in 1982 Wycliffe formed the Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project (BPPP) with the resolute goal to recruit men, women and children to prayerfully lay the foundation for a translation program to begin in each of the world's Bibleless people groups. We believe the true beginning of a Bible translation is when someone starts praying for it to happen.

How to Pray for Bibleless People

If your heart's desire is to pray for the Bibleless but don't know where to begin, below are a few prayer points that will help you understand some of the needs.

Pray for the Message

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. — John 1:1 (NLT)

Pray that the last languages of the world would receive the Scriptures in whatever form they need it. Dare to ask God for big things! Ask him to provide every person in the world with his Word — just as he has already provided it for us — written in their heart language!

Pray that the integrity of God’s Word would be maintained as it is translated. Pray for quality translations that speak meaningfully to the hearts of Bibleless people.

Pray for the People

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him — though he is not far from any one of us. — Acts 17:27 (NLT)

Pray for the safety of Bibleless people. Many are residents in, or displaced from, countries with poor political and social conditions.

Pray that Bibleless people would be well ministered to by the cooperative efforts of local churches and mission agencies.

Pray that Bibleless people would hunger and thirst for God’s Word in their heart language.

Pray that Bibleless people would use the Scripture once it is translated. Pray that lives would be transformed by the power of the gospel.

Pray for Personnel

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. — Matthew 9:38 (NLT)

Language Workers

Pray for more language workers to be called, trained and sent.

Pray that translation needs would clearly be identified through quality survey work.

Pray that language workers would help develop writing systems for unwritten languages.

Support Workers

Pray for more children’s education personnel (like teachers, administrators and librarians).

Pray for community development specialists as they help provide safe, effective and economical transportation.

Pray for technology workers who provide computer, email, radio and satellite phone support.

Pray for communication specialists (like writers, artists and printers) as they inform prayer and financial partners about ongoing needs and the progress of translation work.

Ask God to help construction, maintenance and management personnel as they develop and maintain translation support centers around the world.

Pray for purchasing and shipping staff as they keep much-needed supplies flowing.

Pray for the Completion of the Task

Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. — Philippians 2:16 (NLT)