Bridging the Gap: Bringing the Word to Life in North Maluku

The Word has been translated. Now, the goal is for it to be heard and lived.

For decades, the national language Bible has been the only option for Sunday church services in North Maluku. But for many in our province, that language remains distant and difficult to understand. As a result, the Bible is often seen as a formal book to be read from the pulpit—not the living Word for daily life. Since most people here do not read on a regular basis, and the national language can be difficult to navigate, the joy of reading and meditating on God’s Word often remains out of reach.

12 Local Languages

Bible translation is now progressing in 12 different local languages across North Maluku. But a translation that is seldom used cannot change a life. We are working with local churches to move the Word from the page to the soul through a few key initiatives:

• Scripture Engagement Advocates: We now have a small, dedicated team trained in Scripture Engagement, who are already training others to bridge the gap between the printed page and the heart. This fund helps them travel to train others and promote the use of these new translations throughout North Maluku.
• Discovery Bible Study:  Our team is launching "Discovery Bible Study" (DBS) groups to ensure the Word is active where people live and study. This idea of actively studying the Bible together in a group is a completely new paradigm here, but we have seen great enthusiasm for it. Whether at the university or in a small village, people are finally reading the Word in their heart language and learning to ask: "What is God saying to us, and how should we respond?"
• Mother Tongue Workshops: We are planning workshops across the various districts to advocate for a new way of engaging with God. We want to see the mother tongue become the natural language for reading the Word, for prayer, and for fellowship—moving beyond the formal Sunday service into every part of life.
• Cultural Worship: We are planning to host music workshops to help local musicians write "heart songs"—worship born from their own culture and in their own language.

Will You Join the Team?

We are looking for regular partners to provide the consistent fuel this movement requires. Monthly giving allows us to plan, travel, and sustain the momentum without stopping.

• $50/month helps the Scripture Engagement team travel to a village or city to launch a new Discovery Bible Study.
• $100/month provides the materials and logistics for a local music and preaching workshop.
• $250/month sustains a Scripture Engagement advocate to work full-time, planning for and training others to promote God's Word across the province.

Thank you for your prayers and your support!