Q: I’m interested in Bible translation and I want to be part of a team and not just a lone missionary. Which agencies now send teams to do this?

What if you considered the unreached people group as part of your team? When Jesus came to earth, he didn't come with a team; he lived in a human society for a while and got to know people, then he communicated the Good News to all who would hear. The Word became flesh. Though you may find an agency that will send a team to this particular people group, keep in mind that God's image is already present among the people group and that God desires to redeem these people. Some of the most effective translators and missionaries are those who have had to rely entirely upon God to supply their social needs through the people they are ministering to. Remember, you go not only to give, but also to receive. Some of my best memories are of times when those I served served me.

We have been with SIM for almost 20 years. I have lived in Sudan, Ethiopia, Liberia, and Nigeria. Obviously Wycliffe Bible Translators make Bible translation their focus, so they have numerous and excellently trained Bible translators working throughout the world. SIM currently has over 70 translation projects in progress. Among others these projects are going on in Niger, Benin, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Pioneer Bible Translators was founded over 25 years ago to promote the Bible translation ministry among missionaries and churches from nondenominational backgrounds (specifically those of the Christian Church/Church of Christ heritage). At that time, many of these churches were doing nothing to bring God's Word to Bibleless language groups despite their strong commitment both to missions and to the Word of God. Often this was because the interdenominational approach and large administrative structure of existing translation agencies simply failed to gain the ear of those from a nondenominational background. PBT has proved very successful in relating this important ministry to those churches in their own terms. Over the years recruits from various nondenominational heritages have worked with PBT, which now has now has around 100 missionaries serving in six nations around the world. PBT missionaries get their training at Wycliffe Bible Translators' Summer Institute of Linguistics, and they maintain the same high standards in quality translation principles that WBT and the International Bible Society are known for.

Wycliffe Bible Translators focuses on the task of Bible translation, and has a goal seeing translation projects started in the remaining languages that do not have the Bible by the year 2025. Other organizations that have translation projects in progress include New Tribes Mission and SIM.

World Team is a church planting agency that incorporates Bible translation. They currently have Bible translation projects in Cameroon and Papua, Indonesia.

Recently, a video of the Kimyal tribe in Papua receiving the New Testament made its rounds on the internet. This translation was the fruit of many years of ministry by World Team missionaries.

In 2000, the Yali Bible was dedicated, the first complete Bible (OT and NT) in any Papuan language. The complete Dani Bible was completed in 2003, and the complete Hupla Bible was recently finished. A more detailed history can be found at WorldTeamPapua.org.