Bible translation team robbed in Nigeria

igeria (MNN) ― Churches in Nigeria have been under direct attack lately as several bombers have targeted church buildings. But on Friday morning, Bible translation was also threatened when a team of translators was robbed.

A team of IT professionals from Wycliffe Associates was in Nigeria to help with a workshop that mentors Nigerians on how to do Bible translation. En route to a city in northern Nigeria, the team was confronted.

"They were stopped by armed robbers. Everyone was forced to lie on the ground," says David Reeves with Wycliffe Associates. Reeves says money was taken, but he hasn't heard if their equipment was also commandeered.

Reeves could only speculate on whether the robbery was at all related to the string of church attacks over the last month or so in Nigeria. Regardless, he says, tensions against believers are high.

"This is not uncommon in Nigeria or in other parts of Africa to have these sort of events--remote roads, isolated locations and all--although the current environment is one where more of that is happening because of the unrest and the insecurity that's going on in the country," explains Reeves.

The team is safe, but the incident emphasizes the urgency behind the work Wycliffe Associates is doing.

Typically, Wycliffe Associates sends IT teams to Nigeria to deliver Bible Translation Acceleration Kits (TAKs). The full kit includes a satellite terminal, a solar panel, batteries, converters, and a laptop. Those items can change depending on the needs of the particular translation team, but those basic items make translation work exponentially faster.

Reeves says the technology offers huge change to translators. "I know of places where they're even doing Bible translation on yellow notepads," says Reeves. "We're trying to get in to help them have tools like computers and connectivity to be able to move faster than that."

With increasing instability in Nigeria, it's not only vital that translators get their work done as quickly as possible, but that they are also able to move if needed. Computers, internet, and other devices help them to consult faster and to take their work with them should they need to flee the area or even the country.

Just a month after Reeves helped one translation team install their TAK, "500 people had been killed, 21 churches had been burned, and they were sending me e-mails asking me for prayer for their team. They still continued to do Bible translation, sending materials to their consultant, and still moving forward."

Reeves says the courage and perseverance is already there in the translators. The necessary technology is just needed to allow them to keep working through severe persecution.

Wycliffe Associates has placed 45 TAKs in Nigeria so far. It's excellent progress, but there are a total of 80 Bible translation projects going in Nigeria, and many more starting up. The urgent need has thrust Wycliffe Associates to new goals in Nigeria.

"We need to help them scale from about 80 projects to nearly 300 projects. The sooner we do that the better; there's a sense of urgency in light of the conflict and uncertainty of where all this is going," says Reeves. "I'm looking at probably another 100 in the next year that we'll try to do. As soon as we can, we'll try to do all the remaining ones."

It's dangerous and difficult work, but crucial in order for the Gospel to win over the oppression of terrorism in Nigeria. 

Each TAK costs $3,500. If you can help with even a portion of that, click here. If you have IT expertise and would like to volunteer with these projects in Nigeria, click here. 

Bible Translation Center moves forward despite Boko Haram concerns

Cameroon (MNN) ― Boko Haram's efforts to rid Nigeria of Christians has also raised concerns in neighboring Cameroon.

There are reports from Cameroon's Muslim leaders that religious extremism could be gaining a foothold.

According to the Cameroon Association of Imams, there are some mosques that have allowed the Boko Haram to preach. Boko Haram is a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeast Nigeria.  

It seems that the concern is serious enough that Muslim leaders may look at regulating religious groups in an effort to keep Boko Haram's extremism out of Cameroon.

At the same time, Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation efforts, is moving forward on plans to build a new Bible translation center in Cameroon.

Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates says, "There is a lot of concern about what might happen, but so far, it's been peaceful. We're obviously concerned that the translations would be able to move forward without interruption. We'd certainly request people to pray." 

The region is strategic to unreached people groups. Smith explains, "It's a place where there are so many different languages--about 300 in Nigeria and about another 100 in Cameroon--that are still without one verse of Scripture. We are convinced that the best solution for the instability and the concerns that have arisen there is that God's Word go forward in a language that they can understand."

The project has been a long time in the planning, made even longer by unexpected delays. "The main holdup has actually been that the government has been thinking about building a football (soccer) stadium, and recently the approval came through to start the construction project for the training center. So we're moving ahead with it now, along with our partner, the Cameroonian Bible Translation Association."

The idea is to move the training closer to the actual language work itself. The current Bamenda Translation Training Center is actually a tiny, old, three-bedroom house and three other houses spread out over four separate properties. A new Bible translation training center would provide a more efficient space which would help facilitate the more than 40 language projects that are currently underway in Cameroon.   

Now that the last obstacle has been cleared away, Wycliffe Associates wants to waste no more time getting a  training center in Bamenda built. They're raising the first $50,000 to launch. "We're actually going to begin immediately. We have a construction superintendent assigned; we've got materials being ordered at this time. We've got volunteers, professional construction people from the United States who are going to assist with the local laborers."

Once the work teams make it to the site, Smith says, "We expect that they'll be finished in about a year, at least with the initial phase, and then maybe continuing beyond that with some additional buildings."

Why the rush? "The need for Scripture is so great in Cameroon that there are many more communities, many more people desperate for hope," says Smith. "We have a window of opportunity now to provide national translators the resources needed to accelerate translation efforts and reach the remaining language groups."

Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in the language of their heart, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart.

The organization partners with nationals, mother-tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts, as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God's Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.

Nigeria under state of emergency

Nigeria (MNN) ― Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in parts of the country following attacks from the Islamist group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram means "Western education is a sin." The group is pushing to establish Sharia law and has been the source of explosive discontent over the last few years. They have been carrying out increasingly deadly attacks throughout 2011, including an August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja and Christmas violence that triggered fear and anger.

Authorities temporarily closed international borders, and the military is in place, a measure meant to reinforce the emergencies in Yobe, Borno, Plateau and Niger states.

This came in response to a threat issued by the Boko Haram, an extremist Muslim sect with close ties to al Qaeda. They issued an ultimatum, warning Christians to leave the North by January 3, which led to a response from Christian leaders that they would defend themselves if such attacks continued.

Bruce Smith, President/CEO of Wycliffe Associates, says their translations teams have not been directly affected by the threat. However, the emotional and spiritual toll has been much higher. "It's an extremely stressful circumstance for them. They're very concerned. They're seeking wisdom about how to respond in these circumstances. They're actually looking to God's Word for the answers that they really need in terms of how they relate to their neighbors and other members of the community that are part of this stressful situation."

While Jonathon has been urging calm, a religious war weighs heavily on recent memory. Even with the stepped-up security, their teams have not allowed the situation to disrupt their deadlines for translation work. Smith acknowledges, "It's definitely creating a climate of uncertainty and increases their concern about how to continue carrying out their work." However, "They know that God's Word has the real power to change people's hearts and that continuing to move forward in Bible translation is the best way to remedy the situation that they face."

There's "news," and then there's the story behind it that impacts local Christians, Smith explains. The team has a testimony in the local community, and fleeing impacts the mission work and Bible translation, in terms of its ability to move forward, he adds. That's why they're laying low and being extra vigilant. "The people that are primarily working in Bible translation right now are Nigerians. These are people that are working in their own communities. They are well aware of the local circumstances; they know who is affiliated with which groups and where their allies are. They're wired into the local situation and very attuned to it."

Tension is a normal part of living in a country like Nigeria. For the local translation teams, they work around it and pray. "Pray for God's protection. But also pray for God's wisdom that these circumstances will actually yield opportunities to speak a testimony for Him, to make His name known, and for hearts to be changed, because that's the ultimate solution."

Boko Haram is blamed for three murders this week that could be a precursor to a bloodbath, and Smith says their team wants other Christians to pray for change. "Pray that God's Word and the truth of God's Word continues to impact the communities across Nigeria. It's not government, it's not political, it's not military force that's going to change people's hearts and minds. Ultimately it's the truth of God's Word."