I used to live in Asia as a global worker, but now I’m in the States training and mobilizing others to go overseas and serve with our mission agency. When presenting the work we do overseas, whether at churches or universities, I often hear the same questions: “Why do you focus on learning the language of the people, and why is it important to do a Bible translation in the heart language, or ethnic language, of the people?”

Recently, I was reading about William Tyndale, the great theologian and scholar from the 16^th century, who translated the Bible into an early form of Modern English. His life was dedicated to get the Scriptures into printed English so that the common man could read it, yet he was hunted for years by the Roman Catholic church and the Royalty of England, who were trying to stop the translation. In 1536, Tyndale was tried for heresy and burned at the stake. His last words were, “Lord, open the eyes of the King of England.” This prayer was answered three years later, in the publication of King Henry VIII’s “Great Bible” in the English language, and then the King James’ authorized version afterward.

Tyndale is the reason we have over 100 different English translations of the Bible today. Was it worth it?

Everyone should have access to the Good News of God’s Word in the language they know best. Can you imagine never hearing or reading the life-changing truths of Scripture, except in a foreign tongue? How well could you really understand it?

There’s a region in China with over 250 ethnic minority people groups, and each people group has their own language and culture (much like the Native Americans). Many of these people groups are unreached, and they have never seen a Bible before. If I gave someone from one of these people groups a Mandarin Chinese Bible, they wouldn’t be able to read it or understand it because it is in a different language than the one they speak in their culture. Yet many people think China only needs more Mandarin Chinese Bibles. Why should unreached people groups in other countries believe in this Bible if the truths are taught in a way that they can’t understand and apply to their lives?

When establishing churches among unreached people groups, how will we raise up elders and Bible teachers in the church to complete the Great Commission of making disciples and teaching them to observe all things, if it is not in their heart language?

The purpose of our mission is to establish churches among unreached people groups that will multiply themselves among other people groups and languages. We desire to train and raise up local church leaders within the community to lead this work. I have personally seen numerous churches, in very different regions of the world, reach out to other language groups. The only thing I can attest to this continued work of the Great Commission is that they have God’s Word in their own language, they read it, and now they have applied it to their lives. They’ve been given the Good News and they want to give it to others.

Yes, Bible translation takes time. And it is a terrific sacrifice. But just like Tyndale, could you give your life to anything better?

You can be involved in giving Good News to the world by designating a year-end gift to our “Good News Fund” here.