Ending Bible Poverty

We recently heard of a story out of Cameroon where technology is really making a difference in Bible Translation. Not only is technology helpful by making creating backups possible and speeding up communication, but now it is being used to create audio Bible's that are available even on cell phones. This is allowing the people of Cameroon to ability to bring the Word of God into their own homes much faster. They no longer have to wait for a copy of the Bible to be printed. They can read it right on their phones. Having the Bible available via a Bible app, like YouVersion, also allows the Bible to get into "closed countries" much easier.

Will you prayerfully consider helping us complete the work that God has called us to do with a monthly gift. Together, we can make a difference for the people of Cameroon and every other language group still waiting.

http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=AF45B1

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Moise Yonta joyfully read aloud a Scripture portion on his smartphone, punctuating the phrases with vigorous gestures. This was God’s Word in his mother tongue—the Ngiemboon language of Cameroon—and he was seeing it on his phone for the first time! As he came to the end of the selection, he jumped up and delightedly shook hands with a colleague. With a huge grin, he exclaimed, “Wonderful! Wonderful!”

It was indeed wonderful!  Moise, who works with the Cameroonian Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL), was the coordinator for the Ngiemboon translation project.  Since the New Testament was dedicated in 2007, he’s used both the printed and audio version, but gaining access to the digital version took his experience to a whole new level!

He says, “I was so happy that I couldn’t hide it! Immediately I applied the lesson we learnt by selecting a verse and sending it to my dear wife, and she was happy to receive it.”

Now when Moise travels, he carries the Scriptures with him on his phone. His special joy is helping others access God’s Word the same way.  He encourages them to get the written Scriptures from YouVersion and the audio version from Faith Comes By Hearing.  At the request of his pastor and church elders, he is preparing a training course for his church on how to use cell phones for evangelization, and CABTAL would like him to present the same course to other churches as well.

Moise is one of more than 650 million cell phone subscribers in Africa, where cell phone service is far more available than landlines. As I’ve traveled, I’ve often found better service in Africa than I get in my own home in Orlando, Florida. I have no doubt that God is behind the development of digital technology, and while cell phones are used worldwide for communications, financial transactions, healthcare, and much more, I believe that God also intended this technology to support the distribution of His Word.

Warmly,

Bob Creson
President/CEO
Wycliffe USA


A video of Moise enjoying his digital Scriptures is posted here .