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God’s Word for every language–in this generation!

November | 2010

Strategy for Reaching a Nation

Their First Scripture
A Gift In Any Language

Gift–A–Verse
This Christmas,
give the message
of hope through
Bible translation
 E
W o r d s f r o m R o y

very year at this time we gather around our tables for Thanks-
giving Day and thank God for our many blessings in this great
nation. At The Seed Company, we give thanks for you and our
faithful partners around the world. And as we do, we also
are mindful to pray for people groups who are experiencing great turmoil.
One of the greatest and most urgent needs on my heart is for the Word
of God to penetrate and shatter the darkness and violence that has ripped
families apart, generated unspeakable atrocities toward women and
“Prayer is our children, and claimed more than 5 million lives in the eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC).
lifeline to Having recently met with representatives of six partner organizations at
accomplish the American Bible Society in New York, it was clear that we share the
same concerns and want to do all we can to reach out to the affected
God’s will. people. Thank God, Wycliffe and SIL have made available Trauma Healing
Workshops to minister to devastated people. But we must do more. The
Scriptures say, “He sent his word and healed them, snatching them from
It’s our link to the door of death” (Psalm 107:20, NLT).

the throne.”
Cover: Lughulu mother holding
her baby close and treasuring the
newly translated Scripture she
received. Because of your gifts,
her child can learn about Jesus and
know God’s Word! (Story page 8)
With your partnership, The Seed Company is actively involved in helping
translate God’s healing Scripture for 10 people groups in the DRC.
But at least 25 groups in the Great Lakes region of the DRC and neigh-
boring countries affected by the fighting do not have any Scripture in their
heart language. We realize that for people to have a thriving relationship
with Jesus and experience His physical, emotional and spiritual healing,
they must know His Word in their heart language.
Prayer is our lifeline to accomplish God’s will. It’s our link to the throne.
The needs are urgent on many fronts. We are so thankful for our new Prayer
Director, Bill McCoy, who will be coordinating powerful prayer initiatives for
the DRC as well as expanding our prayer ministry in other areas. Bill will be
networking with existing prayer organizations and providing prayer requests
to mobilize strategic, effective and targeted prayer, which will do much to
destroy the works of darkness while making a powerful impact for God’s
kingdom. (Be sure to read Bill’s column in this issue — you’ll be encouraged!)
We are so thankful for the privilege of serving the Body of Christ through
focused prayer efforts. And, we are so very
thankful for your partnership with us.
I pray God’s richest blessing for you and
your family during this holiday season!
Roy L. Peterson | PRESIDENT
 A M u l t i p l i c a t i o n
S t r a t e g y for
Reaching a NATION
“I can only help a small
group of families as a group
leader. I can help churches,
even hundreds of families,
through Bible translation.”
— Mama Singi, Southeast Asia
A
n enthusiastic Mama Singi
had been serving as a local
church small-group leader when
she started working with the Ada
translation team as part of the
Basera Cluster in Southeast Asia.
Soon though, it became difficult
to carry out both jobs effectively.
She would have to choose between
the two. The decision was tough!
While translating verses in Genesis,
Mama began to understand what to
do. She realized God had promised
Abraham he would be a blessing to
all the families of the earth. After
much prayer and discussion with
her family, Mama told church lead-
ers, “I can only help a small group
of families as a group leader. I can
help churches, even hundreds of
families, through Bible translation.”
Mama Singi would focus her efforts
on translation work.
Such commitment is the rule
rather than the exception in this
Southeast Asian cluster project. As
mother-tongue speakers like Mama
Singi gain translation training and
experience, they will become valu-
able in helping neighboring groups.
Translators from the Edo, Ada
and Ampere people groups are
working jointly on the New Testa-
ment while the Hua team is com-
pleting their Old Testament. And
five national consultant interns
from Kartidaya, the National Bible
Translation Organization (NBTO)
also are in training.
Working as a cluster, translators
and interns learn from and assist
one another. They share facilities,
personnel and available resources.
Kartidaya and The Seed Company
have great hope that this training
model will multiply to reach the
remaining 200 people groups in
this nation.
Your partnership in prayer and
giving is helping the people of
Southeast Asia receive God’s Word
for the very first time! Thank you. x
......................
Join the latest phase of translation
among the Hua at
theseedcompany.org/project/hua-ot-im
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 Timor Church

>>>
Equipped, Eager and Moving Forward

The G o s p e l
Finds Its
Vo ic e

“M y confession of Jesus is based

on God’s Word, not on a memorized church confession,” says
translation as a source text for
computer adaptation. The Seed
Company is partnering with ten
Mus Zacharias, translation advisor for three projects in Timor. dedicated translation teams in Timor
and also was involved with the
“In all of history there has not been another person as captivat- Kupang Malay project and others.
ing as Jesus. Of all the sick and crazy people who came to Jesus Leaders of the major area denomi-
nation, The Evangelical Protestant
for healing, not one returned home unhealed. Jesus was always Church of Timor, expect widespread
revival as the Gospel finds its voice
able to overcome problems and to control every situation.” among the diverse ethnicities of the
Mus is from Timor, and was one of the translators for the Kupang Malay island. One spokesman commented,
New Testament, published in 2007. Since Kupang Malay — spoken by “People are hungry for the Word
over 300,000 people — is the language of wider communication for parts of God, and these translations are
of West Timor, that translation received enthusiastic acceptance in many feeding that hunger! This has not
circles. Now dozens of Timor’s 80 other languages are using the Kupang been possible before.”

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 “The national-language Bible never
alighted [gripped, like a bird on a twig]
on my heart the way the Scriptures
in my own language do.”
— Senior leader, The Evangelical Protestant
Church of Timor

Mus currently is mentoring three
of the translation teams: Rikou,
Tii and Lole. Throughout his wife’s
long illness, she encouraged Mus
to continue the work that both of
them knew would change many
lives. Before her death in July
2009, she saw volunteer transla-
tors from other Timorese languages
coming to Mus with drafts in hand
asking, “What do we do next?”
As a retired pastor, Mus under-
stands the plight of clergymen
who must build their ministries
around Scripture translated in the
national language. Many rarely
preach from the Epistles because
even Timorese theologians find this
translation hard to understand.
A senior denominational leader
noted, “The national-language Bible
never alighted [gripped, like a bird
on a twig] on my heart the way the
Scriptures in my own language do.”
Says Lole translator Albert
Zacharias (not related), “We’re
thankful that people can easily
understand the translation. God
is helping us to provide our people
with a very precious gift — d irect
access to the Word of God.”
Because of about 100 mother-
tongue Bible translators, Timorese
advisors and administrators like
Mus and partners like you, the
eager church is moving into the
future, stronger and better-equipped
than ever. Thanks be to God! x
......................
Mus Zacharias (upper left). Congregation reading
heart-language Scripture (center & upper right).
Translators working (pictured above).
The Pura project in Timor needs
prayer partners! Sign up at
theseedcompany.org/project/pura-nt

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 W hat an honor! What a thrill it must have been for
Gabriel to announce that the Savior of the world had been born.
God’s messenger angel had waited 4,000 years to proclaim the
birth of Jesus — and he brought the host of heaven with him as
they praised God, blasting the Good News through the heavenlies.
Imagine the reaction of the shepherds tending sheep and half
asleep, when suddenly a bright flash shatters the darkness and
lights up the night sky with God’s dazzling glory.

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, good will
Gift-A-Verse lets
toward men!”

A
Gift
you and your loved ones

continue to “announce

the Savior” to people

in any
Language
who are still waiting to

hear the Good News.

“Don’t be afraid!” thundered the angel. “I bring you good

Over 350 million news that will bring great joy to all people. Messiah has been
born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
people are still waiting
The “messenger” knew the tremendous impact of his declara-
for God’s Word to tion. God had prepared him from the foundation of the earth to
announce the arrival of the Savior of mankind — Jesus Christ.
pierce the darkness God’s Word always brings light that pierces the darkness and
makes an impact. The watching shepherds ran to Bethlehem to
of their world. tell others the Good News they had heard.
Today, national Bible translators around the world are on
the same urgent mission to spread God’s Word to their people
group in a language they understand. x
.......................

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 Gift-A-Verse Cards for Christmas
A gift that will be remembered for eternity!
Go To
• www.OneVerse.org
• Click on the Gift-A-Verse link.
Select
• The number of Gift-A-Verse cards
you desire to give.
• People groups you want to bless.
• The Gift-A-Verse card design you prefer.
Sign Up
• Fill out information.
• Order your cards by
December 10, and we’ll print
and deliver them to you before
Christmas.
Or call toll free 866-663-8377!
Gift-a-Verse cards are mailed directly to the purchaser
with an extra envelope. You can hand-write a special
message inside the card before re-mailing it in the
envelope provided.

A Gift-A-Verse card represents a life changing gift given in

honor of that special someone in your life. It is the translation of one
verse of God’s Word for a people without Scripture in their language.
For only $26, through Gift-A-Verse, you and your loved
ones share Scripture with a Bibleless people desperately waiting for
God’s message of salvation and hope.
It’s been over 2,000 years since that first announcement — and
still 350 million people wait for God’s Word to pierce the darkness
of their world. Together we are changing that, one verse at a time.

For more information or to order your Gift-A-Verse cards, go to OneVerse.org/gift.

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 N Y U N G W E D E D I C AT I O N
Translation Removes Sting
of Rejection
A translation of the Gospel in
the heart language of the people
can remove a cultural stigma and
draw many to Jesus.
In Mozambique, one Nyungwe
woman — a Christian — felt the
sting of rejection when her friends
referred to her church as “the
church of those Changana people,”
a nickname that has carried the
sting of rejection and a sense of
exclusion in the community.
Now this woman has hope
that many will attend church and
hear the Good News because the
translation team has completed
the Gospel of Mark in the “Nyun-
gwe” language. “Finally,” she cried,
“my people will stop using the
nickname and come inside the
church doors to hear God’s Word
Celebrating The Word in Yawa
Sefnat smiles, revealing rough,
red teeth streaked from years of
chewing betel nut and lime. Shoul-
der-length hair frames his dark
face like a lion’s mane. Clutched
in his hand is a tattered copy of a
6 | seed links
— in Nyungwe!” The community
even held a celebration for the
completion of the first transla-
tion of Scripture in their language.
Translation work is ongoing so
the nearly half- million Nyungwe
speakers will have access to God’s
Word. By 2016, the translation
team anticipates completing the
New Testament and portions of
the Old Testament. x
......................
New Testament portion that he
has carefully covered in brown
paper. The Scripture he holds was
published in Yawa, his Southeast
Asian language, in 1990.
“If the reading is from the
New Testament,” explains church
elder Sefnat, “and that
portion has been pub-
lished [in Yawa], I always
read from it.”
His fragile book bulges
with bookmarks, sermon
notes and an order of worship
from last April, June 20, he’d read
John 3:5 to open the service and
preached from 1 Timothy chapter 3.
For that same service, Sefnat
[left] had asked translator Man-
“So now there is
no condemnation for
those who belong to
Christ Jesus.”
– Romans 8:1 (NLT)
B i b l e Tr a n s l a t i o n
is Evangelism
“Though I was a believer,
there was no change in
my inner life. I couldn’t forgive
others. I told lies and had all
kinds of unspiritual thoughts in
my heart. Reading God’s Word,
my inner life began to change.
My faith has grown. Now my
work, my talk and my deeds
are changing.”
– Manta translator-trainee,
South Asia
dowen [right] for the
wording of a pas-
sage from Hebrews,
which had not been
published at the time.
Soon Sefnat will have the
entire New Testament. The team
expects to get the entire manu-
script to the printer by the end
of this year. Next June’s planned
dedication will be Christmas all
over again . . . when God’s Word
arrives in Yawa! x
......................
 DEAF OPPORTUNITY OUTREACH

Preaching Aglow
One Deaf congregation witnessed a marked
difference in their pastor as his preaching — in Kenyan Sign
Language — took on a special glow. George, a member of the
congregation, signed, “We started noticing that his stories were
clearer and had very strong lessons. How come? we wondered.”
“Later we discovered our pastor had been watching the
Kenyan Sign Language Bible on DVD in his free time. Sunday
services were never the same! They have become more moving,
interesting and touching.”
The Seed Company has a vital partnership with Deaf Opportu-
nity Outreach to support Deaf translators in Kenya. Since 2009
these gifted translators have produced translated Scriptures on
DVD to minister to 200,000 Kenyan Deaf people. Thank you
for your part in helping the Deaf community receive God’s Word
in a remarkable way! x

G O D’ S W O R D C H A N G I N G L I V E S

– AROUND OUR WORLD

Catching on to Bible Translation

Through VBS
Children from 50 churches raised Take the challenge!
$22,000 during Vacation Bible School
(VBS) to fund Scripture translation for the Start the 28-day interactive
Lughulu people of Tanzania! The 2010 devotional challenge anytime!
GoFish curriculum focused on “Putting The 15-minute daily adventures
the Bible back into Vacation Bible School,” and included a mission’s are great for personal study, fam-
component about Bible translation from OneVerse. Churches, parents ily devotions and small groups.
and students alike gave the program high marks. While growing in appreciation
OneVerse and GoFish are now working on for God’s Word, you and your
VBS curriculum for 2011. Watch for it! x church can team up with national
translators from a specific people
group to help provide Scripture in
“The kids REALLY loved all the
their language for the first time.
OneVerse information and videos. Get started at blankbible.org
You guys did a great job!”
– Emmanuel Baptist Church Read more about these and
Appleton, Wisconsin other projects around the world at
theseedcompany.org

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 Their First
brings
One Book
to the
SC R I P
Lugh ulu
people

W hen Seed Company/OneVerse staff

member Jill Monaco was accompanied by university
students Kellen and Amanda to visit several OneVerse
translation projects in East Africa, the impact of the
recently translated Lughulu Scriptures was evident
and creating a stir in the community.
For instance, after the “JESUS” film from the Book
of Luke was shown in the Lughulu language, believers
began reaching out and praying for others. When they
visited their neighbors, Edina gave her life to Jesus.
The Lord healed her, and her daughter came to Christ
that same evening! Edina’s relatives were shocked! They
had been expecting news of Edina’s death, but instead,
they heard of a miracle.
A Lughulu village leader of another religion also
acknowledged the effect of Scripture in his language.
He said, “I am very pleased to hear what you are saying
to the people — it gives me peace.”
In addition, community members are requesting
literacy classes so they can use the Lughulu Scriptures
more effectively.
Testimonies such as these have motivated neighboring
language groups to ask for help with Bible translation.
As a result, The Seed Company is now partnering with
local translation teams from 12 languages to make
God’s Word available to more than 4.5 million people.
It was thrilling for the OneVerse team to hear and
see how portions of God’s Word are blessing the Lughulu

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 A Mountaintop
Experience
TURE
people. It was especially rewarding for Jill, Amanda
and Kellen to accompany Lughulu translators to a local
church, bringing the newly published Book of John.
When they stepped inside the mud-brick church
where purple, green and blue cloth fanned out to cover
the expanse of one wall, they sensed the presence of
God. Woven strands of flowers hung across the fabric,
lending an air of dignity and reverence to the simple
structure. The crowd of believers swayed to the beat
of tall drums, a hand-made marimba and a variety of
shakers and rattles. While worshipping the Lord, the
people began spontaneously synchronizing their
bodies in a beautiful dance rhythm while their voices
were ringing out in clear harmony. For the OneVerse
Lughulu – The majority of
Lughulu speakers, including
Christians, still live in fear of
spirits, rather than experiencing
the redemption and freedom
they could know in Christ.
Scriptures in their mother
tongue will offer believers the
tools for deliverance.
OneVerse team members Kellen,
Amanda (pictured upper left) and
Jill embrace the Lughulu people and
accompany translators bringing the
newly published Book of John to a
local church. (lower left).
visitors, this was a mountaintop experience.
“The pastor’s daughter sang a song that almost
brought me to tears without even knowing the words,”
said Amanda. “The words to the song were simply,
You are able.” Kellen added, “Having the Word of God
in their language meant the world to them. Bible
translation is so important; we must make it a priority
in our offering to missions!” x
......................
You can sponsor one verse for
the Lughulu people too! Visit
oneverse.org/project/lughulu
View the video online at:
theseedcompany.org/lughulu-visit
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 “GOD
T h e F u l l We i g h t o f P r a y e r
speaks
Recently I read a note from a missionary serving in a very sensitive region.
A member of the Persecuted Church, this man boldly shared the Gospel
and suffered greatly for it. I was amazed at how he took time to express his
O n iy an ”
heartfelt thanks for the financial and prayerful partnership from his friends
as he sought to share the Gospel with a hard-to-reach polytheistic people
group not open to Christianity.
As I read his words, I wondered if his friends appreciated the full weight
of their prayers on his behalf, or understood how they also were impacting
the advancement of God’s kingdom in that people group.
And, I would be surprised if the full impact of their prayers ended there.
What about the future evangelism efforts of the fledgling church God had
established in the region? What about other people groups that would hear
the Gospel as missionaries were sent forth from this church and their prayer SENEGAL, AFRICA
support networks were engaged in the mission? Speakers: 20,000
That’s when it occurred to me that we, like this missionary’s prayer Project goal: NT and
supporters, won’t realize the full weight of our prayers either – not until the OT portions
Lord returns. We pray fervently and faithfully for translation teams and people
Project start: 2010
groups. We ask God to impact people, communities and nations with His
Word in their heart language. Est. completion: 2015
He is faithful to do so and He will empower future generations to do the same.
How can I be so confident? I read the missionary’s letter. That’s exactly
Beliyan pastors are eager for the
what God did through him and his prayer partners. You can read his letter too.
New Testament in their Oniyan
There’s a copy stuck in your Bible between Ephesians and Colossians. It was language. They have a deep desire
written to a small group of Christians in a region now known as Greece. to make God’s Word understand-
The missionary was the Apostle Paul. able to their congregations. Prayer
The fact that you have a copy of his letter in your heart language is proof partners play an essential role in
that God answered their prayers. And He will answer ours. supporting the translation team as
they pursue this goal.
Let us pray,
Call 877-593-7333 or
visit theseedcompany.org/pray
to support this team in prayer.
B i l l M c C o y | Director of Prayer

A Wycliffe Bible Translators affiliate
3030 Matlock Road, Suite 104
Arlington, Texas 76015-2934
Toll-free: 877-593-7333
Fax: 817-557-2393
www.theseedcompany.org
ABOUT US
V i s i o n : God’s Word transforming lives in C o r e Va l u e s :
every language in this generation. • Honoring God in all we do
M i s s i o n : To accelerate Scripture translation • Valuing individuals and relationships
and impact for people without God’s Word • Committed to effective partnerships
through Great Commission partnerships. • Encouraging creativity and innovation
• Managing for quality results
Our Commitment to You: We commit to always maintain the highest ethical and financial
standards. The Seed Company is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
(ECFA), and complies fully with their rules for Christian ministries.