Ecuador (MMN) — The Quichua people of Ecuador have a new tool to help in discipleship and evangelism. They just celebrated the completion of a new translation of the New Testament.
Scott Bolinder with Biblica says while the Quichua had a Bible in their language, "They haven't really had a translation that has been done with the kind of care that this translation provides, which would be similar to Biblica's popular NIV translation — that kind of NIV philosophy of highest accuracy and greatest readability."
The New Testament dedication was held Sunday. "That included mission dignitaries from Quito and the mayor of a local village. It was really something. It was held in, what I was told, the first Quichua church."
But how will the Quichua read it since many are illiterate? The answer is, "We help them read with their ears. We have recorded the Gospel of John. We hope, as the funds become available, to be able to record the whole Bible," says Bolinder.
In many of these rural areas, Bolinder says, "Getting the audio is in some ways as important as print because not as many people can read. When they can listen, it becomes an equalizer. All of a sudden EVERYONE can read — some with their eyes, some with their ears."
But that can only happen when the Old Testament is completed. "We don't feel our job is done unless we finish the whole Bible. We've got four or five more years to finish the Old Testament. "
Funding is needed to complete that project and to purchase additional New Testaments. "Our initial printing was just 1,000 copies. The market potential (if I can put it that way) is 100,000 — that's the thirst for this Bible."
If you'd like to help Biblica with this and other projects, click here.
