International (MNN)–Quick. Name as many languages as you can think of….starting now.
Since you’re reading this line, let’s assume you’ve named 10 to 20 languages…and it’s a good start. But, there are more 6,000 languages currently spoken in the world today.
Of that number, about half have some kind of access to Scripture in their own tongue. The other 3,000 languages represent an estimated 250 million people who don’t.
Now, imagine what the standard vocabulary is in a language, and how long it takes to learn it fluently enough to translate. The average new Scripture translation project can take up to two decades from start to finish…and the urgency to provide access to the hope of Christ becomes more urgent than ever.
With that in mind, the words that trip or flow off our tongues are the reasoning behind a new plan for Scripture translation. The Seed Company’s Roger Garland says they are launching a three-year strategy to see translations into an additional 150 languages.
However, a key distinction in this project is the ‘who’. TSC is going to the experts for help. “We’re going to the experts in their own languages. We’re providing the training, we’re providing some funding so that local people in various countries where they have a vision for Bible translation for their people, we support that, and give training and funding to make it happen.”
It’s a unique approach to a unique project. Garland says with an ambitious goal comes ambitious prayer. “The key thing people can pray for is that God will show us what He’s doing in different places around the world to show us clearly how He wants us to be involved in helping local people to do what they feel God has called them to do.”