USA (MNN) — With joblessness becoming a greater and greater issue in the U.S, new federal programs have been created for job re-training. In Europe, the EU has suggested offering five
million apprenticeships for jobless youth. Wycliffe Bible Translators has their own re-training program–rather, a second-career option.
A person's economic worries may signal a great time to consider full-time missions. For
families concerned about the bills that come between now and when they begin serving, Wycliffe is in the process of producing a financial support system.
Wycliffe is looking for people of all skill sets. "Of course, a large number will go into translation. But for every translator team we send out we need three support personnel: people who are pilots, IT personnel, teachers that will teach missionary children, managers that will help us in our administrative work, government relations officers, and a whole host of other areas," said Chuck Michaels of Wycliffe Bible Translators. While some training is provided, many people come with skills already in place.
Vision 2025 is Wycliffe's goal to have started translation in every language by the year 2025. In order to accomplish this, they have estimated that they need 25,000 more
workers in the next 10 years. They are praying for 7,000 people from the U.S.
There is an application process that takes a few months. "We look for people who are
healthy in the areas of finances; so, how they handle finances is important. We like to have people who have had some experience with cross-cultural work–either living in diverse
communities or workplaces or have worked overseas. And then, we need people who are really living out the life that they profess," Michaels said.
Bible translation has changed quite drastically since the days of jungle huts and writing everything out by hand. Michaels explained, "The computer will go a
long way in helping spit out some early first drafts of the translation. Previously, it took years and years to do translation, but with new computer technology, you can cut that sometimes in half or a third."
Michaels said the first step in working with Wycliffe is prayer. Be in prayer about the possibility, and then contact your home church for spiritual guidance and
support. From there, you can learn more about starting the application process at this address.
