Besides the spiritual benefits associated with Bible translation, the broader work of language development brings additional benefits to a community as residents learn to read and write their language.

For example, Kenya’s 75,000 Pokomo people, an agricultural and fishing people who live on the coast of the Indian Ocean, received their own New Testament translation in 2005. Church leaders are determined to make the most of this great tool, by enabling the entire population, including the many speakers of the Upper Pokomo dialect, to use the translated Scriptures.

In preparation for this literacy and education project, the Pokomo team has produced various materials, including reading primers, health books on AIDS, cultural books and Bible studies. About 40 mother tongue education titles have been published and are in use in school pilot projects, in collaboration with the local education office.

The community has also organized basic literacy classes and more advanced transition literacy classes. More than 10,000 Pokomo have graduated from these classes thus far. The overall vision for the Pokomo people is to bring about high quality mother tongue literacy and education for both adults and children in rural areas.

In many cases, the work of Bible translation unites local churches under a common vision, as they band together to develop a written language, translate the Scriptures and establish literacy classes. Such was the case for the Finallig people of the Philippines.