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Global D., Bota Growing up in a minority language group in Asia, Bota has personally experienced how lives in her local community were transformed as people were able to understand translated Scriptures in their mother tongue. Bota came to Canada in 2007 to study accounting and management, and God opened the door for her to join Wycliffe in 2008. Since then, she has been living in Calgary, leveraging her financial expertise to advance the Bible translation movement by promoting financial integrity, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring global workers have the financial support they need to thrive in their mission. Story: Without Jesus I Wouldn’t Have Any Peace Support our ministry GIVE NOW https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E341555QE&id=52 Previous Next

Posts By Sue Fonseka Hope in every sign | Surprising facts about sign language Bible translation June 16, 2025 | By Sue Fonseka Learn six surprising facts about sign language translations and how they’re bringing hope to Deaf communities around the world. Read More Search Search Recent Posts Jesus also speaks my language Document Transformation in the mountains Document The story of John Wycliffe Document The very first verse Document From curiosity to conversion Document PREV 1 1 ... 1 ... 1 NEXT

August 5, 2020 A Roma Village Transformed By Guest Contributor Back to all stories In 2017, the Biblical Missionary Association (Wycliffe Poland) began working with the Roma people in an eastern Slovakian village called Bezovce. Here, as in much of Europe, the Roma people live in slums, often shunned by their larger communities— even though they have been here for centuries. A local Slovak church even posted a sign on its door: Not for Roma . Three years later, life in this village looks different because many Roma people opened their hearts to Jesus. Let me tell you the amazing story of how God made this happen. A Shocking Discovery For the past 20 years, Wycliffe Poland has ministered to the Roma people in Ukraine. They lived in great poverty that I had not seen anywhere else. So we helped organize education and schools for Roma children there. From our Wycliffe location in southern Poland, the shortest route to Ukraine passes through Slovakia — which also has a large Roma population. For many years, we were not interested in working among the Roma people in Slovakia. For one, we did not have the resources. Also, we thought that because Slovakia belongs to the European Union, the Roma living conditions would be much better. We were very wrong. In 2017, a pastor asked me if I knew of a church that could use benches for 300 people. Their church was removing the pews and replacing them with chairs. I knew a pastor of the Roma church in Sabinov, Slovakia, so I directed the question to him. He replied that yes, they were building prayer houses in two villages and needed benches—200 in one location and 100 in the other. One was the village of Pavlovce. Soon we went there to meet the pastor of this congregation. He took us to the neighbouring village of Bezovce, where he wanted to start a ministry. Roma village, Bezovce, Slovakia I was shocked. I had seen poverty in Roma villages in Ukraine, but what I saw in Bezovce was even worse. About a dozen Roma families lived here. Some had up to nine children. Their houses looked more like sheds, without running water or toilets. For electricity, they connected illegally, and dangerously, to a power line running through the village. At night, fathers and mothers would take turns: one would sleep while the other made sure rats did not bite their sleeping children. Although humanitarian aid is not one of the main aspects of Wycliffe’s ministry, I knew we could not leave these people. We needed to help them. Quick Impact We started by bringing clothes, food, discarded old-style washing machines, children’s toys and bicycles. When we published photos showing the Roma people’s living conditions, reactions in Poland varied. Some thought such people should not be helped, because this would only perpetuate poverty. Others felt we should do everything in our power to help them physically and spiritually. Thanks to the funds provided by the latter group, we were able to build houses for six families in Bezovce. Today we have funds to build more. As we helped the Roma people with kindness and respect, they opened to the gospel. During an outdoor evangelistic gathering, about a dozen people responded to the call and chose to follow Jesus. Today, almost the entire Roma village regularly travels 12 km to attend weekly worship services in Pavlovce. One church there is mostly Roma. People also meet in Bezovce during the week to pray and read the Bible together. A Village Finds Hope Where people once stole electricity, today everyone is legally connected to the network and each house has its own meter. The Roma people here still struggle but many of their lives have undergone great transformation. For example, money or child benefits once used to buy alcohol is now used to buy food. Where men once fought violently, today the same men stand side-by-side in the congregation and praise God. Where once the Roma people did not read God’s Word, or even know such a thing existed, today they search the Scriptures to learn how to live for God’s glory. During the height of the pandemic, I asked how the people were spending their time. One person replied: “We cannot leave the village. We [often] sit at home and read the Bible.” Though many Roma speak Slovak fluently, they now have the New Testament in their Romani heart language, Bergitka. The translation was finished in 2014 by a team of Roma men in co-operation with The Word for the World. In 2019, they issued the New Testament in a bilingual, Roma-Slovak version. Today the team is translating the Old Testament. A Work of God No one had ever preached the gospel to the Roma people of Bezovce. The purpose of our ministry from the very beginning was to introduce them to Jesus Christ and encourage them to use the Bible. And it happened. Seeing their poverty, we did not leave them in need, and God did in their hearts much more than we could have thought. Our commitment to this ministry also has meant that some churches in Poland, which until now were not interested in supporting missionary work, began to support our service among the Roma. May God continue to transform lives and bring fruit for his glory. Source: Adapted from an article by Jerzy (Jurek) Marcol at wyc liffe.net . Marcol is director of the Biblical Missionary Association , a Wycliffe Global Alliance organization in Poland. Posted in Impact Previous Next

February 18, 2020 Indonesian partner agency celebrates 30 years of ministry By Wycliffe Canada Back to all stories About 200 staff members and guests gathered in Jakarta this past November to celebrate 30 years of ministry by Kartidaya, Wycliffe’s oldest partner organization in Indonesia. Dressed in traditional costumes, and holding up various completed translations and Scripture materials, Kartidaya personnel marched to the stage, region by region, to praise God for His grace and guidance over the past 30 years. Founded in 1989, Kartidaya serves the Church and other organizations in and beyond Indonesia, through traditional Bible translation efforts as well as “JESUS” film translation, ethno-arts and activities that encourage engagement with the translated Scriptures. As of 2020, Kartidaya has 45 staff members and is involved in language-related work for 25 language groups (three clusters and seven individual projects). Over the past three decades, Kartidaya has helped to complete the New Testament in four languages as well as Scripture portions in about 57 languages. Among the 719 language groups in Indonesia, 295 still do not have access to the Word of God in their heart languages. Source: wycliffe.net Photo by Ling Lam Posted in News and updates Previous Next

December 16, 2020 New Milestones in Digital Scripture Availability By Guest Contributor Back to all stories Recent years have seen a dramatic and steady increase in the number of Scripture translations available digitally via websites and smartphone apps. In October 2020, YouVersion reached a new milestone, with Scriptures now available in 1,500 of the world’s 7,360 languages. Globally, digital Scriptures in a total of 1,968 languages became available on various sites and apps. Scriptures are now available in an increasingly wide variety of forms, including print, audio and video. And the numbers of languages in which Scripture can be accessed through various formats continues to grow. In 2014, YouVersion celebrated the 1,000th version available on its platform, and the 2,000th in 2019. The 1,000th individual language was reached in 2016, and as of 29 October 2020 they offer 2,200 versions in 1,500 languages. (See bible.com/en-GB/languages for the latest list.) Faith Comes By Hearing has made similar progress, currently providing Scripture in about 1,500 languages. While their primary focus has been on audio recordings of Scriptures, in the last few years they have added videos, first in partnership with the “JESUS” film and now also with the Lumo project , through which they have committed to creating at least one gospel film in every recorded language. All of these are made available via the Bible.is website and app. Other sources of online Scripture include sites supported by the American Bible Society and linked through global.bible and many other individual sites and apps. (The number for Android apps below is just the number we know about.) The vision of the Wycliffe Global Alliance is to see “individuals, communities and nations transformed through God’s love and Word expressed in their languages and cultures.” A completed translation is rightly a cause for celebration, not simply as a static publication, but because it opens the way for people to engage with God through his Word in their own language and to be transformed through that encounter. Source: wycliffe.net ; article by Peter Brassington Posted in News and updates Previous Next

April 2, 2020 Summer Linguistics Course Going Online By Wycliffe Canada Back to all stories Responding to the social restraints caused by the spread of COVID-19, the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL) plans to hold its “Summer@CanIL” training course online. As the training partner of Wycliffe Canada, CanIL has traditionally held its summer course in applied linguistics at its facility on the campus of Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C. But with the need for social distancing unlikely to end soon, online delivery seemed a natural choice. The institute has delivered a number of advanced online courses in the past. The nine-week, intensive program is designed to launch students into one of several bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or one of eight training tracks by helping them complete prerequisite courses. The summer course also provides an opportunity for students to test the waters of linguistics, literacy, Bible translation, Scripture Use, and studies in language and culture. Organizers are aiming to provide a sense of community for students, with multiple opportunities to interact with fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni, and field personnel. The experience will include online chapel sessions as well as opportunities to ask questions about living and serving in different locations around the world. For more information, visit canil.ca/summer Posted in News and updates Previous Next

Cree Initiative Americas Back to all projects Overview The Cree Initiative project trains and supports local First Nations people in Canada to do Bible translation and promote the use of God’s Word in their heart languages. Currently, the project is focused on three Cree-related language groups in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Despite a long history of missionary work among First Nations groups, speakers of these Cree languages are hindered by a lack of Scriptures they can clearly understand. Leaders of the indigenous church are eager for their people to know that God loves them. His Word in their mother tongue is crucial for their spiritual well-being and a truly indigenous faith in Christ. God’s Word will also equip Christians in these Cree communities to deal with the problems around them, including addictions, suicide, abuse and depression. As well, mother-tongue Scriptures will help boost the use of their languages, key to their sense of identity that was lost through the impact of residential schools. My Colour, My Language Your partnership is key You can help make an impact for eternity in Cree language groups. Your financial gifts will enable the Cree Initiative to facilitate Bible translation in the Oji-Cree language of northern Ontario and help start projects in several other Cree languages across Canada. Furthermore, you can help equip mother-tongue Bible translators through scheduled training workshops. $0 $0 Remaining Need: of $132,230 Current phase: 2023-2026 2025-26 | $132,230 To give specifically to the Cree Initiative, click here . The Indigenous Initiatives in Canada supports the Cree Initiative as well as emerging opportunities in more Indigenous languages. Click below to give now. GIVE NOW Pray for The Cree Initiative Receive a simple monthly update with stories and prayer points PRAY Facebook LinkedIn Your gift will help: Classics Memoirs Historical Fiction Recent highlights A First Nations Translator Workshop was held in Guelph, Ont. in November 2023. It was the seventh such workshop held since 2015. It was also the first time Blackfoot-speakers from the Siksika and Kainai communities of Alberta were able to participate. They will be joined by members of the Piikani Nation in translation work. Audio recordings of all 150 Psalms have been completed in Naskapi , and will be aired in 15 separate 30-minute radio programs. A Bible-based trauma healing program was held in December of 2023 at the Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake, Swampy Cree). Eight women were trained to become apprentice facilitators! Each participant had opportunities to do practice facilitation in their groups. Download the latest update Due to the sensitivity of the region this project is located in, please contact development@wycliffe.ca for the latest updates on this project. CONTACT Our commitment Visit the project periodically to monitor its progress, address challenges and help ensure good stewardship of resources Send you regular updates to keep you informed about the Cree Initiative’s progress, financial need and prayer requests Send you an annual tax receipt for your donations Read the story here Previous Facebook LinkedIn Next *Our funding commitments to Bible translation projects are made in 3-year cycles and include regular checkpoints with our field partners to ensure mutual accountability. For greater transparency and a more accurate picture of the scope of our projects, the amounts below now reflect the remaining need based on the entire 3-year funding commitment for the current phase of each project.

December 2, 2020 Bloom software helps blind and visually impaired By Guest Contributor Back to all stories In the world today, there are at least 285 million people who are blind or vision impaired. A 2019 report found that developing nations in Africa and Asia have a higher incidence of eye conditions and vision impairment. The level of eye problems is even greater in rural areas, among ethnic minorities and indigenous populations. Liz Pfeifer The Philippines is a country with over half a million blind or vision impaired people. In early 2019, Wycliffe Australia member Liz Pfeifer was part of a pilot project with Resources for the Blind Philippines (RBI), using the Bloom Reader to create digital books for the blind and those with visual impairments. Bloom was developed by Wycliffe’s key partner, SIL International, as easy-to-use software for creating books and translating them into multiple languages. Australian Wycliffe member John Thomson is one of the Bloom developers and says that people with limited computer skills can easily create literacy materials for their own minority language groups. Bloom is open-source software, making it accessible for more people throughout the world. It also includes “shell books”—templates that can be easily modified for specific needs. In addition to books that the general language community can access, Bloom enables groups which are often marginalized to access literature and Scripture. SIL LEAD was a major winner of a competition run by All Children Reading, a partnership of USAID, World Vision and the Australian Government. “The prize money enabled SIL to enhance the Bloom software,” says Pfeifer, “with features that allow users to create reading materials suitable for people with visual impairments. During the pilot project, 40 books were created at schools in three major Filipino languages, published to tablets and tested with students who are blind or visually impaired.” To help implement the program, Pfeifer served as an IT consultant providing Bloom training to RBI staff in Manila. She says that a moment which stood out to her was seeing one of the older teachers who did not have a lot of computer skills coming to the training and being able to create books in Bloom: “It was like this light was turned on inside her as she started writing a story in one of the local languages and creating tools to help her students engage with the story. Seeing her confidence improve within a few days of training was worth it.” One thing the team needed to focus on was the appearance of illustrations to cater for different levels of visual impairment. This required adding descriptions to images—a necessary element, particularly for those with colour blindness. Various checkboxes can be marked in Bloom to simulate how the image will look to someone with red/green colour blindness, blue/yellow colour blindness or someone with cataracts. The books also needed to be recorded as ‘talking books’, including the image descriptions. Pfeifer says she is grateful to have been a part of this pilot project, which will improve the quality of learning and accessibility for visually impaired students. Books created for the project were uploaded to the Bloom website. Many children who were previously unable to access reading materials can now read books and Bible stories and share them with their families. They may not have 20/20 vision but they do have a bright future ahead. Learn more Bloom Reader: https://bloomlibrary.org/ Resources for the Blind Philippines Source: Web article by Deb Fox at wycliffe.org.au Posted in Bible translation Previous Next

September 13, 2023 Bible translation movement shows big progress By Wycliffe Canada Back to all stories After a predictable slowdown during the first two years of the pandemic, the global Bible translation movement saw major advances in the past year — with Asia and Africa leading the way. Today, more people speaking more languages have access to more of the Bible than at any time in history, according to ProgressBible. Up to 97.4 per cent of all people in the world have access to at least some Scripture, with up to 80 per cent having the full Bible and 91 per cent having at least the New Testament. These numbers are rising rapidly. In the past year* alone: 60 million more people have access to the full Bible in the language they know best. 27 million more people have access to the New Testament. And, Bible translation work has begun in 356 more languages. Terry Dehart, data analyst with ProgressBible, partially attributes the acceleration this year to a rebound from the pandemic years. Another large factor, he adds, is that the collective Every Tribe Every Nation (ETEN) is making a big push with its partners around the world to start Bible translation and then report on progress. More than half of all languages on earth now have Bible translation work happening—some for the first time and some working toward complete Bibles or undergoing revisions. *August 2022 to August 2023 Read the full article at wycliffe.net Scripture is being made available in print, digital, audio formats, along with sign languages. These examples are from the Tao people of Orchid Island off the southeast coast of Taiwan. Photo: Marc Ewell, Wycliffe Global Alliance Posted in Bible translation Previous Next

Read More Read More This Grand Story English | 0:00 to 2:59 General Wycliffe Promotion World Length 2:02 Who is Wycliffe Bible Translators? What do they do and who are the people they serve? You might be surprised. Take a quick jaunt around the world and uncover Wycliffe’s heart and passion to see God revealed to minority language communities. Download from Vimeo Give Feedback More from our library Extreme Flexibility Required Length 3:45 Unexpected things happen on the mission field. Follow this young dreadlocked dude on his six-month journey in a distant land, as his vista expands, visually and spiritually. Missionary Mom Length 5:14 Any way you slice it, being a mom in any culture is a fundamental role with mammoth impact. It’s especially challenging for moms who sacrifice the comforts of their homeland, travelling with their families to the ends of the earth to serve on the mission field. Meet Sun-Min, a mom who’s passionate about her family and the ministry in which they serve. But how do you keep it all in balance, in a world with water shortages, blackouts, crazy travelling conditions and more? This is a must-see video for everyone interested in serving cross-culturally, including moms. Encourage and Equip—An ATEK Story Length 5:18 High in the Peruvian Andes, in the remote villages and towns surrounding Cusco, live 1.5 million Quechua people. Though the Scriptures have been published for 30 years in their Cusco Quechua language, church leaders in hundreds of these rural churches have never been taught basic biblical principles. However, things are slowly changing. In Encourage and Equip, you will discover how the Lord is using Wycliffe’s local partner organization, ATEK, to bring transformation by encouraging and equipping His church. Every Sign Points to God Length 03:07 There’s one noticeable difference between Sora and most members of the Japanese Sign Language Bible translation team: they’re Deaf and Sora is not. Go behind the scenes with Sora and discover why sign language translation is vitally important for the Deaf. View All Previous Next