Word Alive Now Blog

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Berki’s Choice

By Samuel Ko | Feb 14, 2019

Since he was 19, this committed Christian has struggled to keep his life clean in God’s eyes. Based on what he knows in God’s Word, Berki has consistently refused to participate in a Hamer people’s cultural rite of passage into manhood: bull jumping. In this ceremony, the village gathers. Bare-backed women chant and blow horns in hopes of provoking the boys to whip them with birch sticks. The permanent scars become a symbol of their devotion — even though some women have died from the beatings.

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Wycliffe Japan Celebrates 50th Anniversary

By Guest Contributor | Jan 25, 2019

Established in 1968, Wycliffe Japan is the oldest Wycliffe Global Alliance organization among the 25 in Asia and also the first non-western Alliance organization that stepped out to serve minority language communities.

The Canela Creation Story

By Jack Popjes | Jan 10, 2019

After my wife Jo and I accepted the Canelas’ invitation 50 years ago to come and live with them in their jungle village in Brazil, we never heard a Canela pray. Why should they? Their Creator had abandoned them.

No word for “grace”

By Guest Contributor | Jan 8, 2019

In February 2018, three of our Nukna co-translators (Muransi, Emson and Tángiliong) came to Ukarumpa (the main translation centre in Papua New Guinea) to help Matt revise the first drafts of Galatians and Ephesians. God certainly blessed our time together,…

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SIL Philippines Contributes Photographs to Prestigious Encyclopedia

By Samuel Ko | Jan 8, 2019

Several hundred images from SIL Philippines’ photo archive collection are gracing the pages of a large, prestigious encyclopedia, recently revised and published by the Cultural Center of the Philippines

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Link: Kenya’s Rendille People Receive God’s Word

By Samuel Ko | Jan 4, 2019

In this Nov. 2018 article in Christianity Today, Canadian author and speaker Ann Voskamp describes the Rendille’s joy as they dedicate their own New Testament translation. Read the CT story

Take My Pyakende Upon You

By Guest Contributor | Jan 3, 2019

The concept of a yoke placed on animals is completely foreign [in this language group]. Thus, we have struggled greatly in our attempt to translate Matthew 11: 29-30.

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Wycliffe mourns former director Jim Dean

By Wycliffe Canada | Dec 24, 2018

Dr. Jim Dean, director of Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada from 1976 to 1986, died Dec. 24 after an extended illness. He was 96. Jim is survived by his five children—Sheri Stewart in greater Toronto, Timothy in Arizona, Roseann McCool…

Curious About Christmas

By Samuel Ko | Dec 17, 2018

One day, two Bible translators came to visit. They brought booklets, called The Christmas Story, in the mother tongue of the villagers. The entire community was invited to hear the story.

Loving This “Fishbowl” Life

By Guest Contributor | Dec 14, 2018

Here’s the super cool thing: people here care and they meet you where you’re at.