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November | 2011
God’s Word For Every Language —In This Generation!
Winning the War with the Word Winter Jam Tour Spectacular Making a Note of It
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e started small — 10 languages that would be a prototype for accelerating Bible translation. In 1993 with hearts full of faith, we embraced best practice initiatives to complete the Great Commission task of bringing God’s Word to every language group in this generation. Partnerships and God-given initiatives — on all levels — helped thrust translation initiatives forward. Ten years later The Seed Company started its 200th translation project. By 2007 that had doubled to 400, and by 2010 we reached 600. Just this summer, we began our 700th project. While we have the joy of working with some of the largest unreached language groups in the world, God recently opened another door of great opportunity — to reach the least populous language groups.
“I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” — Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
A Christian foundation in partnership with The Seed Company launched a campaign that focuses on translation for languages of 10,000 or fewer speakers. To optimize efforts the foundation will double all church giving toward one of these people groups. Adjacent you will find a story of how children in vacation Bible school became so excited about helping the “least of these” receive God’s Word that they inspired the entire congregation to get involved. The result is staggering! In this Seedlinks, you’ll also read about the launch of our 700th project that will bring God’s Word to the Etulo speakers of Nigeria, along with a comprehensive report about trauma healing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Your heart is about to be moved! In every available venue and at every opportunity, we are planting God’s life-transforming Word into the hearts of others. During His time on Earth, that’s what Jesus did. Whether ministering to the multitude on a hillside, a roomful of disciples, or a child on His knee — He valued every person. In other words, Jesus worked a continuum … from both ends of the spectrum. Together with our partners, we are following His way of doing things. And by God’s grace, we’ll meet in the middle and see Scripture impacting lives in every language — from the least to the largest — by 2025!
Cover: Trauma healing workshops are providing Scripturebased counseling and ministry tools for the people of the DRC.
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NOVEMBER 2011
Serving with you,
Roy L. Peterson | Follow Roy on
President
@RoyLPeterson
The VBS kids at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee set out on a mission to bring God’s Word to the Toba people of Paraguay.
Leading the Charge for ‘The Least of These’
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ach day the “Hidden Passages” presentation began with a mini-drama set in Guatemala, and ended with a cliffhanger. The actual setting was the Great Smoky Mountains at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee, during vacation Bible school. “The drama communicated the value of Scripture and the need for its translation into all languages,” said missions pastor, Joey Garner. “The children learned that digging into God’s Word is like finding treasure dear to your heart.” Earlier, the missions team had looked for a people group in South America their VBS contributions could help support. They discovered the OneVerse.org website and selected the Toba oral translation project in Paraguay, which includes 40 Bible stories and two of the Gospels.
The Toba, with only 900 speakers, is part of a Seed Company/OneVerse campaign to reach “the least of these,” through which a Christian foundation matches church contributions for small and often overlooked language groups.
Kids raised a grand total of $45,102 for 1,734 Bible verses to be translated! Initially the church hoped to fund 100 verses at $26 each through OneVerse — that goal was met on the second day! Then an amazing thing happened: Church members, including children, began contributing in record numbers. “One girl earned $50 for straight A’s on her report card. She wanted to give it all to the Toba people,” said missions staff member Claire Edwards.
“It’s humbling to think about,” Garner said. “The VBS children will be rewarded in eternity for their gifts, and they’ll realize how deeply they impacted the spiritual development of the Toba people.” By end of vacation Bible school, $12,000 had been given for the Toba to have God’s priceless treasure. Still, people kept giving … to almost double: $22,551. The foundation then matched that amount, for a grand total of $45,102! Throughout the week as the drama built, so did the crowd. “The turnout numbered in the thousands,” Garner said. “By coupling the project with the drama, we reached people in church and community.” x ...................... Call 866-663-8377 to find out how your church can double their impact in Bible translation! seed links
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NOVEMBER 2011
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Buried pain erupted like red-hot lava as 20 church leaders gathered this February in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo near the Rwandan border. It was their first time to experience a Healing the Wounds of Trauma workshop. Attendees talked openly about the war, in which an estimated 3.8 million people died.* But, death is just one of many atrocities they’ve seen. “They rape our women in the presence of their husbands,” one man said. Historically, the DRC has seen much turmoil, and in 1998, the country sank into a civil war involving nine other African countries. During this conflict, an estimated 200,000 women and girls experienced sexual assault, used as a weapon of war to humiliate and corrupt rival lineages.
Church Leaders Desperate for God’s Word
In response, The Seed Company, understanding the power of Bible storytelling, engaged SIL International contacts who had piloted trauma healing workshops in West Africa last year. From this joint effort, a story-based trauma healing workshop was planned.
“They can’t afford to feel their pain.” Participants arrived from four language groups. Scripture had never been translated in three of these languages. A survey revealed some attendees had lost everything in a village attack. Others had seen family members killed and had witnessed sexual assault, or experienced it. Cholera had taken many lives in refugee camps.
Families have been disrupted and their lives shattered. “When we have to leave our village in the rain with nothing to sleep on in the forest, with our family under the stars with mosquitoes, and we’re hungry — we think God has gone,” one man shared. The U.N. estimates as many as 2 million DRC residents have been displaced and are refugees within the country.
Many physical ailments were present and the inability to forgive bore the devastating fruit of bitterness. Twenty of the 25 participants were refugees staying in Goma.
Church leaders, facing the need for deep emotional healing throughout their congregations are desperate for Scripture in languages people understand. Only God’s Word can bring the hope, healing, forgiveness and restoration needed.
“These people are suffering from complex, ongoing trauma,” said Galen Johnson, Seed Company facilitator. “Many are numb. They’re not yet in a place where they can afford to feel their pain. But knowing how to deal with trauma is helpful as the pain surfaces.”
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NOVEMBER 2011
PHOTO © AFP GETTY IMAGES
Above: Eastern DRC: A woman cradles her daughter in front of her home where she was traumatized.
“When I came, I
preferred death to life; but after these
two weeks of the seminar, I feel relieved and I have hope for the future.” Stories That Travel Well During the workshop, staff and participants orally translated, checked and recorded six Bible stories into all four languages: Creation and the Fall, the Road to Emmaus, Lazarus’ death, Lamentations excerpts, a summary of the book of Job, and the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The group also translated and recorded five modern trauma stories. From their own pain, they wrote and recorded six Scripture songs in local languages using traditional melodies. Participants then took to the
Far left: Church leaders.
city’s streets. They practiced telling the stories and led discussions of the lessons they’d learned in more than 40 groups of Goma residents. Harriet Hill of the American Bible Society and co-author of “Healing the Wounds of Trauma,” noted that the stories travel well. “Having these stories in their pockets, they were able to pull them out as appropriate, and with great impact,” Harriet said. She also said, “I loved the full circle of us teaching the church leaders. They taught the traumatized women, and the women could tell us the story back — with gusto!” With the weapon of God’s Word, wounded people are on the mend and sharing their hope with others in the DRC. * Central Emergency Response Fund, United Nations, 2011, DRC Facts and Figures
Read trauma healing testimonies at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks
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NOVEMBER 2011
Note It
Scripture set to music reaches straight to the heart!
Making a
On
Rote Island off the coast of Timor, Vini makes her way from village to village recording and transcribing the cultural music. As a translator’s daughter, she values God’s Word in her language so much that she has compiled an index of 100 local Scripture and praise songs that the Tetun Belu team will publish along with their New Testament. Vini is determined her people will be able to worship God in the way they know best. Vini’s story is just one example of how Bible translators worldwide are using methods from the past that are fast becoming best practices for rapid communication of the Gospel. The concept of Scripture set to music is, in fact, the Old Testament method known as “psalming,” whereby Israelites memorized God’s Word and taught it to their children.
From the Beginning From the first book of the Bible, men crafted musical instruments. Using strings, horns, tambourines and rattles, God’s people expressed their hearts through music. Historically, other cultures did the same. Our beloved Book of Psalms is a collection of man’s greatest expression of worship to God — and the word “psalm” by definition is a song with music. 6 |
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NOVEMBER 2011
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While music is as timeless as heaven itself, the study of ethnic music cultures, known as “comparative musicology,” only dates back to the 18th century. The term ethnomusicology was introduced in the 1950s as the study of ethnos, “nations”, and their music gained popularity. The music of every “ethnos” is identifiable through musical motifs, genres, styles and instruments unique to the culture.
SOUTH ASIA — Song Preaching During a recent trip to train Bible storytellers in other nations, a Seed Company team was thrilled to see how believers are developing their own music to help spread the Good News. At the first stop in South Asia, the team worked with seminary students who were using a “song preaching” method to develop Bible stories for the student body. As one man began telling the story of Jesus healing a man possessed by demons, another started a drum accompaniment. Two others broke in at various points as a chorus and a refrain. Soon, the musical Bible story was generating enthusiastic audience participation. Other performances included exuberant, poetic storytelling with dancing, drumming and singing. The musical Bible song-story resonated with students, by incorporating elements of their musical heritage.
EAST ASIA — Poetic Songs With Bamboo Clackers Next, in East Asia, the team worked with Bible storytelling participants who used a poetic song form along with bamboo “clackers.” They recited the story in rhyming couplets, using the clackers for emphasis and rhythm. The placement of the words created a tune, because their language included tones on each spoken syllable. Once again,the use of a familiar song form carried the
message of “Jesus Calming the Storm” straight to the hearts of those listening.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA — Mary’s Magnificat Some western Christian traditions throughout the world also sing Scripture. For Anglicans in Papua New Guinea, Christmas season worship includes singing Zechariah’s Song, Simeon’s Song and Mary’s Magnificat — in English. These songs now are transitioning into the language churchgoers speak in Papua New Guinea. Last year, for example, trainers at a storytelling workshop in Alotau helped the participants learn song portions in their own languages. These traditions have become more meaningful to them now, and may establish a precedent for future congregations.
It’s the Universal Language Music reaches beyond cultural and language boundaries like no other form of communication. It connects with our whole being — spirit, soul and body — and aims straight for the heart. God-inspired music draws people right into His presence. Scripture set to music is God’s language of wider communication. As translators around the world work hard to ensure that God’s holy Word speaks accurately and clearly in their heart languages, many teams also are
“The first ethnomusicology workshop [in a very sensitive project] had 54 participants! Organizers expected only 15 or 20. They wrote 64 songs and recorded 45 of them during the [two-week] workshop. None of them had ever written a song before. They learned to value their music and ethnic history.” — Steve Mickler, Field Coordinator for South Asia
developing Scripture songs. Then their people can “Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals .... Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!” — Psalm 150:3-6 (NLT) x ...................... Listen to vibrant original songs at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks seed links
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NOVEMBER 2011
Advocates for OneVerse, Dara and for KING & COUNTRY.
WinterJam Tour Spectacular!
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t’s the place to be for all kinds of Christian contem-
giving app. Participants choose an item to give up and
porary music bursting with energy and enthusiasm. This
the sacrificial giving app calculates the gift amount and
year OneVerse will sponsor the Pre-Jam Party at Winter
sends it to OneVerse to help fund Bible translation for
Jam, Christian music’s largest concert tour.
those without Scripture in their own language.
For just $10, you can hear 10 artists at choice events
“By uniting faith and technology, we now have a
throughout the month of November. Visit oneverse.org/
phone application that will give Americans the ability to
winterjam for details! New advocates for OneVerse, Dara
help fulfill the Great Commission — right at their finger-
and for KING & COUNTRY, will join popular artists such as
tips,” said Roy Peterson, president of The Seed Company.
the Newsboys, Kutless, Matthew West, Red and Newsong, along with dynamic speaker Tony Nolan. Thousands have made public professions of faith for the first time during these powerful concerts! Dara and for KING & COUNTRY will talk about join-
So, grab your friends and head to the Pre-Jam Party. Make sacrificial giving a group effort! x
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ing OneVerse to help end Bible poverty, and encourage
Scan the QR code to download the sacrificial giving app today!
everyone to download the new smartphone sacrificial
You can read interviews by Dara and for KING & COUNTRY at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks
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NOVEMBER 2011
The Seed Company’s 700th Bible Translation Project!
The Light Shines Bright in Etulo
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n 1939, missionaries navigated the Benue River to bring the Gospel to the Etulo of central Nigeria. The people embraced Christ, and today 90 percent of the 10,000-member community is Christian — a remarkable statistic given that the Etulo do not have Scripture in their language. Since the 1960s there have been important translation attempts; however, the task was daunting without an Etulo alphabet. But, when the community unified to pray for God’s Word in their language, others came alongside to help: The Seed Company, the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust, Christian Association of Nigeria and local churches. Within weeks, an alphabet had been created. Soon Etulo translators will distribute longed-for Scripture — and the very first words ever written in their language! x
Gift-A-Verse Cards for Christmas A gift remembered for eternity! Each Gift-A-Verse card represents a life-changing gift given in honor of someone special in your life — the gift of one verse of God’s Word translated into the heart language of a people group without any Scripture in their language. For only $26 through Gift-A-Verse, you and your loved ones will share a verse of Scripture with a Bibleless people group desperately waiting for God’s message of salvation and hope.
Give the hope of God’s Word for a Bibleless people group at
oneverse.org/gift
...................... Soon the light of the community will shine even brighter “just like the stars in the sky to the surrounding languages,” said one translator.
Each Gift-A-Verse card is mailed directly to the purchaser with an extra envelope. You can handwrite a special message inside the card before re-mailing it in the envelope provided. Order your cards by December 10, and we will print and deliver them to you before Christmas.
You can watch a short video, see a slideshow, and find out more about the Etulo people at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks
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NOVEMBER 2011
“Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.”
A TA X I R I D E H O M E
Elly’s Road-Test Storytelling E
lly was deep in thought as she went to dinner with friends after class. She needed to test her Bible storytelling skills on someone new. She had an idea — she’d take a taxi home. She told the driver, “I’m learning some stories; would you like to hear them?” “Yeah, sure!” She first told of Jesus calming the storm and casting out demons. She asked after each story, “Is this story clear? Do you understand my words?”
“Yes, very clear — and simple,” he said. The driver was not a Christian, but he had Christian friends who gave him a Bible and CD sermons. But they were boring and he didn’t understand. “Your stories are easy to understand,” the driver said. “Not just for a man over 50, but also for children. You need to translate the whole Bible into stories for people to hear.” Then he added, “You need to start right now!” x ......................
Everybody Ought To Know! The pastors attending the DRC Trauma Healing Workshop not only
learned the Bible stories, they recorded them on their cellphones. Three of the four language groups that attended had no previous Bible translation. A pastor’s son was playing with the cellphone after his dad had returned home from the sessions. He pressed a button. His eyes widened as he heard a story told in his own language. He jumped up, and ran out the door into the street waving the cellphone high over his head. “It’s the Bible in our language!” he shouted. x ......................
— Psalm 119:37 (NLT)
Bible Translation i s Church Planting
“Though I was a believer, there was no change in my inner life. I couldn’t forgive others. I told lies and had all kinds of unspiritual thoughts in my heart. After joining the translation work and reading God’s Word, my inner life began to change.” — Manta translator-trainee, South Asia
The child’s eyes widened as he listened …. He ran out the door holding the cellphone above his head, yelling, “It’s the Bible in our language!”
Read trauma healing stories and hear original songs recorded during a workshop at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks
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AU N OG VU EM S TB E2R0 1210 1 1
MAGDALENA
Through a Woman’s Eyes
Women who followed Jesus adored Him. The
“Magdalena” movie, produced by The JESUS Film Project, tells the story of Jesus through a woman’s eyes — Mary Magdalena. Throughout the world, many women can relate to Mary: broken, rejected, used, ashamed. Time and again, Jesus demonstrated His love and respect for God’s most beautiful creation. Whether speaking
to an outcast at the well, forgiving a woman caught in adultery, or reverencing His mother before all, Jesus honored women. The Seed Company has helped provide translation for “Magdalena” for two sensitive translation projects in southern Africa — where women are devalued, abused and have little voice — that they might know how God sees them … through the eyes of Jesus. x ......................
G O D’ S W O R D C H A N G I N G L I V E S —
AROUND OUR WORLD “Drop it in God’s lap!”
T
“Do computers accept prayers?” T
he computer screen flickered, and then went dark. Translator Yusuf (left) asked Mark (center), “Do computers accept prayers?” “Sure! Would you please pray for it?” Yusuf prayed. Then Mark remembered a little remedy he’d used before. He wadded up small bits of paper and inserted them at the edge of the screen to apply pressure.
his is Seed Company prayer partner Marvel Clark’s summary of prayer. At 86 years of age, this grandmother of 46 said, “I don’t know anything more important.” Find out more about how Marvel learned to continually “drop” petitions in God’s lap at theseedcompany.org/seedlinks x
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Blog.theseedcompany.org is a great resource filled with stories The backlight flashed on … that “temporary” fix hasn’t flickered since. x about how God is changing lives. ...................... Check it out. Add thoughts. Share “Don’t worry about anything … pray about everything. Tell God what others. Thanks! If your church is with interested in getting involved in supporting
Bible please contact Troy Hurst, Director of Church Relations, 4:6translation, (NLT) you need, and thank him for all he has done.” — Philippians at 817-584-2832, or troy_hurst@tsco.org.
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N OA VU EM GU B SE T R 2011
An Appropriate Pseudonym I don’t even know his name. I just know he is one of a few unsung heroes who choose to go into a region most people are desperate to leave: the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lawless men with guns terrorize villages, families — even children — with unmentionable brutality. There’s nothing clean about “ethnic cleansing.”
“speaks GOD through
Stories”
He knows what it’s like in there, but he goes in anyway. That’s what Jesus did. He carries no worldly valuables and dresses in old, ragged clothes. To avoid suspicion by ruthless men, he must look just like the traumatized people he’ll be visiting. Armed only with prayer and memorized Bible stories translated into the language of the victimized … this hero goes in. He demonstrates God’s love, encourages them to endure, and leaves them with an impartation of tremendous value and enduring power: HOPE. Who is this man? He is one of our national colleagues working in the DRC Trauma Healing Cluster project. And because he’s a real person, working in a place of real danger, he and others like him need real prayer support. Unfortunately, as I write this, there are no prayer partners for this translation project. Not one. So I’m asking you to help change that. Will you join the prayer team for the DRC Trauma Healing Cluster project? And if you want to pray for him by name, may I suggest using the pseudonym I use? Just call him “Hero.”
Let us pray,
Get involved! Commit to pray for
B i l l M c C o y | Director of Prayer
the DRC Trauma Healing Cluster project at theseedcompany.org/project/drc-traumahealing-cluster
DRC Trauma Healing Cluster Speakers: 500,000 Project goal: Scriptures for trauma healing Project start: 2011 Est. completion: 2012 More than a generation of children in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has never known a secure, peaceful life. Trauma healing workshops provide Scripture-based counseling and ministry tools to help these devastated people come to grips with their pain and trust Jesus for healing. This project will adapt existing written materials into an oral format to meet non-readers at their point of pain.
Call 877-593-7333 or visit theseedcompany.org/pray to support this team in prayer.
ABOUT US A Wycliffe Bible Translators affiliate
3030 Matlock Road, Suite 104 Arlington, Texas 76015-2934 Toll free: 877-593-7333 Fax: 817-557-2393 www.theseedcompany.org
V i s i o n : God’s Word transforming lives in
C o r e Va l u e s :
every language in this generation.
• Honoring God in all we do
M i s s i o n : To accelerate Scripture translation
• Valuing individuals and relationships
and impact for people without God’s Word through Great Commission partnerships.
• Partnering effectively • Encouraging creativity and innovation • Managing for quality results
Our Commitment to You: We commit to always maintain the highest ethical and financial standards. The Seed Company is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and complies fully with their rules for Christian ministries.