Wycliff - Bible Translation

Today there are over 2,000 languages worldwide without a word of Scripture--that's nearly 300 million people without a word of Scripture in their own language. Over the last 60 years, Wycliffe Bible Translators has completed over 600 New Testaments and many complete Bibles. But at the current rate of Scripture translation, it could take another 150 years to provide all the world's Bibleless people groups with God's Word. That's too long to wait! It's time to change the pace.


Prayer Finishers The work of Bible translation requires concerted prayer. Translation teams persevere over nearly two decades to see the translation through each significant milestone. Yet, the final stretch is the one most teams consider to be the most challenging. Many experience major opposition as they near the finishing line, where every verse undergoes a final check before being approved for publication.

Progress

Progress Driven by our desire to glorify God and in obedience to His commission, we assist the church to help the Bibleless people of the world receive His Word in their heart language.

There are around 6900 languages in the world...

This graph is representative of Bible translation work as a whole, not just Wycliffe Bible Translators.

For more information visit www.wycliffe.net/statistics

Since our founding in 1942, Wycliffe helped complete the New Testament in almost 600 languages, making God’s Word available to more than 30 million people. But the translation task is not yet completed – not even close! The charts and statistics here show the immense need around the world for Bible translation. Translation Perspectives, a story on the U.S. website has more information.

Our goal is to help begin translation work among every remaining people group within this generation. You can play a part in providing God’s Word to those without it, either through prayer, giving or overseas service?

Worldwide statistics: 

• World Population: 7 billion.
• Number of people who speak a language with no Scripture: well over 300 million;over 250 million don’t have the Scriptures or a translation programme,approximately 130 million don’t have the Scriptures but do have a programme in progress
• Population of individual language groups needing translation: varies greatly, from less than 100 to more than 10 million.
• All languages in which Bible translation is in progress: 1,678 (est. Ethnologue update 2009)

Wycliffe statistics: 

• Wycliffe has completed or helped complete the New Testament for over 30 million people speaking almost 600 languages.
• We are currently working in over 1,200 languages.
• We have worked in over 1,500 language projects.
• Number of Wycliffe personnel worldwide: more than 5,250 active members plus over 580 others preparing for service.
• Countries of origin of personnel: 60.
• Personnel needed: over 2,000. There are ongoing needs for linguists/translators, literacy specialists, as well as for a broad variety of support roles. 
• Role of national Bible translation organisations: We have the privilege of cooperating with more than 100 national Bible translation organisations around the world.

These languages either have work in progress or the speakers are sufficiently fluent in another language that has available scripture.

Petra is glad to be part of raising funds by getting involved with fundraisers such as the Momentum 94.7 Cycle race and 702 walk the talk to bring about awareness for Bible Translation within South Africa.