WINTER 2016
And now a bit closer to home:
Celebrating a new indigenous
translation – Yup’ik Bible
“Help us, we need the Bible!”
T
Please prayerfully consider investing in
one or more of these initiatives.
he Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had
to wait for more than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in
their own language. It is the aboriginal Inuit language of
people who reside in western and south central Alaska.
$30
$50
Written with the Latin alphabet, translation work on the Yup’ik
New Testament was completed in the mid-1950s; work on the Old
Testament began in the early 1970s. Translators – when they weren’t
out on the land hunting and fishing – worked alone in their homes
or gathered in Bethel, Alaska to work as a team.
Cree Bible
Atikamekw New Testament
The Yup’ik Bible effort was a partnership involving dozens of
individuals and organizations. The Canadian Bible Society was the
final link in the chain, providing computer support, which dates back
to the mid-1990s.
The Yup’ik language has long words and unique diacritics (marks
placed over, under or through a letter guide pronunciation). The
team wanted their text to look like a traditional Bible with two
columns, but many of the words were longer than one column wide
and would break at the wrong spot, or the diacritics would move
over to the wrong letters or would spread letters apart so much a
single word would look like two or three words instead of just one.
“We heartily congratulate all those who contributed to this
important goal,” says Dr. Myles Leitch, Director of Translations.
“We praise God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in
their heart language.”
The Yup’ik Bible was dedicated during a three-day celebration, from
Friday October 16 to Sunday October 18, 2015 in Bethel, Alaska. The
event featured singing and sharing and reading from the Bible.
Blessings for this day and the year ahead
A
Thank you! Your faithful support of the Canadian
Bible Society programs keeps God’s Word alive!
$100
n
n
n
In Canada, CBS has worked with various
partners to publish, among others, the
Bible in Inuktitut, a New Testament with
parts of the Old Testament in Ojibwe, and
New Testaments in Algonquin, Atikamekw,
James Bay Cree, Dogrib, Mi’kmaq, and
Naskapi.
n
Celebrating the publication of the Yup’ik Bible!
The Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had to wait for more
than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in their own language. We praise
God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in their heart language.
Donate
Today
Will bless a tribe forever with a
verse of Scripture.
Will enable CBS to continue indigenous
translations in Canada.
Will help expedite translations around the
world.
Call Toll free: 1.800.465.2425
Donate Online: biblesociety.ca/wawjan16
greeting from Dr. Myles Leitch – our new Director of Scripture Translations. Dr. Leitch is a
professional academic linguist and professor (most recently with Tyndale University
College & Seminary). He has served for more than 25 years as a linguist and administrator
in Francophone Africa and Canada with Wycliffe and SIL.
10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Tel: 416.757.4171 Toll Free: 1.800.465.2425
Fax: 416.757.3376 [email protected]
(Charitable Registration No. 11882 9647 RR0001)
follow us on:
Facebook: canadianbiblesociety
Twitter: @canadianbible
We are a member of the Canadian
Council of Christian Charities. This
means that we adhere to high
ethical and operational standards.
The CCCC seal is evidence that we
are committed to integrity and
excellence in ministry.
Mail TO: 10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Supporting even one translation will make an
eternal difference.
www.biblesociety.ca
NOTE: Some photos and names in this newsletter have
been changed for personal privacy and security reasons.
Leave a Legacy: Helping God’s People Manage God’s Assets
M
ark and Sue recently met with an estate specialist from ADVISORS with
Purpose and made some changes to their Will that will not only save
them significant taxes but will put these savings directly into the hands of several
charities. They were pleased with the result and were encouraged in their efforts to
be good stewards.
For more information
Call 1.866.336.3315 today to speak
with an estate planning specialist –
this service is provided at no cost
or obligation to our supporters.
During the consultation process, Mark and Sue asked how they might give more
efficiently today as well as through their Will. Years ago, they purchased stocks for
$5,000; today their market value is $25,000. They were considering selling the
stocks and giving the proceeds to charity. However, selling the stock, would result
in a capital gain of $20,000 and a potential tax bill of $4,600. The estate specialist
suggested gifting the stocks directly to charity. This would totally eliminate the
capital gain, giving the entire $25,000 to charity. They received a donation receipt
for the whole amount rather than the after-tax value.
89 Auriga Drive, Ottawa, ON K2E 7Z2
Tel: 1-866-336-3315 Email: [email protected]
So Many
Languages,
So Little Time…
In the pages that follow, you will read inspiring stories of those who have encountered God’s Word in their heart language for the
first time. On behalf of our Board members, field workers, translators and staff, I thank you so very much for all you have done.
May the Lord richly bless you and the gifts you have given in His Name.
Dr. Myles Leitch
Director of Scripture Translations
“If you talk to a man in a language
he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.”
Did You Know
“You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it; You crown the year
with Your goodness, and Your paths drip
with abundance.” – Psalm 65.9a;1 1 NKJV
Nelson Mandela
Scripture Access Today
Unlocking
the message
of the Bible.
6,901
There are 6,901 languages in the world
spoken by 7.2 billion people
7.2 Billion
4.904 BILLION SPEAKERS
542 FULL
BIBLES
673
460
1,324
NEW TESTAMENTS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
231
4,015
NO SCRIPTURE
1,020
PORTIONS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
Figures as of
December 31, 2014
I N TH IS ISSU E
Celebrating a
new indigenous
translation
Bible Translation – Unlocking
the message of the Bible
How the English
Bible came to us
PAGE 03
PAGE 04
PAGE 07
The Yup’ik Bible.
www.advisorswithpurpose.ca
n Translation is the first step to unlock
the Bible’s message.
n The Bible’s Old Testament was originally
written in Hebrew. The Bible’s New
Testament was composed in Greek.
n The earliest parts of the Bible were
written in approximately 1500 B.C.E.
Bible Translation
Thorough our partnership with ADVISORS with Purpose, we are pleased to offer
you a confidential review of your Will and estate. Call 1-866-336-3315 today.
WORD@WORK I Page 03 I Winter 2016
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has a wonderful history of working with indigenous communities,
Dr. Myles Leitch
churches, and other partners to see God’s Word translated into the languages that people speak across
our land. I am delighted to serve CBS, with a specific focus on the Bible translation needs among our First Nations in Canada, and
look forward to use all of my diverse experiences in the world of Bible translation.
How your support of our translation work is changing the world.
The story in a
nutshell.
n St. Jerome translated the Bible into
Latin in the 4th century. His translation,
called The Vulgate, was the official
Catholic Bible until the 16th century.
n
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
as the first to translate the entire Bible
into English. His Bible came out
between 1380-1390 and was a literal
translation of the Latin Vulgate.
n At any given time, the average number
of active Scripture translation projects
around the globe averages about 650.
n Over a billion people lack access to the
complete Bible in their heart language.
The most translated book in the
world is the Bible.
n
The figures for the number of language speakers is based on the best available data
which currently totals 6.2 billion, less than the actual world population.
WORD@WORK I Page 02 I Winter 2016
WINTER 2016
And now a bit closer to home:
Celebrating a new indigenous
translation – Yup’ik Bible
“Help us, we need the Bible!”
T
Please prayerfully consider investing in
one or more of these initiatives.
he Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had
to wait for more than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in
their own language. It is the aboriginal Inuit language of
people who reside in western and south central Alaska.
$30
$50
Written with the Latin alphabet, translation work on the Yup’ik
New Testament was completed in the mid-1950s; work on the Old
Testament began in the early 1970s. Translators – when they weren’t
out on the land hunting and fishing – worked alone in their homes
or gathered in Bethel, Alaska to work as a team.
Cree Bible
Atikamekw New Testament
The Yup’ik Bible effort was a partnership involving dozens of
individuals and organizations. The Canadian Bible Society was the
final link in the chain, providing computer support, which dates back
to the mid-1990s.
The Yup’ik language has long words and unique diacritics (marks
placed over, under or through a letter guide pronunciation). The
team wanted their text to look like a traditional Bible with two
columns, but many of the words were longer than one column wide
and would break at the wrong spot, or the diacritics would move
over to the wrong letters or would spread letters apart so much a
single word would look like two or three words instead of just one.
“We heartily congratulate all those who contributed to this
important goal,” says Dr. Myles Leitch, Director of Translations.
“We praise God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in
their heart language.”
The Yup’ik Bible was dedicated during a three-day celebration, from
Friday October 16 to Sunday October 18, 2015 in Bethel, Alaska. The
event featured singing and sharing and reading from the Bible.
Blessings for this day and the year ahead
A
Thank you! Your faithful support of the Canadian
Bible Society programs keeps God’s Word alive!
$100
n
n
n
In Canada, CBS has worked with various
partners to publish, among others, the
Bible in Inuktitut, a New Testament with
parts of the Old Testament in Ojibwe, and
New Testaments in Algonquin, Atikamekw,
James Bay Cree, Dogrib, Mi’kmaq, and
Naskapi.
n
Celebrating the publication of the Yup’ik Bible!
The Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had to wait for more
than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in their own language. We praise
God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in their heart language.
Donate
Today
Will bless a tribe forever with a
verse of Scripture.
Will enable CBS to continue indigenous
translations in Canada.
Will help expedite translations around the
world.
Call Toll free: 1.800.465.2425
Donate Online: biblesociety.ca/wawjan16
greeting from Dr. Myles Leitch – our new Director of Scripture Translations. Dr. Leitch is a
professional academic linguist and professor (most recently with Tyndale University
College & Seminary). He has served for more than 25 years as a linguist and administrator
in Francophone Africa and Canada with Wycliffe and SIL.
10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Tel: 416.757.4171 Toll Free: 1.800.465.2425
Fax: 416.757.3376 [email protected]
(Charitable Registration No. 11882 9647 RR0001)
follow us on:
Facebook: canadianbiblesociety
Twitter: @canadianbible
We are a member of the Canadian
Council of Christian Charities. This
means that we adhere to high
ethical and operational standards.
The CCCC seal is evidence that we
are committed to integrity and
excellence in ministry.
Mail TO: 10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Supporting even one translation will make an
eternal difference.
www.biblesociety.ca
NOTE: Some photos and names in this newsletter have
been changed for personal privacy and security reasons.
Leave a Legacy: Helping God’s People Manage God’s Assets
M
ark and Sue recently met with an estate specialist from ADVISORS with
Purpose and made some changes to their Will that will not only save
them significant taxes but will put these savings directly into the hands of several
charities. They were pleased with the result and were encouraged in their efforts to
be good stewards.
For more information
Call 1.866.336.3315 today to speak
with an estate planning specialist –
this service is provided at no cost
or obligation to our supporters.
During the consultation process, Mark and Sue asked how they might give more
efficiently today as well as through their Will. Years ago, they purchased stocks for
$5,000; today their market value is $25,000. They were considering selling the
stocks and giving the proceeds to charity. However, selling the stock, would result
in a capital gain of $20,000 and a potential tax bill of $4,600. The estate specialist
suggested gifting the stocks directly to charity. This would totally eliminate the
capital gain, giving the entire $25,000 to charity. They received a donation receipt
for the whole amount rather than the after-tax value.
89 Auriga Drive, Ottawa, ON K2E 7Z2
Tel: 1-866-336-3315 Email: [email protected]
So Many
Languages,
So Little Time…
In the pages that follow, you will read inspiring stories of those who have encountered God’s Word in their heart language for the
first time. On behalf of our Board members, field workers, translators and staff, I thank you so very much for all you have done.
May the Lord richly bless you and the gifts you have given in His Name.
Dr. Myles Leitch
Director of Scripture Translations
“If you talk to a man in a language
he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.”
Did You Know
“You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it; You crown the year
with Your goodness, and Your paths drip
with abundance.” – Psalm 65.9a;1 1 NKJV
Nelson Mandela
Scripture Access Today
Unlocking
the message
of the Bible.
6,901
There are 6,901 languages in the world
spoken by 7.2 billion people
7.2 Billion
4.904 BILLION SPEAKERS
542 FULL
BIBLES
673
460
1,324
NEW TESTAMENTS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
231
4,015
NO SCRIPTURE
1,020
PORTIONS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
Figures as of
December 31, 2014
I N TH IS ISSU E
Celebrating a
new indigenous
translation
Bible Translation – Unlocking
the message of the Bible
How the English
Bible came to us
PAGE 03
PAGE 04
PAGE 07
The Yup’ik Bible.
www.advisorswithpurpose.ca
n Translation is the first step to unlock
the Bible’s message.
n The Bible’s Old Testament was originally
written in Hebrew. The Bible’s New
Testament was composed in Greek.
n The earliest parts of the Bible were
written in approximately 1500 B.C.E.
Bible Translation
Thorough our partnership with ADVISORS with Purpose, we are pleased to offer
you a confidential review of your Will and estate. Call 1-866-336-3315 today.
WORD@WORK I Page 03 I Winter 2016
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has a wonderful history of working with indigenous communities,
Dr. Myles Leitch
churches, and other partners to see God’s Word translated into the languages that people speak across
our land. I am delighted to serve CBS, with a specific focus on the Bible translation needs among our First Nations in Canada, and
look forward to use all of my diverse experiences in the world of Bible translation.
How your support of our translation work is changing the world.
The story in a
nutshell.
n St. Jerome translated the Bible into
Latin in the 4th century. His translation,
called The Vulgate, was the official
Catholic Bible until the 16th century.
n
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
as the first to translate the entire Bible
into English. His Bible came out
between 1380-1390 and was a literal
translation of the Latin Vulgate.
n At any given time, the average number
of active Scripture translation projects
around the globe averages about 650.
n Over a billion people lack access to the
complete Bible in their heart language.
The most translated book in the
world is the Bible.
n
The figures for the number of language speakers is based on the best available data
which currently totals 6.2 billion, less than the actual world population.
WORD@WORK I Page 02 I Winter 2016
WINTER 2016
And now a bit closer to home:
Celebrating a new indigenous
translation – Yup’ik Bible
“Help us, we need the Bible!”
T
Please prayerfully consider investing in
one or more of these initiatives.
he Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had
to wait for more than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in
their own language. It is the aboriginal Inuit language of
people who reside in western and south central Alaska.
$30
$50
Written with the Latin alphabet, translation work on the Yup’ik
New Testament was completed in the mid-1950s; work on the Old
Testament began in the early 1970s. Translators – when they weren’t
out on the land hunting and fishing – worked alone in their homes
or gathered in Bethel, Alaska to work as a team.
Cree Bible
Atikamekw New Testament
The Yup’ik Bible effort was a partnership involving dozens of
individuals and organizations. The Canadian Bible Society was the
final link in the chain, providing computer support, which dates back
to the mid-1990s.
The Yup’ik language has long words and unique diacritics (marks
placed over, under or through a letter guide pronunciation). The
team wanted their text to look like a traditional Bible with two
columns, but many of the words were longer than one column wide
and would break at the wrong spot, or the diacritics would move
over to the wrong letters or would spread letters apart so much a
single word would look like two or three words instead of just one.
“We heartily congratulate all those who contributed to this
important goal,” says Dr. Myles Leitch, Director of Translations.
“We praise God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in
their heart language.”
The Yup’ik Bible was dedicated during a three-day celebration, from
Friday October 16 to Sunday October 18, 2015 in Bethel, Alaska. The
event featured singing and sharing and reading from the Bible.
Blessings for this day and the year ahead
A
Thank you! Your faithful support of the Canadian
Bible Society programs keeps God’s Word alive!
$100
n
n
n
In Canada, CBS has worked with various
partners to publish, among others, the
Bible in Inuktitut, a New Testament with
parts of the Old Testament in Ojibwe, and
New Testaments in Algonquin, Atikamekw,
James Bay Cree, Dogrib, Mi’kmaq, and
Naskapi.
n
Celebrating the publication of the Yup’ik Bible!
The Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had to wait for more
than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in their own language. We praise
God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in their heart language.
Donate
Today
Will bless a tribe forever with a
verse of Scripture.
Will enable CBS to continue indigenous
translations in Canada.
Will help expedite translations around the
world.
Call Toll free: 1.800.465.2425
Donate Online: biblesociety.ca/wawjan16
greeting from Dr. Myles Leitch – our new Director of Scripture Translations. Dr. Leitch is a
professional academic linguist and professor (most recently with Tyndale University
College & Seminary). He has served for more than 25 years as a linguist and administrator
in Francophone Africa and Canada with Wycliffe and SIL.
10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Tel: 416.757.4171 Toll Free: 1.800.465.2425
Fax: 416.757.3376 [email protected]
(Charitable Registration No. 11882 9647 RR0001)
follow us on:
Facebook: canadianbiblesociety
Twitter: @canadianbible
We are a member of the Canadian
Council of Christian Charities. This
means that we adhere to high
ethical and operational standards.
The CCCC seal is evidence that we
are committed to integrity and
excellence in ministry.
Mail TO: 10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Supporting even one translation will make an
eternal difference.
www.biblesociety.ca
NOTE: Some photos and names in this newsletter have
been changed for personal privacy and security reasons.
Leave a Legacy: Helping God’s People Manage God’s Assets
M
ark and Sue recently met with an estate specialist from ADVISORS with
Purpose and made some changes to their Will that will not only save
them significant taxes but will put these savings directly into the hands of several
charities. They were pleased with the result and were encouraged in their efforts to
be good stewards.
For more information
Call 1.866.336.3315 today to speak
with an estate planning specialist –
this service is provided at no cost
or obligation to our supporters.
During the consultation process, Mark and Sue asked how they might give more
efficiently today as well as through their Will. Years ago, they purchased stocks for
$5,000; today their market value is $25,000. They were considering selling the
stocks and giving the proceeds to charity. However, selling the stock, would result
in a capital gain of $20,000 and a potential tax bill of $4,600. The estate specialist
suggested gifting the stocks directly to charity. This would totally eliminate the
capital gain, giving the entire $25,000 to charity. They received a donation receipt
for the whole amount rather than the after-tax value.
89 Auriga Drive, Ottawa, ON K2E 7Z2
Tel: 1-866-336-3315 Email: [email protected]
So Many
Languages,
So Little Time…
In the pages that follow, you will read inspiring stories of those who have encountered God’s Word in their heart language for the
first time. On behalf of our Board members, field workers, translators and staff, I thank you so very much for all you have done.
May the Lord richly bless you and the gifts you have given in His Name.
Dr. Myles Leitch
Director of Scripture Translations
“If you talk to a man in a language
he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.”
Did You Know
“You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it; You crown the year
with Your goodness, and Your paths drip
with abundance.” – Psalm 65.9a;1 1 NKJV
Nelson Mandela
Scripture Access Today
Unlocking
the message
of the Bible.
6,901
There are 6,901 languages in the world
spoken by 7.2 billion people
7.2 Billion
4.904 BILLION SPEAKERS
542 FULL
BIBLES
673
460
1,324
NEW TESTAMENTS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
231
4,015
NO SCRIPTURE
1,020
PORTIONS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
Figures as of
December 31, 2014
I N TH IS ISSU E
Celebrating a
new indigenous
translation
Bible Translation – Unlocking
the message of the Bible
How the English
Bible came to us
PAGE 03
PAGE 04
PAGE 07
The Yup’ik Bible.
www.advisorswithpurpose.ca
n Translation is the first step to unlock
the Bible’s message.
n The Bible’s Old Testament was originally
written in Hebrew. The Bible’s New
Testament was composed in Greek.
n The earliest parts of the Bible were
written in approximately 1500 B.C.E.
Bible Translation
Thorough our partnership with ADVISORS with Purpose, we are pleased to offer
you a confidential review of your Will and estate. Call 1-866-336-3315 today.
WORD@WORK I Page 03 I Winter 2016
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has a wonderful history of working with indigenous communities,
Dr. Myles Leitch
churches, and other partners to see God’s Word translated into the languages that people speak across
our land. I am delighted to serve CBS, with a specific focus on the Bible translation needs among our First Nations in Canada, and
look forward to use all of my diverse experiences in the world of Bible translation.
How your support of our translation work is changing the world.
The story in a
nutshell.
n St. Jerome translated the Bible into
Latin in the 4th century. His translation,
called The Vulgate, was the official
Catholic Bible until the 16th century.
n
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
as the first to translate the entire Bible
into English. His Bible came out
between 1380-1390 and was a literal
translation of the Latin Vulgate.
n At any given time, the average number
of active Scripture translation projects
around the globe averages about 650.
n Over a billion people lack access to the
complete Bible in their heart language.
The most translated book in the
world is the Bible.
n
The figures for the number of language speakers is based on the best available data
which currently totals 6.2 billion, less than the actual world population.
WORD@WORK I Page 02 I Winter 2016
Unlocking the message of the Bible
L
Bible Translation
anguages are living entities that go to the core of who we are. Because they change over time, Bible
Society translation departments have to keep pace – working every single day to give tribes,
peoples, languages, and nations access to God’s Word with a text that clearly transmits the full
meaning of God’s message.
How the English Bible came to us – in a nutshell
“We hear them declaring
the wonders of God in
our own tongues!”
I
n the seventh century, a poet named Caedmon
translated a series of biblical stories into ‘Old English’
(Anglo-Saxon) verse, which was the language of the
common people.
Acts 2.1 1b (NIV)
When people have the Bible ‘their way’, the Word of God comes to life in
their culture. Overwhelming evidence shows that Scripture speaks most
powerfully when people have it in their first language.
“At Babel, God responded to the people’s
arrogance by confusing their languages,
but at Pentecost he
reversed this and
allowed everyone to hear in their own language
the wonderful things God has done (Acts 2.11).
In Bible translation, we work with
God to continue
this reversal of Babel so that all people
will be able to
respond to the wonderful things
God has done.”
She could now read the Bible in her heart language.
A
nna is a 70-year-old woman who lives in Corlina, a small village about 46 miles away from the capital of Nairobi
in Kenya. Her legs aren’t as strong as they used to be. And in the Kenyan sun, a 10-mile journey feels more like 30. But
nothing was going to stop Anna from trekking 10 miles to the stadium that day. That was the location of the launch and
celebration of the Bible – newly translated into her native language of Fon. Anna walked for hours to bring just one Fon Bible
back home. There was joy in every step. Her children could now read the Bible, and their lives would be changed forever.
That’s because, for the first time in their lives, Anna and her family could read the Bible in their heart language: the language
in which they dream; the language in which they express their joy and their sorrow; and the language that they use every
day in their home; the language Anna spoke to to her children when she held them in her arms.
Because of this intimate connection people have with their native language, we call it their heart language. The heart
language not only engages a person intellectually, but also emotionally.
It’s no wonder that when we translate the Bible into a heart language, it finally
comes alive. People who have only had a basic understanding of the Scriptures
are now able to take them to heart and apply them to their lives. With this
new-found passion for the Word, they can help their family, friends, neighbours,
even other villages, come to understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When people can
engage with God’s
Word in their first
language, it reaches
the deepest needs of
the human heart.
>> For more details
0n how you can support Bible
translation in Canada and around
the world, please see the back of
this newsletter.
WORD@WORK I Page 04 I Winter 2016
Most Christians are shocked to hear
that one billion people – in this day
and age of technology – still don’t
have the Bible in their heart
language.
I
t’s a massive number and a huge percentage of the people on the planet. But thanks to the generosity
of our donors, there is hope in overcoming this daunting
challenge.
We have the cutting-edge technology we need to finish the
task. While it used to take 20 to 30 years to translate an
entire Bible, it now can take just ten to twelve. And by God’s
grace, our fellowship of Bible Societies – consisting of 147
Bible Societies working in over 200 countries and territories –
is the largest group of translation agencies in the world.
Thanks to people like you, there are
more than 2,000 translations
underway right now.
N
ever before have so many translations been
happening on our globe. We’re estimating that by
the year 2025 – just ten years from now – every language in
the world will have a translation at least started. And by
the year 2033 – just 18 years from now – we’re hoping that
every translation in the world will be finished.
On average, it costs about twenty-six dollars per verse to
train native speakers in translation skills and ensure that
language experts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek can
supervise the quality of the work. That means for a
twenty-six dollar investment, the world will forever be
blessed with a verse of Scripture.
WORD@WORK I Page 05 I Winter 2016
– Hart Wiens
Imagine knowing for the rest of your life that an
entire group of people will read and enjoy the
verses of Scripture that you helped to translate?
A
s the Bible is translated into more and more languages, people’s thinking,
values and behaviour change. Ultimately, entire nations are transformed. To
demonstrate these life-changing effects, we spoke to Codjo – a 24-year-old man from
Benin, a small country in West Africa.
“As a youth, I had no peace in my heart,” Codjo shares, recalling the days when he
slept in cars and committed robberies. When he received a copy of the Bible trans-
lated into his heart language of Fon, Codjo’s life changed. “That was my first Bible. My heart was filled with joy when I received it. When I read it for the first time, it was as if God was speaking to me. I remembered my sinful past, and I knew that God still
loved me.”
Being able to read the Bible without an interpreter made all the difference for Codjo.
“Everywhere I go, I carry my Bible, because it is my advisor, my companion. If I hadn’t
received this Bible, I might have become a bandit or I could have died physically and spiritually ... but God had mercy on me and saved me.”
Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on earth.
With so many still waiting to read His Word in their heart language, we must forge ahead as quickly
as possible. With your gift today, you can help millions of people around the world receive the saving
power of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer, in their own heart language.
There is a beautiful passage in the book of Habakkuk 2.14 that says, “For the earth will be filled with
the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” That verse beautifully describes
the vision that we have to see God’s Word translated into 100% of the languages of the world, so
that millions more can know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For people like Anna and Codjo – and the billion others who yearn for the chance to accept Jesus into
their hearts and be filled with His glory – we cannot rest.
“Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on
earth. Not having the Word of God can mean physical
and spiritual death.”
WORD@WORK I Page 06 I Winter 2016
The monk and scholar Bede translated the Gospel of John
into Old English in 735, allegedly on his deathbed. In the
tenth century, a stand-alone edition of the Gospels was
translated into West-Saxon. In the eleventh century Aelfric,
a priest, translated the Pentateuch and other parts of the
Old Testament into Old English.
A scribe called Eadwine translated the Psalms into
‘Anglo-Norman’, the language of the upper classes, in 1160.
The hermit and writer Richard Rolle translated the Psalms
into ‘Middle English’, the language of the common people,
around 1340.
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384) as the first to
translate the entire Bible into English. In fact, he probably
translated some of it and was the mastermind of the operation. After his death, his secretary John Purvey produced a
revision of Wycliffe’s translation.
The English reformer William Tyndale
(1494-1536) was the first person to
translate the New Testament directly
from Greek to English. Six thousand
copies of this translation were printed
and smuggled into England hidden
inside bales of wool and wine casks with false bottoms.
In 1536, he was executed for heresy. But the story didn’t end
there. His priest friend Miles Coverdale picked up the baton
and continued his work.
Miles Coverdale (1488-1569) joined William Tyndale in what
is now Belgium to help him in his translation work. After
Tyndale’s death, Coverdale finished his project by producing
a complete English Bible in 1535. He based it largely on
Tyndale’s version, but also on Latin and German translations.
Coverdale cleverly dedicated it to King Henry VIII, who had
warmed to the idea of the Bible in English. Henry therefore
gave his permission for Coverdale’s translation to be
circulated across England.
This made it the first complete Bible to be printed in English
with official approval. In 1539, Coverdale
edited and printed a revised translation,
which was widely used in parish
churches, and became known as
the Great Bible.
Join this legacy of
translating God’s Word to
make an eternal difference!
Life without a Bible is like a ship without a compass
n Edward’s entire family was killed in Liberia’s civil
war. “I was a drunk and a bad person until I came to know
God,” he admits now. One Bible changed him forever! It
happened the day the Bible Society visited his area with
newly translated New Testaments ... in his own Kpelle
language. Finally, Edward had a Bible he could read!
n Elizabeth, a war victim from West Africa, had
no way of knowing God personally – because she
had no Bible in her native Bassa tongue. As far as
she knew, God didn’t speak her language.
“That day I felt good and happy and thanked God for the
Kpelle Bible,” he says.
But then she received a newly translated Bassa Bible.
“As I read through the pages, I realized God was
speaking to me! I felt that God wanted me to know
Him personally.”
“Without the Bible, my life was going to be a disaster.
God’s Word changed my life so greatly – from a
rebellious person to a humble, God-fearing person.”
As Elizabeth says, “Life without a Bible is like a ship
without a compass. My life was hopeless and
meaningless when I did not have a Bible I could read.”
WORD@WORK I Page 07 I Winter 2016
Unlocking the message of the Bible
L
Bible Translation
anguages are living entities that go to the core of who we are. Because they change over time, Bible
Society translation departments have to keep pace – working every single day to give tribes,
peoples, languages, and nations access to God’s Word with a text that clearly transmits the full
meaning of God’s message.
How the English Bible came to us – in a nutshell
“We hear them declaring
the wonders of God in
our own tongues!”
I
n the seventh century, a poet named Caedmon
translated a series of biblical stories into ‘Old English’
(Anglo-Saxon) verse, which was the language of the
common people.
Acts 2.1 1b (NIV)
When people have the Bible ‘their way’, the Word of God comes to life in
their culture. Overwhelming evidence shows that Scripture speaks most
powerfully when people have it in their first language.
“At Babel, God responded to the people’s
arrogance by confusing their languages,
but at Pentecost he
reversed this and
allowed everyone to hear in their own language
the wonderful things God has done (Acts 2.11).
In Bible translation, we work with
God to continue
this reversal of Babel so that all people
will be able to
respond to the wonderful things
God has done.”
She could now read the Bible in her heart language.
A
nna is a 70-year-old woman who lives in Corlina, a small village about 46 miles away from the capital of Nairobi
in Kenya. Her legs aren’t as strong as they used to be. And in the Kenyan sun, a 10-mile journey feels more like 30. But
nothing was going to stop Anna from trekking 10 miles to the stadium that day. That was the location of the launch and
celebration of the Bible – newly translated into her native language of Fon. Anna walked for hours to bring just one Fon Bible
back home. There was joy in every step. Her children could now read the Bible, and their lives would be changed forever.
That’s because, for the first time in their lives, Anna and her family could read the Bible in their heart language: the language
in which they dream; the language in which they express their joy and their sorrow; and the language that they use every
day in their home; the language Anna spoke to to her children when she held them in her arms.
Because of this intimate connection people have with their native language, we call it their heart language. The heart
language not only engages a person intellectually, but also emotionally.
It’s no wonder that when we translate the Bible into a heart language, it finally
comes alive. People who have only had a basic understanding of the Scriptures
are now able to take them to heart and apply them to their lives. With this
new-found passion for the Word, they can help their family, friends, neighbours,
even other villages, come to understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When people can
engage with God’s
Word in their first
language, it reaches
the deepest needs of
the human heart.
>> For more details
0n how you can support Bible
translation in Canada and around
the world, please see the back of
this newsletter.
WORD@WORK I Page 04 I Winter 2016
Most Christians are shocked to hear
that one billion people – in this day
and age of technology – still don’t
have the Bible in their heart
language.
I
t’s a massive number and a huge percentage of the people on the planet. But thanks to the generosity
of our donors, there is hope in overcoming this daunting
challenge.
We have the cutting-edge technology we need to finish the
task. While it used to take 20 to 30 years to translate an
entire Bible, it now can take just ten to twelve. And by God’s
grace, our fellowship of Bible Societies – consisting of 147
Bible Societies working in over 200 countries and territories –
is the largest group of translation agencies in the world.
Thanks to people like you, there are
more than 2,000 translations
underway right now.
N
ever before have so many translations been
happening on our globe. We’re estimating that by
the year 2025 – just ten years from now – every language in
the world will have a translation at least started. And by
the year 2033 – just 18 years from now – we’re hoping that
every translation in the world will be finished.
On average, it costs about twenty-six dollars per verse to
train native speakers in translation skills and ensure that
language experts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek can
supervise the quality of the work. That means for a
twenty-six dollar investment, the world will forever be
blessed with a verse of Scripture.
WORD@WORK I Page 05 I Winter 2016
– Hart Wiens
Imagine knowing for the rest of your life that an
entire group of people will read and enjoy the
verses of Scripture that you helped to translate?
A
s the Bible is translated into more and more languages, people’s thinking,
values and behaviour change. Ultimately, entire nations are transformed. To
demonstrate these life-changing effects, we spoke to Codjo – a 24-year-old man from
Benin, a small country in West Africa.
“As a youth, I had no peace in my heart,” Codjo shares, recalling the days when he
slept in cars and committed robberies. When he received a copy of the Bible trans-
lated into his heart language of Fon, Codjo’s life changed. “That was my first Bible. My heart was filled with joy when I received it. When I read it for the first time, it was as if God was speaking to me. I remembered my sinful past, and I knew that God still
loved me.”
Being able to read the Bible without an interpreter made all the difference for Codjo.
“Everywhere I go, I carry my Bible, because it is my advisor, my companion. If I hadn’t
received this Bible, I might have become a bandit or I could have died physically and spiritually ... but God had mercy on me and saved me.”
Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on earth.
With so many still waiting to read His Word in their heart language, we must forge ahead as quickly
as possible. With your gift today, you can help millions of people around the world receive the saving
power of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer, in their own heart language.
There is a beautiful passage in the book of Habakkuk 2.14 that says, “For the earth will be filled with
the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” That verse beautifully describes
the vision that we have to see God’s Word translated into 100% of the languages of the world, so
that millions more can know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For people like Anna and Codjo – and the billion others who yearn for the chance to accept Jesus into
their hearts and be filled with His glory – we cannot rest.
“Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on
earth. Not having the Word of God can mean physical
and spiritual death.”
WORD@WORK I Page 06 I Winter 2016
The monk and scholar Bede translated the Gospel of John
into Old English in 735, allegedly on his deathbed. In the
tenth century, a stand-alone edition of the Gospels was
translated into West-Saxon. In the eleventh century Aelfric,
a priest, translated the Pentateuch and other parts of the
Old Testament into Old English.
A scribe called Eadwine translated the Psalms into
‘Anglo-Norman’, the language of the upper classes, in 1160.
The hermit and writer Richard Rolle translated the Psalms
into ‘Middle English’, the language of the common people,
around 1340.
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384) as the first to
translate the entire Bible into English. In fact, he probably
translated some of it and was the mastermind of the operation. After his death, his secretary John Purvey produced a
revision of Wycliffe’s translation.
The English reformer William Tyndale
(1494-1536) was the first person to
translate the New Testament directly
from Greek to English. Six thousand
copies of this translation were printed
and smuggled into England hidden
inside bales of wool and wine casks with false bottoms.
In 1536, he was executed for heresy. But the story didn’t end
there. His priest friend Miles Coverdale picked up the baton
and continued his work.
Miles Coverdale (1488-1569) joined William Tyndale in what
is now Belgium to help him in his translation work. After
Tyndale’s death, Coverdale finished his project by producing
a complete English Bible in 1535. He based it largely on
Tyndale’s version, but also on Latin and German translations.
Coverdale cleverly dedicated it to King Henry VIII, who had
warmed to the idea of the Bible in English. Henry therefore
gave his permission for Coverdale’s translation to be
circulated across England.
This made it the first complete Bible to be printed in English
with official approval. In 1539, Coverdale
edited and printed a revised translation,
which was widely used in parish
churches, and became known as
the Great Bible.
Join this legacy of
translating God’s Word to
make an eternal difference!
Life without a Bible is like a ship without a compass
n Edward’s entire family was killed in Liberia’s civil
war. “I was a drunk and a bad person until I came to know
God,” he admits now. One Bible changed him forever! It
happened the day the Bible Society visited his area with
newly translated New Testaments ... in his own Kpelle
language. Finally, Edward had a Bible he could read!
n Elizabeth, a war victim from West Africa, had
no way of knowing God personally – because she
had no Bible in her native Bassa tongue. As far as
she knew, God didn’t speak her language.
“That day I felt good and happy and thanked God for the
Kpelle Bible,” he says.
But then she received a newly translated Bassa Bible.
“As I read through the pages, I realized God was
speaking to me! I felt that God wanted me to know
Him personally.”
“Without the Bible, my life was going to be a disaster.
God’s Word changed my life so greatly – from a
rebellious person to a humble, God-fearing person.”
As Elizabeth says, “Life without a Bible is like a ship
without a compass. My life was hopeless and
meaningless when I did not have a Bible I could read.”
WORD@WORK I Page 07 I Winter 2016
Unlocking the message of the Bible
L
Bible Translation
anguages are living entities that go to the core of who we are. Because they change over time, Bible
Society translation departments have to keep pace – working every single day to give tribes,
peoples, languages, and nations access to God’s Word with a text that clearly transmits the full
meaning of God’s message.
How the English Bible came to us – in a nutshell
“We hear them declaring
the wonders of God in
our own tongues!”
I
n the seventh century, a poet named Caedmon
translated a series of biblical stories into ‘Old English’
(Anglo-Saxon) verse, which was the language of the
common people.
Acts 2.1 1b (NIV)
When people have the Bible ‘their way’, the Word of God comes to life in
their culture. Overwhelming evidence shows that Scripture speaks most
powerfully when people have it in their first language.
“At Babel, God responded to the people’s
arrogance by confusing their languages,
but at Pentecost he
reversed this and
allowed everyone to hear in their own language
the wonderful things God has done (Acts 2.11).
In Bible translation, we work with
God to continue
this reversal of Babel so that all people
will be able to
respond to the wonderful things
God has done.”
She could now read the Bible in her heart language.
A
nna is a 70-year-old woman who lives in Corlina, a small village about 46 miles away from the capital of Nairobi
in Kenya. Her legs aren’t as strong as they used to be. And in the Kenyan sun, a 10-mile journey feels more like 30. But
nothing was going to stop Anna from trekking 10 miles to the stadium that day. That was the location of the launch and
celebration of the Bible – newly translated into her native language of Fon. Anna walked for hours to bring just one Fon Bible
back home. There was joy in every step. Her children could now read the Bible, and their lives would be changed forever.
That’s because, for the first time in their lives, Anna and her family could read the Bible in their heart language: the language
in which they dream; the language in which they express their joy and their sorrow; and the language that they use every
day in their home; the language Anna spoke to to her children when she held them in her arms.
Because of this intimate connection people have with their native language, we call it their heart language. The heart
language not only engages a person intellectually, but also emotionally.
It’s no wonder that when we translate the Bible into a heart language, it finally
comes alive. People who have only had a basic understanding of the Scriptures
are now able to take them to heart and apply them to their lives. With this
new-found passion for the Word, they can help their family, friends, neighbours,
even other villages, come to understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When people can
engage with God’s
Word in their first
language, it reaches
the deepest needs of
the human heart.
>> For more details
0n how you can support Bible
translation in Canada and around
the world, please see the back of
this newsletter.
WORD@WORK I Page 04 I Winter 2016
Most Christians are shocked to hear
that one billion people – in this day
and age of technology – still don’t
have the Bible in their heart
language.
I
t’s a massive number and a huge percentage of the people on the planet. But thanks to the generosity
of our donors, there is hope in overcoming this daunting
challenge.
We have the cutting-edge technology we need to finish the
task. While it used to take 20 to 30 years to translate an
entire Bible, it now can take just ten to twelve. And by God’s
grace, our fellowship of Bible Societies – consisting of 147
Bible Societies working in over 200 countries and territories –
is the largest group of translation agencies in the world.
Thanks to people like you, there are
more than 2,000 translations
underway right now.
N
ever before have so many translations been
happening on our globe. We’re estimating that by
the year 2025 – just ten years from now – every language in
the world will have a translation at least started. And by
the year 2033 – just 18 years from now – we’re hoping that
every translation in the world will be finished.
On average, it costs about twenty-six dollars per verse to
train native speakers in translation skills and ensure that
language experts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek can
supervise the quality of the work. That means for a
twenty-six dollar investment, the world will forever be
blessed with a verse of Scripture.
WORD@WORK I Page 05 I Winter 2016
– Hart Wiens
Imagine knowing for the rest of your life that an
entire group of people will read and enjoy the
verses of Scripture that you helped to translate?
A
s the Bible is translated into more and more languages, people’s thinking,
values and behaviour change. Ultimately, entire nations are transformed. To
demonstrate these life-changing effects, we spoke to Codjo – a 24-year-old man from
Benin, a small country in West Africa.
“As a youth, I had no peace in my heart,” Codjo shares, recalling the days when he
slept in cars and committed robberies. When he received a copy of the Bible trans-
lated into his heart language of Fon, Codjo’s life changed. “That was my first Bible. My heart was filled with joy when I received it. When I read it for the first time, it was as if God was speaking to me. I remembered my sinful past, and I knew that God still
loved me.”
Being able to read the Bible without an interpreter made all the difference for Codjo.
“Everywhere I go, I carry my Bible, because it is my advisor, my companion. If I hadn’t
received this Bible, I might have become a bandit or I could have died physically and spiritually ... but God had mercy on me and saved me.”
Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on earth.
With so many still waiting to read His Word in their heart language, we must forge ahead as quickly
as possible. With your gift today, you can help millions of people around the world receive the saving
power of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer, in their own heart language.
There is a beautiful passage in the book of Habakkuk 2.14 that says, “For the earth will be filled with
the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” That verse beautifully describes
the vision that we have to see God’s Word translated into 100% of the languages of the world, so
that millions more can know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For people like Anna and Codjo – and the billion others who yearn for the chance to accept Jesus into
their hearts and be filled with His glory – we cannot rest.
“Codjo’s experience is shared by millions of people on
earth. Not having the Word of God can mean physical
and spiritual death.”
WORD@WORK I Page 06 I Winter 2016
The monk and scholar Bede translated the Gospel of John
into Old English in 735, allegedly on his deathbed. In the
tenth century, a stand-alone edition of the Gospels was
translated into West-Saxon. In the eleventh century Aelfric,
a priest, translated the Pentateuch and other parts of the
Old Testament into Old English.
A scribe called Eadwine translated the Psalms into
‘Anglo-Norman’, the language of the upper classes, in 1160.
The hermit and writer Richard Rolle translated the Psalms
into ‘Middle English’, the language of the common people,
around 1340.
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384) as the first to
translate the entire Bible into English. In fact, he probably
translated some of it and was the mastermind of the operation. After his death, his secretary John Purvey produced a
revision of Wycliffe’s translation.
The English reformer William Tyndale
(1494-1536) was the first person to
translate the New Testament directly
from Greek to English. Six thousand
copies of this translation were printed
and smuggled into England hidden
inside bales of wool and wine casks with false bottoms.
In 1536, he was executed for heresy. But the story didn’t end
there. His priest friend Miles Coverdale picked up the baton
and continued his work.
Miles Coverdale (1488-1569) joined William Tyndale in what
is now Belgium to help him in his translation work. After
Tyndale’s death, Coverdale finished his project by producing
a complete English Bible in 1535. He based it largely on
Tyndale’s version, but also on Latin and German translations.
Coverdale cleverly dedicated it to King Henry VIII, who had
warmed to the idea of the Bible in English. Henry therefore
gave his permission for Coverdale’s translation to be
circulated across England.
This made it the first complete Bible to be printed in English
with official approval. In 1539, Coverdale
edited and printed a revised translation,
which was widely used in parish
churches, and became known as
the Great Bible.
Join this legacy of
translating God’s Word to
make an eternal difference!
Life without a Bible is like a ship without a compass
n Edward’s entire family was killed in Liberia’s civil
war. “I was a drunk and a bad person until I came to know
God,” he admits now. One Bible changed him forever! It
happened the day the Bible Society visited his area with
newly translated New Testaments ... in his own Kpelle
language. Finally, Edward had a Bible he could read!
n Elizabeth, a war victim from West Africa, had
no way of knowing God personally – because she
had no Bible in her native Bassa tongue. As far as
she knew, God didn’t speak her language.
“That day I felt good and happy and thanked God for the
Kpelle Bible,” he says.
But then she received a newly translated Bassa Bible.
“As I read through the pages, I realized God was
speaking to me! I felt that God wanted me to know
Him personally.”
“Without the Bible, my life was going to be a disaster.
God’s Word changed my life so greatly – from a
rebellious person to a humble, God-fearing person.”
As Elizabeth says, “Life without a Bible is like a ship
without a compass. My life was hopeless and
meaningless when I did not have a Bible I could read.”
WORD@WORK I Page 07 I Winter 2016
WINTER 2016
And now a bit closer to home:
Celebrating a new indigenous
translation – Yup’ik Bible
“Help us, we need the Bible!”
T
Please prayerfully consider investing in
one or more of these initiatives.
he Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had
to wait for more than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in
their own language. It is the aboriginal Inuit language of
people who reside in western and south central Alaska.
$30
$50
Written with the Latin alphabet, translation work on the Yup’ik
New Testament was completed in the mid-1950s; work on the Old
Testament began in the early 1970s. Translators – when they weren’t
out on the land hunting and fishing – worked alone in their homes
or gathered in Bethel, Alaska to work as a team.
Cree Bible
Atikamekw New Testament
The Yup’ik Bible effort was a partnership involving dozens of
individuals and organizations. The Canadian Bible Society was the
final link in the chain, providing computer support, which dates back
to the mid-1990s.
The Yup’ik language has long words and unique diacritics (marks
placed over, under or through a letter guide pronunciation). The
team wanted their text to look like a traditional Bible with two
columns, but many of the words were longer than one column wide
and would break at the wrong spot, or the diacritics would move
over to the wrong letters or would spread letters apart so much a
single word would look like two or three words instead of just one.
“We heartily congratulate all those who contributed to this
important goal,” says Dr. Myles Leitch, Director of Translations.
“We praise God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in
their heart language.”
The Yup’ik Bible was dedicated during a three-day celebration, from
Friday October 16 to Sunday October 18, 2015 in Bethel, Alaska. The
event featured singing and sharing and reading from the Bible.
Blessings for this day and the year ahead
A
Thank you! Your faithful support of the Canadian
Bible Society programs keeps God’s Word alive!
$100
n
n
n
In Canada, CBS has worked with various
partners to publish, among others, the
Bible in Inuktitut, a New Testament with
parts of the Old Testament in Ojibwe, and
New Testaments in Algonquin, Atikamekw,
James Bay Cree, Dogrib, Mi’kmaq, and
Naskapi.
n
Celebrating the publication of the Yup’ik Bible!
The Yup’ik-speaking people of the Southwestern Arctic had to wait for more
than 60 years to hold a complete Bible in their own language. We praise
God that the Yup’ik people can now read the Bible in their heart language.
Donate
Today
Will bless a tribe forever with a
verse of Scripture.
Will enable CBS to continue indigenous
translations in Canada.
Will help expedite translations around the
world.
Call Toll free: 1.800.465.2425
Donate Online: biblesociety.ca/wawjan16
greeting from Dr. Myles Leitch – our new Director of Scripture Translations. Dr. Leitch is a
professional academic linguist and professor (most recently with Tyndale University
College & Seminary). He has served for more than 25 years as a linguist and administrator
in Francophone Africa and Canada with Wycliffe and SIL.
10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Tel: 416.757.4171 Toll Free: 1.800.465.2425
Fax: 416.757.3376 [email protected]
(Charitable Registration No. 11882 9647 RR0001)
follow us on:
Facebook: canadianbiblesociety
Twitter: @canadianbible
We are a member of the Canadian
Council of Christian Charities. This
means that we adhere to high
ethical and operational standards.
The CCCC seal is evidence that we
are committed to integrity and
excellence in ministry.
Mail TO: 10 Carnforth Road, Toronto, ON M4A 2S4
Supporting even one translation will make an
eternal difference.
www.biblesociety.ca
NOTE: Some photos and names in this newsletter have
been changed for personal privacy and security reasons.
Leave a Legacy: Helping God’s People Manage God’s Assets
M
ark and Sue recently met with an estate specialist from ADVISORS with
Purpose and made some changes to their Will that will not only save
them significant taxes but will put these savings directly into the hands of several
charities. They were pleased with the result and were encouraged in their efforts to
be good stewards.
For more information
Call 1.866.336.3315 today to speak
with an estate planning specialist –
this service is provided at no cost
or obligation to our supporters.
During the consultation process, Mark and Sue asked how they might give more
efficiently today as well as through their Will. Years ago, they purchased stocks for
$5,000; today their market value is $25,000. They were considering selling the
stocks and giving the proceeds to charity. However, selling the stock, would result
in a capital gain of $20,000 and a potential tax bill of $4,600. The estate specialist
suggested gifting the stocks directly to charity. This would totally eliminate the
capital gain, giving the entire $25,000 to charity. They received a donation receipt
for the whole amount rather than the after-tax value.
89 Auriga Drive, Ottawa, ON K2E 7Z2
Tel: 1-866-336-3315 Email: [email protected]
So Many
Languages,
So Little Time…
In the pages that follow, you will read inspiring stories of those who have encountered God’s Word in their heart language for the
first time. On behalf of our Board members, field workers, translators and staff, I thank you so very much for all you have done.
May the Lord richly bless you and the gifts you have given in His Name.
Dr. Myles Leitch
Director of Scripture Translations
“If you talk to a man in a language
he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.”
Did You Know
“You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it; You crown the year
with Your goodness, and Your paths drip
with abundance.” – Psalm 65.9a;1 1 NKJV
Nelson Mandela
Scripture Access Today
Unlocking
the message
of the Bible.
6,901
There are 6,901 languages in the world
spoken by 7.2 billion people
7.2 Billion
4.904 BILLION SPEAKERS
542 FULL
BIBLES
673
460
1,324
NEW TESTAMENTS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
231
4,015
NO SCRIPTURE
1,020
PORTIONS
MILLION
SPEAKERS
Figures as of
December 31, 2014
I N TH IS ISSU E
Celebrating a
new indigenous
translation
Bible Translation – Unlocking
the message of the Bible
How the English
Bible came to us
PAGE 03
PAGE 04
PAGE 07
The Yup’ik Bible.
www.advisorswithpurpose.ca
n Translation is the first step to unlock
the Bible’s message.
n The Bible’s Old Testament was originally
written in Hebrew. The Bible’s New
Testament was composed in Greek.
n The earliest parts of the Bible were
written in approximately 1500 B.C.E.
Bible Translation
Thorough our partnership with ADVISORS with Purpose, we are pleased to offer
you a confidential review of your Will and estate. Call 1-866-336-3315 today.
WORD@WORK I Page 03 I Winter 2016
The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has a wonderful history of working with indigenous communities,
Dr. Myles Leitch
churches, and other partners to see God’s Word translated into the languages that people speak across
our land. I am delighted to serve CBS, with a specific focus on the Bible translation needs among our First Nations in Canada, and
look forward to use all of my diverse experiences in the world of Bible translation.
How your support of our translation work is changing the world.
The story in a
nutshell.
n St. Jerome translated the Bible into
Latin in the 4th century. His translation,
called The Vulgate, was the official
Catholic Bible until the 16th century.
n
Many regard John Wycliffe (1320-1384)
as the first to translate the entire Bible
into English. His Bible came out
between 1380-1390 and was a literal
translation of the Latin Vulgate.
n At any given time, the average number
of active Scripture translation projects
around the globe averages about 650.
n Over a billion people lack access to the
complete Bible in their heart language.
The most translated book in the
world is the Bible.
n
The figures for the number of language speakers is based on the best available data
which currently totals 6.2 billion, less than the actual world population.
WORD@WORK I Page 02 I Winter 2016