It all began in 1917.
William Cameron Townsend (known by friends as “Cam”) was a passionate 20-year-old, fueled by a vision to obey Jesus’ command to take the gospel to the nations.
“The greater need is where the greatest darkness is,” Cam said. “Our orders are to forget self and to give our lives in service for the Master.” While many of his friends and peers were fighting in World War I, Cam decided to fight a spiritual battle — a battle for lost souls. He packed his bags, said goodbye to his family and moved to Guatemala to sell Bibles to farmers and villagers along the sparsely populated trails of Central America.
What is God calling you to? Regardless of the city you live in or the language you use, you’re called to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations.
To equip you and your church to live out this mission, we’ve developed materials like devotionals and discussion questions for small groups, families and pastors to support you!
Check out our Great Commission resources →
A Life-Changing Realization
When Cam stepped off the boat, his youthful enthusiasm for sharing the gospel was high, but he soon realized that most of the people he was meeting didn’t understand the Bible in Spanish!
Cam faced a dilemma. If they didn’t understand, how was he reaching people for Jesus? Frustrated and disappointed, Cam began to wonder if he’d failed. But God had other plans in mind.
As he continued to travel around Guatemala, Cam soon learned about the Cakchiquel people. People of Spanish heritage often thought of them as inferior and uneducated members of society, but Cam disagreed. Instead he was impressed when he met the Cakchiquel man who first brought the gospel to his own language group and led 40 people to Christ — all without a Bible in his own language! After sharing a short testimony in Spanish, Cam decided to put behind his first failure and help reach these people with the gospel. So he abandoned his attempts to sell Spanish Bibles to non-Spanish speakers and began serving as a missionary to the Cakchiquel by helping start a school to teach them how to read and write.
A Desire to Understand God’s Word in Everyone’s Language
Still, Cam didn’t have any Scriptures in Cakchiquel. When he’d brought Spanish Bibles to men who only spoke Cakchiquel, they’d asked him something that really made him think: Why didn’t God speak their language? Was He only the God of English and Spanish speakers?
So although it would end up taking almost 10 years of his life, he decided to learn the complex Cakchiquel language, create an alphabet and translate the New Testament.
Deep down, Cam thought everyone — man, woman and child alike — should be able to read God’s Word in the language of their heart.
When he was done, the Cakchiquel finally had God’s Word, but thousands of other languages still needed it. So in 1934 Cam started “Camp Wycliffe,” a linguistic training program named after John Wycliffe, the first translator of the entire Bible into English. Less than 10 years later, the humble training camp had grown into two affiliate organizations known as Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Summer Institute of Linguistics (now SIL Global).
What began as one man’s heart to serve a language community in Guatemala became a worldwide mission.
Explore how God has worked throughout the history of the Bible translation movement at Wycliffe, transforming lives through the collaboration and innovation of His global Church.
Discover Wycliffe’s story and how our work is not done yet! →
The Spark of a Movement: A Legacy of Faith
Cam served for over 60 years in Latin America, witnessing the work spread across the continent and reaching language communities in Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and more. SIL Global established an SIL Americas branch, focusing on reaching people with the translated Word of God in a language they clearly understand. Cam’s work in translating the Bible for the Cakchiquel was just the start!
Then and Now: Innovative Approaches to Translation
As of 2025, thousands of language communities have access to at least portions of the Bible, some for the very first time, and the work continues in hundreds more around the world. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, Wycliffe and our global partners remain committed to helping people receive Scripture in a way that resonates with them.
Today, hundreds of partner organizations and local churches around the world are working together to see the gospel go out among the nations.
You, too, have the opportunity to make a difference through Bible translation. Behind every translation is a real person, a family and a community longing for God’s Word. One day in heaven, you may meet someone whose life was transformed because of your decision to be part of this mission.
Yet the work isn’t finished; there are still languages that need Bible translation to begin. Want the latest numbers? You can explore current Bible translation statistics to better understand the ongoing opportunity for you to join in this mission.
Cameron Townsend’s ministry started with a vision and a belief in the Great Commission, and at Wycliffe, we carry this vision with us today. The road ahead is still long, but you can make a difference. When you pray, give or advocate for Bible translation, you help open the door for more people to experience God’s Word in their own language.
