When was the last time you thought about your role in God’s mission? Maybe you’ve wondered how your skills could make a difference. Or perhaps you’ve been discouraged by the stage of life you’re in, thinking: “How can I help change the world?”
The good news is that God has a plan for you! And He didn’t design us to do life alone.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. — 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT)
God has a purpose for each of us, and in the body of Christ, every part matters. In our churches, we get to connect with people who have different gifts and passions and make an eternal impact — together.
Some people are called to serve as missionaries. God calls other people to pray or to give financially. Still others partner with missionaries.
Regardless of who you are or how big your church is, you can participate in Bible translation!
Watch the Vision: God’s Heart, Your Part
Be part of the mission, impacting people locally and around the world so that everyone can know and understand God’s Word in a language that touches their hearts.
- You can give so that Scripture reaches language communities still waiting to encounter it.
- You can pray faithfully for translators, local churches and communities receiving God’s Word.
- You can advocate by sharing stories and opportunities with others who might join the mission.
Even though not everyone is called to serve overseas, every believer can be part of making His name known among the nations. When individuals and churches give, pray and advocate, they reflect God’s heart and fuel Bible translation worldwide. You too can join this collective calling and make an eternal impact.
Personal Partnership Through Prayer: Beverly’s Story
Beverly discovered that God was calling her to partner with Bible translation through prayer. For decades, she and her family have lifted up people and projects around the world. Her story reminds us that no matter our location or stage of life, God uses us when we say “yes” to His mission. Beverly emphasized:
“The longer I live, the more I know that prayer is powerful. You’re touching the throne of God.”
Over the years, Beverly and her family have received updates about translation progress. Beverly is amazed by how God is working in that specific community — and that she and her family get to be part of what He’s doing across the world!
“Just to be a part of [God’s] whole plan … even now, it’s bringing tears to my eyes,” she said.
Having experienced the profound impact of God’s Word on a personal level, Beverly knows how important the work of Bible translation is — and how necessary it is to cover that work in prayer today. “… There’s spiritual warfare going on out there,” she said, “and our prayers are important.”
Scripture sustains us, offers us hope, strengthens our identity in Christ and gives us a sense of purpose. Yet many people around the world today can’t access God’s Word in a language and format they clearly understand. Many don’t have the Psalms or the Book of Isaiah to turn to, like Beverly did, in difficult times.
But through her prayers and advocacy, Beverly is passionate about seeing the day when people from every nation and language will have the Bible and be transformed. She concluded:
“Everybody has the right to [experience] the Word in their own language, because the Word is the most important book there is. And if we can’t understand it, how can we live it?”
Whether you’re praying like Beverly or giving through your church, every act of obedience helps make God’s name known among the nations!
Transformative Partnership: Opportunities for Your Church
Our choices as individuals ripple outward, but when people come together, the impact is multiplied. By embracing partnerships through programs like Adopt-a-Verse, churches can impact Bible translation — ensuring that entire chapters and books of the Bible are made accessible to more people worldwide. One Latino church put their plans on pause to be part of the Bible translation movement. Together, they not only adopted eight chapters of the Gospel of Mark for a community but also were able to understand God’s heart for the global Church more deeply.
Hear the full story of how God is working through Pastor Jayfred Morales and his church!
Find the full video in English and Spanish on our YouTube channel →
Through partnerships and collaboration across the global Church, connecting with language communities still waiting for Scripture is possible like never before! And some churches are finding unique ways to involve every generation in the mission.
One small church in Littleton, Colorado, turned an Easter egg hunt into an activity that helped kids support Bible translation. The pastor of the church is passionate about the mission and said: “If you want to be involved in missions in a meaningful way, I think at some point you need to be involved in Bible translation.”
You can leverage your local church’s resources in creative ways too. You could turn a fundraising activity like a run or a bike ride into a unique partnership, like people did for the Abeku. Or you could rally small group families to form giving circles that inspire generosity and further your impact. There are countless ways to get involved by using your unique gifts and talents for the Kingdom!
We each have a role in God’s mission and a purpose to help fulfill the Great Commission. What we do with our calling truly matters because we’re not just individuals; we’re unique parts of the body of Christ.
So what would it look like if your church chose to lock arms with people thousands of miles away and, as a result, became a part of their journey to personally know the God who created them? It would look amazing and life-changing.
And it would look like a community.
