a good Bible translation in this culture needs several key players. To truly be accepted, the translation team can’t function autonomously; it’s part of a larger body that includes the local community around it.
Since Indonesia is a collectivist culture, people study Scripture almost exclusively as a group, either at Sunday services or as a family. It would be rare to see an Ambonese retreating away for a “quiet time alone with God” as we often do in our culture.
So what better way for a translation team to help a community experience the Scriptures together than to involve them in the process? Once a story or passage is drafted, the translation team invites people from the neighborhood to help them check their work.
verse-by-verse, asking comprehension questions,” said Carrie, one of the team’s translation coordinators.
“The first time we did a test with the community, there was a certain man who participated,” recalled Ocha Hitalessy. “We asked him, ‘Sir, why are you crying? Have you not known about Jesus Christ before now?’ He said,
As community members experience the Scriptures in their language through checking sessions, they share the stories and passages with their families and neighbors. News of the translated Scriptures and the principles they teach begins to spread.
As community members engaged with Scripture in their own language, they began sharing what they learned with their families and neighbors. But for the Ambonese Malay Scripture to truly take root, one more key partnership was foundational — the local church.
long-rooted in tradition. To worship in Ambon, you need liturgy, songs and Scripture. If we didn’t provide all three in some form, they wouldn’t use the [translated] Scripture in church. We take every opportunity we can to meet felt needs of local churches and other organizations.”
greatest impact happens when the local church and community embrace Scripture in their language, allowing it to take root and transform lives. Stephanie noted:
churches and communities come together to ensure Scripture is understood, embraced and passed on to future generations.
As the body of Christ, we are called to build one another up, working together to strengthen the global Church and steward God’s Word well. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) reminds us, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Many churches worldwide are already advocating for Bible translation. How could you and your church come alongside them?
A church relationship facilitator can help you explore what partnership could look like for your church — whether it’s through prayer, advocacy or direct involvement in supporting Bible translation efforts. How will you take part in bringing God’s Word to those still waiting?
