How would your life be different if you didn’t know God or have easy access to His Word? What would it look like to navigate the world and all its struggles? Where would you turn for truth, guidance and hope?
When people are able to know God and His Word in their language, everything changes.
There’s something special about the way God is working in the lives of women — especially in communities where they are traditionally overlooked or marginalized.
Women play an important role in God’s Kingdom: Among the many things women do, they’re helping translate Scripture; they’re teaching children about God and His love; and they’re helping produce lasting change within their communities through literacy work, Scripture engagement, evangelism, discipleship and more.
Let’s meet a few women transformed by God’s Word and celebrate how God is working through them to change individuals, families and entire communities for His glory.
Beulah — Yupik (United States)
Which Scripture passages do you turn to in times of uncertainty?
Do you find solace in the psalms, encouragement in the Gospels or comfort in the words of the epistles? Now pause for a moment and remember the emotions you felt when you experienced Scripture’s hope for the very first time.
Beulah Nowpakahok knows what that hope feels like.
In 1959, Wycliffe translators named Dave and Mitzi moved to Beulah’s home of St. Lawrence Island, situated 150 miles off the coast of mainland Alaska, to translate Scripture into Yupik. Beulah was a teenager when the couple arrived, and the Yupik community embraced them, as well as their two children.
“They were part of our family,” Beulah recalled. “They became us. In fact, Mitzi was my Bible school teacher — not knowing that [one day] we would be working together.”
All For the Glory of God
Beulah and two other women — Elinor Oozeva and Susan Campbell — eventually joined Dave and Mitzi as co-translators for the Bible translation project. “I was just a student at that time, when I first became a translator with them,” Beulah noted. “And then Elinor, the main translator, she taught me a lot.”
Translating wasn’t easy; there are a lot of words in English that the Yupik have no word for. “[The] Apostle Paul uses so many hard words,” Beulah said. With a laugh, she continued: “When we get to heaven, we’re going to ask Apostle Paul, ‘How come you made it too hard for us to translate?’”
Over the course of numerous decades, the project faced immense struggles. But in the face of difficulties, the team was reminded why they were translating. Beulah recalled: “Elinor always said to me, when we have [so many problems], ‘This is all for the glory of God!’ So that was our theme: all for the glory of God.”
When she’s faced hard times, Beulah has relied on God and His Word for comfort:
“I wouldn’t know what to do if it weren’t for the Scriptures. They give me hope.”
In September 2018, after nearly 60 years of work, the Yupik celebrated having the complete New Testament in their language! The impact was undeniable. Beulah noted: “When I read [at the pulpit] from … the Scriptures in our language, [people] listen — truly listen — and nod their heads. That’s a joy that they’re hearing it in their own language.”
She continued: “… [God] gave us a special language for Him, for His glory.” Reflecting on the promised future in Revelation 7:9, when people from every nation and language will worship around God’s throne, Beulah concluded:
“I want to be up in heaven and praise God in my own language.”
And Beulah knows that she will be.
>> “All for the glory of God” was the Yupik translation team’s theme. If you had to choose a phrase to be the theme of your life, what would it be?
Beulah’s journey from a young student to a Bible translator is a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness through generations.
Watch Beulah share her story and the joy of hearing Scripture in Yupik. →
Rose — Daasanach (Kenya)
Imagine walking down the street and overhearing something that would change your life forever. That’s what happened to a woman named Rose in Kenya.
A voice blared through an audio Bible player inside a home, catching the attention of Rose as she passed by.
She paused, stood near the house and listened intently. The audio player was narrating a story in her language: Daasanach! Curious, Rose went into the home to ask about what she’d heard. The people inside told her the recording was about Jesus Christ. When they explained that He is the Son of God who came to earth as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins, Rose couldn’t believe it. She’d followed her Kenyan community’s traditional religion all her life, and she’d never encountered a story like this before. But she was fascinated.
As days passed, Rose couldn’t stop thinking about Jesus. She went to a Christian relative and asked to learn more. During that discussion, the Lord moved in Rose’s heart, and she placed her faith in Him.
Changing Hearts and Building Relationships
Rose attended church and learned that all people are created in the image of God and are called to love one another. This struck a chord, as the Daasanach and a neighboring community have traditionally seen each other as enemies. But at church, Christians from both groups worship God together peacefully. Rose reflected:
“This message of Christ has changed us. The hatred we had before is fading away, and soon we can become one people.”
Rose is passionate about seeing the gospel shared with all nations. She also wants more audio Bibles to be produced for her people. Most are nonliterate, but Rose believes they would, like her, be touched by a message they can hear in their language.
>> How can you practice reconciliation in your own relationships today?
Tumpe — Tanzanian Sign Language Cluster (Tanzania)
Deaf individuals around the world are often marginalized. And with nearly 400 sign languages in use today but only one complete Bible in sign language, it’s difficult for Deaf people to connect with God’s Word if it isn’t available in a way that resonates with them.
Tumpe (name changed), who is Deaf, knows what it feels like to be ostracized. But she also knows how much God loves her and sought her out — even when she strayed from Him.
“The [Moshi-Arusha Sign Language] translation … helped me change my life by returning me to Jesus,” she signed to the team in Tanzania.
Tumpe learned about Christ in college when a nearby Deaf church shared the gospel with her. Tumpe placed her faith in Jesus and passionately served the church.
When God Makes Himself Known
Tumpe moved back to her hometown after graduating and, unfortunately, lost access to the Deaf Christian community. She tried to stay rooted in her faith, but it was difficult without Scripture and fellowship.
Commitment to Jesus became harder when she started dating a non-Christian man. He often claimed God must not be real because He didn’t restore Tumpe’s hearing. Tumpe found herself drifting away from the Lord. She was desperate to seek Christ again but didn’t know how. She felt ashamed.
So God reached out to her.
One day, Tumpe met Bible translators near her parents’ home, and they shared drafts of translated Scripture with her. Amazed, Tumpe requested more materials on sin and forgiveness.
The sign language Scripture helped her realize that her sins were still forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice. She broke up with her boyfriend and pursued the Lord. Her parents, witnessing her transformation, placed their faith in Jesus!
Tumpe is grateful to the translation team for ministering to her and her family. “Even if I am far away, without a Deaf church,” she expressed, “the [Scripture] DVD you produced is helpful to me in staying strong in faith without fear of falling in the trap of sin.”
>> Think about a time God reached out to you personally, just like He did for Tumpe. What did that feel like?
Nigatuwa — Arat Cluster (Ethiopia)
Bible translation work is difficult. For many translators, it’s something that they volunteer to do, in addition to their family responsibilities and other jobs. But it’s work that has eternal purpose and value.
Still, Nigatuwa felt overwhelmed when she joined the Zay Bible translation team in Ethiopia. She knew the work would be a challenge, but she was willing to accept it. However, after realizing just how nuanced and complex the task was, she wasn’t sure if she could handle it.
“[Bible translation] requires immense care and precision,” she said. “Honestly, I was overwhelmed.”
But Nigatuwa realized the importance of what she and her colleagues were doing. To her, this was more than just a translation; it was the fulfillment of God’s promises for her people and her way of celebrating what He’s done for her.
Earlier in her life, Nigatuwa was told that she didn’t have long to live. And yet she was still alive, serving the Lord. She believed that the translation staff were like Peter and Andrew: ordinary people Jesus called for ministry.
God would use her team to spread His Word among the Zay. So Nigatuwa didn’t give up. She shared:
“Over time, as we continued working diligently, my understanding deepened and so did that of my fellow translators. This brought us immense joy.”
Today, Nigatuwa is able to see the team’s efforts pay off. Because of their determination and willingness to serve the Lord, the Zay community will experience more Scripture in their language!
>> How can you rely on God’s strength to help you persevere in the midst of challenges?
Following God’s Call
As you reflect on the stories of these women transformed by God’s Word who followed where He led them, pause to consider: What, or whom, is God putting on your heart right now?
Around the world, there are millions of people just like Beulah, Rose, Tumpe and Nigatuwa who are longing for the hope and truth of the gospel. You could be part of helping them encounter Scripture in a language and format they understand.
Whether you pray for projects around the world, advocate for Bible translation on your social media or give to ongoing work, you’re helping ensure the Bible goes out to everyone in a way that touches their hearts and changes their lives forever.
