We were nearly a month in Charleston. At some point before we arrived I had to figure out a place that I could fly to Toronto to attend board meetings for Wycliffe Bible Translators Canada. Since I am the chair of that board I wanted to be in a place that I could prepare for a time and then fly out.
To fly out with certainty I would need to know about a month in advance where that place might be. Not having done the IWC before, I was really unsure how far we would get. Taking a very conservative approach I settled on Charleston while we were still in the Chesapeake Bay Area. Charleston has an international airport with all the major Airlines in attendance.
Upon arrival as you have already read we did some tourist things and then Val headed to Sask to visit. I spent some time prepping for the Board meeting and doing boat projects. You have already read about Vals time, so here is something about mine.
Wycliffe Bible Translators is part of a family of about 100 organizations around the world that translate the Bible into the “heart language of people”. We work usually with the established local church or other missions organizations.
Translating the scriptures used to take most of the life time of a single missionary. Years ago when missionaries were sent to remote places some were known to pack their belongings into a casket, since that was how they might very possibly return. Today a New Testament translation can be done in 6-10 years and is usually done mostly from national who have been taught how to do good translation work. Beyond translation work is also litercy and scripture use work. Often there are other ministries that spring up like church planting, education, poverty reduction, medical work, etc.
Now I know that some of you reading this blog will object strongly with the concept of bringing a western “religion” to other people groups. That is the philosophy of much of the liberal west today. Even being a christian is becoming increasingly unpopular , suspect and politically incorrect.
I meet more and more so called liberal thinking people who are intolerant of the faith that I profess. That is rather ironic because a true liberal would provide space for many viewpoints. I would like to offer a rather surprising article for skeptics to read. Even if you are not a skeptic commend this to you. I remain a believer in the Son of God and the Salvation that He so freely offers. I have always believed that it has the power to transform lives and communities.
Through our studies as board directors of Wycliffe translators, our President stumbled upon an article that draws an amazing parallel between those politically incorrect (now) conversionary missionaries and the rise of Liberal Democracy. I promise you that this is an interesting read from a very practical point of view. Another good reason to consider the claims of Christ.
Click the link above to read the article.
One of the other significant thing that we did recently at Wycliffe was to sell our building in Toronto and move in with 5 other like minded mission agency’s to be better stewarts of our funds. The additional benefit is the building of relationships with folks engaged in the same mission.
What to see a “Stack of Bibles”?
One of our former Board Members who is now a VP of Wycliffe Canada together with another staff member made this very impressive display of scriptures that have been translated in to languages that can be understood by people in their own mother tongue. #endbiblepoverty
This is no where near all of them. Lots more in the basement.