Brian and Helen in Vermont

Brian and Helen moved to Vermont. We are now serving the entire world as consultants with Wycliffe Bible Translators and partner organizations.




Isnag Full Bible Dedication - November '23

We help others to translate hundreds of New Testaments around the world but wish we could do more. Our limited resources get in the way.  But the Isnag of the Philippines wanted more... they wanted the whole Bible.  Key Isnag leaders and the community worked tirelessly to finish this work, and now we celebrate a whole Bible with them.  Come see the joy of God's Word available to the Isnag...  a dream come true.  (5:28 min)

 

Isnag Language Dedication

Vernacular Literacy Programs - August '23

See the results of an experimental program to advance vernacular literacy and education in the remotest parts of Papua New Guinea. Most villages don't have electricity and they certainly do not have a useful library of educational materials until...   See what Education for Life has accomplished, and watch children excited about coming to school.   (4:57 min)

Education for Life Initiative

Gwahatike: Discipleship First - March '23

In Papua New Guinea, successful Bible translation is best built on a foundation of God-centred relationships. Translation advisor Nafian Saremo of Madang Province, shares a story demonstrating the importance of discipleship on the way to engaging in a translation project in the Gwahatike language, facilitated by translation advisors from Korea. (2:55 min)

 

Nafian's Testimony

Bible Translation is Accelerating - December '22

The exciting news is that there are more active Bible Translation projects than ever before. These projects encounter many one-time funding obstacles that generous donors, world-over, have contributed to overcome.  View this video short   (1:31 min) and if you're excited too, consider a gift donation here:  Worldwide Project Fund

 

Faster Than Before

Ukarumpa, PNG by Air - November '22

Our neighborhood in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea where we lived and worked for over 30 years.  One take-off shot is practically in our backyard with our old house clearly visible. The Kassam Pass is shown as well, with its lumbering cargo trucks slowly winding down the pass.  These are all classic sights for PNG!   (3:51 min)

 

Aerial Drone Footage

Hope Through Bible Translation - October '22

Imagine reading the Bible in the language you learned in high school.  Could you understand the complex concepts?  Or would you get frustrated and give up?   So many people around the world, don't have any Scripture in a language they can clearly understand.  Wycliffe’s mission is to serve with the global body of Christ to advance Bible translation so people can encounter God through his Word.  (1:18 min)

 

Hope Through BT

Who Is SIL? - August '22

Confused about SIL?  This a partner organization whereby many of Wycliffe's goals are reached.  The executive Director, Dr. Michel Kenmogne from Cameroon, explains the necessity for well developed language tools and resources to exist before a community can flourish, and how SIL partners with others to make this a reality.  No one should be held back from thriving due to their language situation.  (2:52 min)

Who Is SIL?

In Their Own Words - July '22

The Indonesian Translation team for the Manado Malay people found out that God's Word in their language had the power to not only transform their people, but also themselves.  See the testimonies of what it was like to be on this very special team, in Indonesia, and the impact of God's Word.  (6:03 min)

 

Their Own Words

Why Bible Translation is Important - June '22

Wycliffe UK tells the story of the impact of a finished translation for the Lugwere People of Uganda.  As the video spans the rest of the world, we hear from Ibrahim who says: "People have the right to know what God says. How will my people know that God loves them if they  do not have the message in their language?"
(4:58 min)

 

Why Important

Christafari: More Than You Know - May '22

Many years ago, the band Christafari came to the Aiyura Valley in PNG and ministered for days to the PNGans, singing the Gospel message.  Here's a very nice music video, that actually features scenes of where we lived in the Highlands.  Very cool.  Indeed they are "Loved, Beyond What You Know" in many parts of Papua New Guinea - even today.  Enjoy  and be inspired!  (6:28 min)

Christafari: More Than You Know

Eighty Years of Bible Translation - April '22

For more than 80 years, Wycliffe has been passionate about helping people access Scripture in a language and format that speaks to their heart. Isaiah 55:11 reminds us that God is transforming lives through his Word: “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (NLT)  Helen and Brian count it a privilege to be part of the world-wide team that makes this happen. (0:57 min)

 

Celebrate 80 years

The Name of Jesus Around the World - Mar '22

Brian sometimes works with the Writing Systems Technology group of WBT/SIL.  Here's a lovely video short showing the vast creativity of language groups as they express "Jesus" in their unique language. Part of the technical challenge we face is creating software systems that will allow these very same writing systems to display onto all type of computers, and all mobile platforms in the world.  Enjoy!  (3:32 min)

 

Jesus Around the World

Talking Books in Papua New Guinea - Feb '22

Papua New Guinea's many languages have a profound literacy problem.  Millions of children in language communities cannot read or write their own language.  See how Education for Life is using SIL's Bloom software on tablets and mobile phones to revolutionize literacy development and assist teachers in rural schools.  Books that "talk" can teach reading skills in the vernacular, and there is a huge free-to-download library for previously made stories.  There is also a program for solar-powered class-room equipment, since most of the country does not have electrical power.  (1:11 min)

 

Talking Books at Bauka School

The Long Trek to Gizrra - January '22

Celebrate with the Gizrra people!  "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14.  Translators Elly and Nico van Bodegraven share their 27 year journey that leads to the final dedication of the New Testament.  A short video.  (4:57 min)

God's Word in Gizrra, PNG

What Do You Take for Granted - December '21

What do we take for granted in our modern world?  There's plenty of food for most of us in the West.  Entertainment is at our finger-tips?  Clean water to drink?  Reasonable health services?  And we can read our Bibles.  But what about others?  For millions the Word of God is something to hear about only;  a mere "blank page book".  See how Christians around thee world are teaming up to be the solution .

What is Wycliffe About?

American Sign Language Bible - November '21

Now, after years of dedicated work, Deaf Americans can experience all of God’s Word in a language and format they clearly under-stand.  This historic accomplishment was celebrated with a gathering of Deaf believers in Nebraska on Sept. 11, 2021 as part of a Deaf Missions conference. Join the jubilee and discover how the ASLV is already transforming lives in the Deaf community.

Celebrate the ASLV Bible

Language Development? What? - October '21

Some people take language development for granted, but not everyone.  The Buli People in Ghana struggled to get the attention of their government for educational assistance because their language didn't even have a dictionary.  With a dictionary now your language has prestige.  So how do people even start down this process?  Let's see what the Rapid Word Collection Method is all about.  (7:54 min)

The Buli Experience

Starlink and Bible Translation - September '21

 

Learn about promising experiments with Space-X's  new Starlink communications technology which can augment Bible Translation.  Christians in their country can gain access to a wealth of Paratext Bible Resources and directly communicate with translation consultants found anywhere in the world.  Many parts of the world have no Internet access at all, regardless of the cost. This barrier is about to fall in far away places.

Reaching for the Stars

Exotic Travels Refresh Souls - August '21

Getting God’s Word to the nations does have its perks!  If you can't join us, then enjoy this brief helicopter trip from Nubogeta village to Vivigani airstrip near Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea.  Bible translation projects often necessitate travel by air, as there are no interconnecting roads, and not even regular maritime transportation.  But the views are spectacular.  Pilot: Gavin Jones

 

Trip to Vivigani Airstrip

Engaging with Translated Scriptures - July '21

God’s Word changes our lives when we engage with it. That’s why Scripture engagement is such a critical part of the Bible translation process — translation teams get to help local speakers dig into their newly-translated Scriptures.  The Ambonese Malay Bible translation team in Indonesia is excited about engaging the local community with Scripture. It's all part of having access to the Word of God - hearing His voice.

Scripture Engagement

Shine: The Gospel in Baka - June '21

The Gospel comes to the youngest nation on earth.  The translators in one region endured many hardships including displacement and civil war, but persevered after 30 years.  The Lord protected and led the way.  Celebrate with us on the completion of the Baka language New Testament.

Shine - The Baka Story

Ministry to Deaf Communities - May '21

Wycliffe ministries extend to deaf communities around the world and in various ways.  This very cool video is about the Woman Caught in Adultery account found in John 8:1-11.  Even those of us who can "hear"  should take this in.  It's amazing what these actors have done.

Uncondemned   by Deaf Ministries

Easter Celebrations Around the World - April '21

Does the church around the world celebrate Easter the same way as in the Americas?  Definitely not.  Jump to this Blog article to read about the many church traditions surrounding Easter celebrations in the far corners of our world.  It's the same Christ Who has risen!

 

How the World Celebrates

How Many Languages Are There? - March 2021

If you wanted to know the latest count of languages in the world, where would you go?  Why SIL's Ethnologue of course.  But actually counting the number of languages is extremely difficult, if not impossible.  This brief linguistic video explains the difficult realities in pin-pointing an exact number, and why it changes.

 

The Complexity of Language

Japanese Sign Language Project - February 2021

Did you know that Wycliffe has significant work in the world's sign-languages as well.  Join the Japanese signing team, as they attempt to translate the entire Bible into one of the smallest of minority groups inside of Japan.

 

Every Sign Points to God

God's Word to Their Hearts - Kenya - Jan. 2021

Reverend Peter Munguti of Bible Translation & Literacy of East Africa (BTL) said, “I am seeing God moving in a very marvelous and wonderful way. People are reading God’s Word. I can see great transformation in some of those communities.”  Touching the hearts of those in Kenya! 

 

God's Word to Their Hearts

Tigaak Village Recording for Video - Dec. 2020

Once upon a time we actually stayed on a remote island in Tigaak country.  This video shows a national team creating the audio segments for dubbing character voices in the Jesus Film.

 

Tigaak Recording Studio in the Village

The Dream of a Virus Free World - Nov. 2020

Join us with this incredibly moving video about what we all pray and hope happens in the very near  future.  This one reminds us of what we all long for.....

 

What We Dream About....

The Impact of Prayer, Indonesia - September 2020

Take a short trip to Indonesia and hear how the Indonesian Bible Society is partnering with some many organizations to advance the work of Bible Translation in their country.  Technology is part of the mix of solutions for Kingdom Work.

 

The Impact of Prayer

A Vast Crowd - August 2020

A short Wycliffe video about what it's all about:  God's Word transforming lives around the world.  Helen and I are blessed with membership with a world-wide, multi-national team, that helps (in our small ways) to make a world-wide impact.

 

A Vast Crowd

Why Google Can't Translate the Bible

We all know about Google Translate, and if you have used it recently, it's not too bad at translating a foreign web-site in a majority language, like Spanish, or Bulgarian, where you don't really know that language.  But behind the scenes are billions of tiny details collected by Google for that particular language:  It's lexical items, words, grammar, spelling, and idiomatic expressions. There are frankly millions of existing web-pages to do a language structural analysis.

 

But what happens with a minority language?  Like any of the ones you would encounter in Papua New Guinea?  There isn't a vast body of written text in that language to analyze.  In fact, beyond a few literacy primers, health books and a soon-to-be-completed New Testament, these works might be the only written text for the given language.  But there are other reasons this is difficult.  Consider these:   5 Reasons Why Google Can’t Translate the Bible


Helen

Helen continues in her role as a physician, offering services as a medical consultant.  She works on medical policies for Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL (our partner organization).    In normal times, she also returns to Papua New Guinea yearly  for training of medical practitioners and for consultations, mostly in the area of pediatrics.  (Pre-COVID


Brian

Brian has taken on a new Communications position under SIL's (our partner organization) Language Technology group.  Specialized software tools in Bible Translation and Literacy Work, need representation to various other non-profit organizations in the world.  Often these tools are freely available to all, yet many do not know about their existence.  He will also help with mobilization efforts to attract college age graduates by sharing the excellent opportunities to advance God's Kingdom through applied software technology in the computer sciences.


Together

Meanwhile there is ample opportunity to serve our community in beloved Jericho Vermont, where we live.  And we are delighted to fully participate in our home church,  Jericho Congregational.  We presently co-labor with others on the JCC Missions committee serving 18 other mission organizations at this time.




Other News:

Nurse Megan Reed shares how she got involved with Wycliffe Bible Translators

 

Our beloved "Daughter" in the Lord.   Dr. Helen had the privilege of working along-side this beautiful lady at our Papua New Guinea clinic.  Today, she and a dozen others are trying to get back to PNG, but are stuck back in America due to COVID travel restrictions.  Pray for patience.

 

Here's Megan's delightful testimony of how she got involved in Bible Translation as a nurse.  < Video >   Please pray that Megan, like so many other young ones, could somehow return to the field at this difficult travel time. Often expensive flight arrangements are canceled and then canceled again.

 

If the Lord is somehow prompting you to consider supporting Megan further, then visit her blog-spot  <Megan and the Master, Purpose Asia>

We can assure you, that you will be blessed getting to know her.

Wycliffe Public Statistics for 2020-2021:

  • At least 1.5 billion people do not have the full Bible in their language.
  • At least 7,000 languages are spoken or signed around the world.
  • At least 2,000 languages still need a Bible translation started.
  • Work is being done in more than 2,700 languages worldwide
    and over 2,100 of these projects involve Wycliffe Global Alliance partners.

Number of languages waiting for Bible translation by regions of the world.

Americas: 119
Europe: 61
Asia: 839
Africa: 597
Pacific: 403
TOTAL = 2,014

Source: Wycliffe Global Alliance, October 2020.