The Challenge...

In my last post I talked about the need for audio scripture among the 60%+ of the world's population that are oral learners. Today I want to present some of the challenges faced in bringing them the Word in their own heart languages. 

According to ethnologue.com their are 7106 known spoken languages in the world today. Of those their are roughly 1919 languages with not even a single verse of scripture translated. Of the roughly 513 languages with a full Bible translations available only around 120 have been recorded into audio and there are only around 650 languages NT recordings available. Obviously translation is a great need, but the task is not a simple one or a quick one. 

To translate a full Bible can take roughly 12 yrs, but that is not including the time it take for a translator to be trained or the time it takes for the translator to learn the language and culture which can easily double the initial time frame. But what do you do in the meantime to disciple and evangelize? One solution that Davar is working with various translation agencies such as Wycliffe Bible Translators is called Bible 3-6-5. Basically it is 365 chronological Bible stories(one for each day of the year) showing the complete scope of Scripture. As the stories are directly taken from Scripture it allows Bible translators to continue working towards the overall goal of a complete Bible while providing intermediate resources to local ministry workers and believers for use in discipleship and evangelism. Also it can be broken down further for expediency(i.e. you could begin with 30 stories that pertain to the salvation message). 

Regardless of how you choose to break it down, a complete Bible 365 can be translated in roughly 2 yrs. For this reason, Davar is pursuing Bible 365 as a legitimate way to promote quicker access to the Word among the Bible-less oral peoples of the world. Will you be praying that the Lord would grant favor to Davar as we seek to champion this new tool! 

 

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