Former Terrorists Now Translating Bibles

By Chris Woodward  (OneNewsNow.com)

Bible translation is underway in areas hostile to Christianity and Westerners, but the real story may be the people doing the translation work.   Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates, tells OneNewsNow about Scriptures for New Frontiers.

“In this particular case, we’re talking about translation in the Middle East and other hostile areas to Christianity,” he explains. “Actually there are some incredibly exciting things happening, where first-generation believers are really risking their lives to bring God’s Word to their own language groups and communities and have reached out to us to help them in that process.”

Smith goes on to share that some of the people in the national translation teams are former members of well-known terrorist organizations, whose objectives were to expose and eliminate Christians.

“Paul’s testimony is one that’s actually quite similar to many of the testimonies of the guys that are now doing Bible translation,” the CEO compares. “So what was possible and even miraculous back in the first century is still happening today.”

When it comes to missions, it has been said that all can pray, many can pay and some can go. In this case, Smith says it is difficult for the people who are not from these hostile areas to go and serve.

“But that leaves at least two ways that we can help these teams,” he notes. “The first way is by praying for them. As former terrorists, the people who are still terrorists know who they are and certainly don’t see them as allies to their cause. The other thing that people can do to help would be to support this financially in their stewardship.”

Wycliffe is providing technical and other resources, and the organization is looking to raise about $204,000 to help fund the effort.