By Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife.
U.S.-based Bible translation group Wycliffe Associates (WA) is rushing to train and shelter indigenous Bible translators from areas controlled by Islamic militants, after at least four of its workers were killed in the Middle East, BosNewsLife established Sunday, April 17.
WA said a Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation (MAST) training session will be held in 40 languages for Bible translators “who live in regions where Christians are specifically targeted for persecution and even death.”
Besides MAST workshops, the ‘Wycliffe Associates Scriptures for New Frontiers Fund’ provides shelter, meals and other support as well as “computer tablets with software and other technology and equipment” for translators working in hostile regions, WA explained.
The gatherings in a “secure location” come shortly after WA confirmed that four of its co-workers were killed last month by suspected Islamic militants in an unidentified nation in the Middle East. “Militants killed four national translators and injured several others in a raid on a translation office in the Middle East,” said Mae Greenleaf, WA’s prayer coordinator.
“They shot and destroyed all the equipment in the office including the Print On Demand equipment,” Greenleaf added. “The invaders burned all the books and other translation materials in the office. Two workers died of gunshot wounds; two other workers laid on top of the lead translator—saved his life—and died deflecting bludgeoning blows from the radicals’ spent weapons.”
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I am glad to see that Wycliffe Associates are taking the Islamic threat seriously. I have put them at the top of my pastoral prayer list.