NOTES: Connect the thumb drive to the computer and run the PowerPoint presentation from this device. o Do not copy the presentation onto the computer because this could break the video links that are attached to the presentation. Sound is connected to videos within the PowerPoint presentation. o Be sure you are connected to the sound system at the venue. Please let us know each venue this presentation is given. o This will help us understand who has been reached with this information. It will also avoid the uncomfortable circumstance of duplicating the presentation to the same audience. GOD S AMBASSADORS WITH AFRICA PRESENTATION (Timed talk and full presentation 30 minutes) 1 In the spring of 2015, a group of Bible League Volunteers traveled to Uganda and Tanzania for two specific purposes: 1) to participate in the dedication of the newly completed easy-to-read Swahili translation of The Life of Jesus Christ, a compilation of the four Gospels in chronological order, and 2) to research the Volunteer s fundraising focus of Africa ministry. 2 - Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share about being God s Ambassadors With Africa and how together we can change lives in Africa with the gift of God s Word. The harvest in Africa is plentiful. Daily, millions of Africans face the harsh realities of abject poverty, deadly diseases, corrupt leaders, and violent terrorists. Many have simply given up hope. They succumb to the lure of drugs, alcohol, and crime. However, amidst the hopelessness stands believers, local churches rising up. They are taking the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout Africa. And Bible League International is committed to go the distance with them. 3 But, we cannot do this alone, and pray that the Lord of the harvest will send more laborers. With your help, Bible League International serves the under-resourced Church globally through the provision of Bibles, biblical resources, and training to transform lives worldwide through God's Word. 4 This is done through the provision of God s Word in an easy to understand language and three Project Philip Ministry programs. Bible League International s Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) Bible translations are written in everyday language, making God s Word understandable at a 3 rd grade reading level. This is important for new readers and those unfamiliar with the Bible. Without clarity and understanding, the Bible remains a closed book. The Scriptures must be a bridge, not a barrier. Unless a person can read Greek or Hebrew, everyone is reading someone s translation. And there are too many who can t find a readable Bible to learn the Gospel of salvation. Today about 200 million people, in almost 1,800 languages, still don t have a Bible in their native language. And many more have limited access to translations of the Bible that are too difficult to understand. 5 Bible League International is not here to compete with other ministries, but to compliment. Wycliffe is a large organization who works in the smallest languages in the world. Bible League International is a small organization who is working on the largest languages of the world. Pastor Samuel Kabwana [Ka-BWAH-na] is our partner in Uganda. He says, The easy-to-read version is the best. It is self-explanatory, simple, and clear. Having read the Bible for many years, I have read a lot of translations. ERV has become my best Bible, and I carry it wherever I move. There is no need for explanation. I love it. I am very selective, but I recommend it to all people around here. When Jesus came, he came like ERV because philosophers could not understand. We speak to be understood. So ERV is the best Bible today. He doesn't want his Word to be complicated. 1
6 Pastor Samuel shared a story. He said, Many years ago, I would help make sure pastors and church leaders got Bibles. I would buy 12 Bibles at a time and put them on my bicycle so I could deliver them up north and sell them at cost. I could only afford 12 Bibles But today, we are giving out thousands of Bibles not only here, but in my entire country! When I met up with Bible League International, instead of purchasing 12 Bibles, I received 700 Bibles for my people; it was a great day! 7 Watsema Skovia [WAT-see-mah SKO-vee-ah] was asked, how will you use this book with others? She said she will use it the way it is written and she quoted John 3:16 in her Swahili language. If you don't believe in Him, you can be eternally condemned. Don t you want people to understand the Bible? The Bible should help others find out what Christ did for them. 8 - In 40 years of creating easy-to-read translations, we have completed 32 New Testaments, 23 Bibles, and 12 are in progress. Bible League International s program of translation begins with the Gospel of John. If you notice, the Gospel of Mark is a wonderful Gospel, but it does not have a story about how Jesus was born. You have to go to Luke or Matthew for that story. And Matthew and Luke don t talk about Jesus before he was born, you have to go to John for that story. John begins with creation and evangelism. The Gospel of John emphasizes the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Jesus refers to God, the Father, over 100 times. There is a generation of fatherlessness all over the world. And John is especially useful to reach the people who need to know God as Father. Jesus says if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. (John 14:9) 9 Choir Video 0:51 10 For Africa, the Bible is being translated into an easy to read Swahili version. The Gospel of John is complete and has been field tested. The Life of Jesus Christ (the four gospels in chronological order) is finished, and the New Testament is expected to be completed in 2016. Work is also ongoing for French and Portuguese easy-to-read versions. Programs cannot develop without an understandable translation in place. 11 - Swahili started out as a trade language along the coast with Arabs. Now it has been recognized by the African union. All official documents along with English and French are in Swahili. The language is spoken in Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Brunei, Kenya, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Notice the scope of this area in relation to the size of the United States! 12 - The East African Union will use Swahili as one of the official languages in written and media communication. It will be a unifying language for East Africans. Bible League International is here to serve the Church. This translation is done by and for Swahili speakers. Bible League International doesn't want to only provide a Bible -- it must also be surrounded by programs for the Church that are translated in Swahili. 13 The Swahili translation was commissioned in Shinyanga [Shin-YAWN-gah], Tanzania by Wycliffe through George Mwita [MWEE-ta]. Bishop Zacharia and his church commissioned George in 2008 to begin this translation. World Bible Translation Center connected with Wycliffe, and now Bible League International is coming into that journey. When people first became engaged with the Gospel of John, they were asked to participate for impact. The first engaging relationship is field testing. In 13 months, 6,300 copies were field tested in Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. 2
14 The Bishop said, Asante Sana [ah-saun-tay SAH-nah], (which means thank you very much ). First I would like to thank God because of you, for your ministry is very important to us. We have been in this work together, but we are the beneficiaries because you are not Swahili language users. The church is very happy. We read in the book of Acts 8 about Philip and the Eunuch. He went away happy, and Philip sent that person to his country on fire. So when we can read and understand the Bible, we will have the same exact result, because they will be enabled to understand the truth. 15 - The Life of Jesus Christ dedication day fell on Palm Sunday. The head of Bible League International s translation team, Brian McLemore, was honored to preach from John 12:12-15 where Jesus enters Jerusalem like a King. Brian then cut the ribbon on the wrapped Swahili easy-to-read translation of the Life of Jesus Christ and held it up in worship and glory to God while the audience erupted with shouts of joy. 16 A message was read to the Volunteers as honored guests with thanks and a welcome to bring more projects and programs. A copy was given to them on behalf of the Bishop and the Free Pentecostal Church of Tanzania in Shinyanga [Shin-YAWN-gah]. 17 Dedication Video 2:21 18 - The heart of Bible League International s global strategy is Project Philip Bible studies that train local church members in evangelism and discipleship. Project Philip provides a personal connection between a trained 'Philip' (based on the story of Acts 8), who clearly explains the need for salvation through Jesus Christ and a life of holiness, sharing new faith, and becoming part of a local church. Through Project Philip training, adults and children discover new faith through the Gospel, grow spiritually, and build the local church throughout the world. 19 Bible League Volunteers met Douglas who is a small boy that is sponsored by a children s organization called Asante [ah-saun-tay]. The children get breakfast, sing, play games, and have Bible study using Bible League International s children s Project Philip booklet and the children s New Testaments. They study in groups of four or five children but there are only enough New Testaments for one per group, so a different child takes the New Testament home each week. Parents tell us how their life has changed because of what the children learn. They have some Christian families and some from other religions that participate. One Muslim father was introduced to Christ and now he is born again and preaching Christ in his village! Doreen is the leader of this group and says, We don't have enough Bibles for them. In my center of 300 children, there are only 56 Bibles. The ERV translation is very easy for kids to understand. So they always understand everything you teach. We use the Bibles with the pictures. The kids always ask, Is that Jesus, is He looking at me? 20 Pastor Robert has been working as a volunteer in the Kampala School for the Handicapped since 1999. There are 40 teachers and non-teaching staff and 161 children. He shared, This is one of the best schools in Uganda because it meets the needs of physically and mentally handicapped. We have used the children s Project Philip program with small groups and leaders. We call these children hidden because parents want to hide them due to their handicaps. The children are sent home with answers and skills because of this program. These angelic children called the Volunteers angels for coming. 21 Prayer video - 58 seconds. 3
22 Spirito is the pastor of a church in Uganda called Bulyankuyege [bull-yawn-coo-ee-gee]. The name of the church means where they eat ants. He spoke to the Volunteers. We thank God for your coming. Truly you have done us well. And as always, you continue doing even when we have not been together physically. We are thankful because Bible League International has helped us so much. These Bible study groups help in different ways. We share together the Word. Those who know, continue to build others who do not know. We get that fellowship, and we invite non-believers to come. We share together. They also get convinced and turn their life over to Jesus. He shares the Gospel during Sunday services, but with the Project Philip Bible studies, people learn so much more from God s Word. There is a great impact! Pastor Spirito says, Thank you for your endeavors. Truly even the Bibles you send to us help so much. Many people could not afford to buy a Bible. This enables many to have a Bible. 23 In places where there are no local churches, and for growing churches eager to share the Gospel with those who have never heard of the gift of salvation, we provide resources and Church Planter Training. Bible League International helps train and encourage students who are eager to show God's love, in remote areas and the world's busiest cities, so they can teach others and care for the spiritual needs of their communities. Local believers become church planters by providing Project Philip training as they spread the Gospel in their own country. They are motivated, mobile, and equipped to share the Gospel, grow the church, and disciple new believers. 24 Peter was brought up in a very poor Christian family setting. He said, Initially, my perception was that planting churches was meant for top church leaders, but Church Planter Training has opened my eyes I was chosen and commissioned by God to go out and bear fruit that will last. In his youth, his parents were never formally employed paid work opportunities were few and far between. However, as you would expect, the Lord sustained them. He now lives with his wife in a northern coastal town in Kenya. It is a predominantly Christian town, but is witness to violent religious and neighboring country conflict. Peter is leading a young church of 20 members that he planted in the course of his 18-month long Church Planter Training. My new life is passionately geared toward winning souls for Christ God continues to use me. 25 An important part of sharing God's Word is literacy. But many who desperately need the message of the Gospel struggle with reading, especially in impoverished regions of the world. The Literacy program teaches reading and writing skills using Bible-based text. As adults and children learn to read and write, their eyes are opened to the truth of God's Word. Bible-based Literacy has a powerful influence, with both social and spiritual value. Lives are transformed through learning and trusting the Gospel, and new opportunities for evangelism arise naturally from the excitement of learning to read God's Word. Literacy raises educational levels and living standards throughout communities. 26 Bible League Volunteers arrived to singing and a warm reception marching them into the Kafunjo [Kuh- FOON-jo] Full Gospel Church in Uganda. On that day, 30 graduated from Literacy training. The women of the church did a musical presentation in Swahili, We are walking in the light, we have waited for years, thank you for coming. 27 - Walking In the Light music video - 35 seconds. 28 Pastor Samuel shared that in 2007, the government of Uganda launched a literacy program but it has been declining ever since. It was supposed to run in 100 districts and their budget money cannot be traced. The success ratio from Bible League Uganda in the last two years has outnumbered those going through the government program since inception. He said, It is for our benefit, because people can read the Bible and can write. 4
29 Joy is a bubbly and happy lady who is zealous and excited to finally be able to write her name all by herself. She said, The teacher actually held my hand to help me learn to write my name. 30 Bible League Volunteers saw a billboard in town that said, A child born to a mother who can read, has a 50% better chance of survival. They attended two classes that are occurring at the Bible League Uganda office. There, only 4 out of the 40 literacy students are employed. The teachers are volunteers and travel great distances to meet with students twice a week. Some teachers also provide life skills. 31 Josephine shares, I came here to study English. My parents died when I was six years old. She had to stop going to school because no one could pay for her education. She said, One day my child wrote a school report, but I could not read it....now I can speak English well. I am also able to read. Thank you teachers and Bible League International. 32 Susan, a new believer, had a Muslim background through marriage, then turned to Christ through the program. I learned about Jesus in this class, Susan said as she smiled. With her background, she had never gone to school so she came here and started to learn how to write. She cannot be with her husband anymore because of her new faith. They have separated, and she now lives with her seven year old daughter, and three year old son. She needs your prayers so she can grow strong in Christ. 33 Martin Luther says, Because someone has the gift of languages and understands them that does not enable him to turn one into the other and to translate well. Translating is a special grace and gift of God. Pastor George sincerely said, We are seeing results of your efforts. We encourage you to continue to help us and support Scripture development in Africa. The adage, the church in Africa is one foot deep, and one mile wide, will vanish because people will have Scriptures and learn them in their heart. Their depth and Christian maturing will grow deeper, and you can continue to see progress. Pastor Righton was literally right on! What is the best way to relate to the call of God? It's the Bible. It is Him talking to people. With the Swahili Bible, we are going to change millions of lives. God is calling all of us. We need to say, yes, Lord. Do what you can with what you have, and do it now! 34 Asante Sana [ah-saun-tay SAH-nah]. Here are a few thank you s from recipients of God s Word: We love that person and pray for that person to live longer. I thank that person and ask God to double the blessing for that person. I pray that God would move all obstacles. I thank him or her for his generosity. Because giving to the person who they don t know is a wonderful thing. This is why we do what we do! 35 Video - Dancing after Scripture dedication 1:55 36 Asante Sana! 5