The Impact of Truth

When you have lived your entire life in a culture that values truth, it is hard to imagine anything different. Sure, we are disappointed by the tide of dishonesty that seems to be rising around us, but we really have no idea what it would be like to live in a culture of deceit. I remember the first time I ever learned of people living this way. Peace Child, by Don Richardson, was first published the year I graduated from high school. It is the story of the Sawi people of Indonesia, for whom deceit was the highest virtue. As a young adult, I was shocked there was an isolated group of people living this way.

I lived in this naiveté for several more years, until I began traveling to other countries. I soon learned that deceit was not an isolated phenomenon, but a common reality for most people. This reality impacts people socially, economically, politically, and of course, religiously. The unmistakable contrast to this reality is in the places biblical truth has reached.

It can be easy for us to forget that truth doesn’t merely change our thinking—it changes our lives. For people whose lives have been overwhelmed by deceit, this transformation is obvious. In this issue of eInvolved!, you can read about this impact for the Sursurunga people of New Ireland. You will also enjoy reading about the completion of the translation center in Mongu, Zambia. With God’s help and your support, this center has the potential to impact up to 800,000 Zambian lives.

The eternal impact of your partnership in Bible translation cannot be minimized. It is helping to put Truth within the reach and understanding of more people than at any other time in history. Thank you for your commitment!

Prayerfully,
Bruce Smith
President/CEO
Wycliffe Associates