Bible Translators Need You: 10 Reasons to Do Volunteer Work
One really is the loneliest number—at least when it comes to Bible translation. For every translator working to make the Scriptures accessible to a language group without a written Bible, it takes at least three support personnel to fulfill additional roles that are vital to a translator’s productivity.
From bookkeeping to construction to information technology, it takes a variety of skills to assist those who focus on the critical task of Bible translation. Every single skill God has given can be used on the field. Often people think that Bible translators can do everything themselves. But what happens to that Bible translator when his computer dies and he has no idea how to fix it?
This year, Wycliffe Associates plans to mobilize more than 4,800 volunteers to do volunteer work in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, North America, and the Pacific region on assignments ranging from two weeks to three months or more. Their volunteer work will facilitate Bible translation work using skills that include accounting, computer support, construction, hospitality, mechanics, office administration, and teaching.
In addition to the satisfaction of helping Bible translation efforts, Wycliffe Associates volunteers discover other benefits as well. There are 10 reasons potential volunteers should consider when doing volunteer work with Wycliffe Associates:
- Participate in Jesus’ Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations”
- Use valuable skills that translators desperately need to continue their work
- Gain new friends, new opportunities, new perspectives, and new faith
- Encourage and motivate others by example to do volunteer work in the advancement of Bible translation
- Change millions of lives forever, simply because you were willing to use your skills and give your time through volunteer work
- Find new joy, purpose, passion, and peace
- Meet Bible translators and develop lifelong connections
- Move beyond day-to-day activities to become involved in a worldwide effort
- Challenge your family by expanding their worldview and involve them in serving others
- Match your interests, skills, and experience to volunteer work opportunities, from praying to serving either in the U.S. or overseas
When people come back from the field, they are radically different. They pray differently, give differently . . . and they are excited about the worldview that God has expanded in their own mind. Once they begin to see what God is doing around the world, they can’t help but be a different Christian.
Organized in 1967 by friends of Bible translators, Wycliffe Associates contributes more than 560,000 hours of volunteer work each year to help accelerate the work of Bible translation. For more information about volunteer opportunities, click here or call 1-800-THE WORD (1-800-843-9673).
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