via wycliffeassociates.org

Aircraft for Bible Translation Efforts

Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation efforts, is raising funds to purchase a fourth KODIAK aircraft for service in Papua New Guinea, where Bible translation projects are underway for more than 190 language groups.

There are 830 living languages spoken in the nation, which occupies half of the island of New Guinea, east of Indonesia between the South Pacific Ocean and the Coral Sea.

Due to Papua New Guinea’s difficult terrain of mountains and jungles, approximately 80 percent of Bible translators rely on air travel for transportation to and from their remote translation locations. Traveling by land is difficult or even impossible in many areas of Papua New Guinea, which comprises 600 islands. Without an aircraft, it can take up to five days to reach some language groups.

“The KODIAK is a critical tool to reach language groups who are crying out for God’s Word,” says President and CEO Bruce Smith, who is a former missionary pilot. “Insurmountable mountain peaks, dense rainforests, and hard-to-reach islands in Papua New Guinea make sharing the truth and hope of God’s Word time-consuming and extremely difficult.”

Developed by the Idaho-based Quest Aircraft Company with the rigors of the mission field in mind, the KODIAK can take off in under 1,000 feet at full gross weight and climb at more than 1,300 feet per minute. It carries more than three times the load than other planes previously used for mission work and uses jet fuel, which is less expensive and more readily available in Papua New Guinea than avgas.

Wycliffe Associates hopes to by January 31, 2013 to help purchase the new aircraft and has received a matching challenge for the first $42,300 received. Gifts toward the aircraft’s purchase will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

More than 300 language groups in the nation do not yet have a single verse of Scripture. “I see the KODIAK as an incredible opportunity God has given us to pierce the spiritual darkness of Papua New Guinea by accelerating Bible translation,” says Smith.

Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in the language of their heart, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart. The organization partners with nationals, mother tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts, as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God’s Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.

Last year, the organization mobilized 3,103 volunteers and staff members to accelerate Bible translation in 73 countries. Additional information is available at www.wycliffeassociates.org or by calling 1-800-THE WORD (1-800-843-9673).

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TAGS: Wycliffe Associates Bible translation efforts KODIAK aircraft Papua New Guinea language groups crying out raise enough funds waiting to read

[01/16/2013]

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