Poised for Publication—the Falam Chin New Testament

     Myanmar—a land of abundant natural beauty, while also a land of abundant spiritual challenges. Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar is situated on the Bay of Bengal, bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. It is the largest country on the mainland of Southeast Asia. One of its defining characteristics is its long history of Buddhism.
     It is into such a landscape—culturally, geographically, religiously, and socially—that Bibles International entered at the request of Asian nationals and found a crack in the fertile soil in which to plant its translation processes. Since 1986 Bibles International has worked alongside people of Burma, helping them translate Scriptures into their ethnic languages. In spite of severe deprivation following Cyclone Nargis, believers there have a passionate love for the Lord and are eager to pursue the goal toward which they have worked during the past two decades, the goal of having mother-tongue Scriptures in the languages of the people of Burma.

     With a population of about 47 million, more than 100 languages are spoken in this ethnically diverse country. Bibles International is working among seven of those one hundred-plus languages: the Bualkhaw, the Chin Pung, the Falam Chin, the Hakha Chin, the Matu, the Tedim Chin, and the Zotung. Five of these language groups are working toward translating the New Testament. One other language is working on translating the entire Bible into their ethnic language. Together the BI consultants and national translators seek to make the Scriptures in those languages both accurate and understandable for those who will read God’s Word in their mother tongues.
     Within recent years, great efforts have been expended in the area of literacy work in this country. The government is proud of its efforts to increase the literacy rate among adults and encourages work in this area. Bibles International just published a writers’ handbook in the Falam language, the only known writers’ handbook in existence for a minority language. Dr. Connie Champeon and a team of trained volunteers have spent countless hours working toward this goal. Old Testament storybooks have been written by nationals using a model created by Dr. Champeon and her team. These storybooks serve a dual purpose: first, they increase reading and comprehension skills, and secondly, they teach Scriptural truths about Old Testament events and characters not previously known by those who have no Old Testament in their mother tongue. And they have been used effectively in evangelism. They have also served to authenticate the work of Bibles International in this country.
     The Falam Chin New Testament is poised for publication and distribution soon. The Falam people have set a date for the dedication of their New Testament. But Satan has not yet given up his battle. He is doing all he can to thwart the efforts of the people of Burma and Bibles International personnel working together to produce the Falam New Testament. From cyclones to accidents resulting in the loss of fingers, he has unleashed his fury at the possibility that God’s Word might become available to these people who hunger for it in their own language.
     The work must continue. The Falam people desire to have the Old Testament in their language as well. Will you pray a hedge of protection around those involved in this project? As God’s people faithfully pray, our Savior will continue to build His Church in Myanmar and around the world through the use of His Word.
     Almost two hundred years ago, Adoniram Judson answered the Lord’s call to serve in the country of Burma. Now, years later, nationals there are still reaping the benefits of this missionary who suffered so much in order to serve the Lord among the people of Burma. Is it possible that the Lord might be calling you to be involved in this ministry that continues today in spite of harsh circumstances?
Perhaps the Lord would lay it on your heart to become involved in this project through your giving. Would you consider joining with us and our brothers and sisters in Burma by helping to subsidize the cost of their mother-tongue Scripture?
     Is the Lord leading you to commit to regularly praying for the Falam translation project, and for those in Burma and here in the United States who are involved in it? Maybe you would like to contribute a regular gift toward the realization of the goal of having the entire Bible in the mother tongue of Falam Chin believers. Bibles International would be happy to facilitate your involvement in the Falam Chin project so that others might hear and read God’s Word in their own language.