Chiru New Testament Dedicated for India

by Bob Thompson, Projects Manager

Anticipation had been mounting for days as many from Bibles International and Bibles International India Society (BIIS) arrived at Charoikhulen Baptist Church in northeast India for this special day – the dedication of the Chiru New Testament. Approaching the village, we saw hundreds of people standing on top of a hill awaiting our arrival. A special archway with a banner announcing “Welcome” had been built across the road, and many stood in line to shake our hands as we approached. The raising of a special flag created for the occasion and a dedicatory prayer began the celebration. The day was doubly exciting because the new church building was being dedicated as well. The dedicatory plaque affixed to the building was revealed and read.

Only as we went inside and took our seats on the platform as directed could we see the number who had come for the day. It is estimated that more than 2000 were in attendance. In addition to congregational singing, special music was presented throughout the six-hour service.

The program began with the lighting of a candle, representing the light of God’s Word. Several people key to the project shared accounts about the 14-year process, including National Translator Peter Chiru; BIIS Director Dr. Fame Singh; the Read & Review Committee Chairman; BI Translation Consultant Jonathan Victor, who checked 85 percent of the Chiru New Testament; Dr. Sana Singh, BI Consultant Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific; the Chiru Literature Coordination Committee Chairman; BIIS Translation Consultant Angam Rongmei; Gobin Singh, former BIIS coordinator; and Adjunct BIIS Translation Consultant Suresh Singh.

Shortly after 1 p.m., I preached the message for the day speaking on “The Profitable Word of God” from II Timothy 3:16, 17. Doug Crawford, pastor of West Cannon Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was called to the microphone to officially dedicate the New Testament to the glory of God, after which he presented Peter Chiru with the first copy. It was a moment of great rejoicing.

Dr. Connie Champeon, BI Chief Literacy Consultant, presented another important book, the first Chiru dictionary. Translator Chiru had prepared it using word lists created during the translation process. It, too, will be of great assistance to the Chiru people.

The congregation was then invited outside for the unveiling of the commemorative obelisk. The monument was created for the purpose of reminding all Chiru people of the dedication of their New Testament. The service resumed in the church auditorium, where a special offering was taken for the startup of the Chiru Old Testament translation project.

One speaker paid tribute to T. D. Zampi, a former Chiru translator not in attendance:

Today, January 29, the day of the first Chiru New Testament dedication, is also the day when Rev. (late) T. D. Zampi, left us for heavenly abode way back in 1999 January 29 at Salt Lake [Calcutta]. He fell down from a rickshaw which was hit by a car while he was on his way to work with Rev. Jonathan Victor.  Immediately following the accident, his painless sleep denied him to experience pain and torment anymore.

Both the 14-year translation project and the dedication ceremony were most adequately summed up by Translator Peter Chiru:

Without exaggeration, it is by the mercy of God alone that the success of this project lies. It is not me, not the Chirus, and not even Bibles International. It is God alone who surpasses human weaknesses and makes us strong and faithful to the job assigned to us. To Him be all the glory!