Spring Cleaning April - June 2010

Spring is that blessed season that replaces winter’s dormancy with new life and beauty. On the not-so-rosy side, another word associated with spring is cleaning. Not just surface cleaning, but deep, thorough cleaning that may even involve the attic.

BI has been doing some spring cleaning of sorts. BI’s researcher is putting her talents to good use as she prepares to write an extensive history of Bibles International. File drawers not accustomed to the light of day have been searched; interviews of key players have been conducted; notebooks on each of our projects, past and present, have been dusted off and studied; stories long forgotten have surfaced under our researcher’s pointed inquisition. And though the whole story has yet to be written, we’re already discovering some amazing things, all of which point to an amazing, sovereign God.

People who were instrumental in starting BI confess that they knew nothing of what it took to establish and maintain such an organization. Translation consultants speak of faux pas made in their early years of relating to nationals.

Those responsible for raising funds readily admit that fund raising had much more to do with God’s provision than it did with their own efforts. Truly, it has not been by might nor by power, but by God’s Spirit that BI will soon have carried out 30 years of translation, literacy, and publishing services.

1. Give thanks for inspiring ceremonies of dedication held for the Falam Chin NT (Myanmar) and the Chiru NT (India). Pray that God’s Word will have widespread distribution and effective use under the authority of the Holy Spirit.
2. Pray for Jérémie, the language helper for Field Translator Joshua Hedges in Chad. He recently dislocated his leg in a bicycle accident.
3. Pray for good progress to be made on the Dagaare New Testament during a two-week workshop in June.
4. Give thanks that Kim Hibbard is now living and working in India and Myanmar as a full-time BI translation consultant.
5. Pray that those who remain in support-raising mode will soon be full time in their positions at BI.
6. Pray for God’s provision of funds for the BI ministry. Contributions in 2010 have markedly decreased.
7. Pray for BI Researcher Elaine Schulte as she writes an extensive history of Bibles International. It is a monumental task.
8. Pray for Text Editor Don Block as he formats the concordance for the Simte NT for India.
9. Give thanks for the literacy materials that have been produced for India and Myanmar in recent months, as well as the progress that has been made on our Scripture projects for those two countries.
10. Pray for Haiti – the wounded, the grieving, the homeless, the believers, the unbelievers, the leaders. Pray that the Creole NT will be used in Haiti for such a time as this.
11. Pray that God will raise up more laborers in this harvest. The median age of BI personnel continues to rise.
12. Pray for preparations taking place for the annual BI consultant seminar to be held in July.
13. Pray for those in the Stewardship Department as they seek to plan meaningful opportunities and events to honor God in BI’s upcoming 30^th year.
14. Give thanks that Manipuri Bible for India is ready for formatting.
15. Pray for those in the Projects Department as they plan schedules, arrange workshops, and research potential new projects.
16. Pray for Hantz Bernard, BI’s director, and for his administrative assistant, Judy Brinks. Strategic planning, decision-making, and scheduling are only part of their heavy workload.
17. Pray for those involved in updating BI’s literature and keeping the BI website current.
18. Pray for the lost in every nation.
19. Pray for Daniel Telfort, translator for the Creole OT in Haiti. His working environment has changed immensely. Pray that his productivity will not.
20. Give thanks for the good progress that was made on the Sango Bible revision for Central African Republic in February.
21. Pray for God’s Spirit to continue to motivate and direct our national translators. Pray that the Word will be ever alive to them and that their task will not be tedious.
22. Give thanks and pray for Becky Kooiman, as she competently handles BI’s accounting department.
23. Pray for the national committees providing direction for each of our translation projects. Pray that God will give them clarity, wisdom, and unity in their decisions.
24. Pray for BI retirees: Henry Osborn, Fred and Maxine Carlson, Paul and Genella Versluis, Clarissa Barton. Several have chronic and/or acute medical conditions.
25. Pray for the families of BI staff worldwide. From caring for young children to caring for aging parents, family needs impact the productivity of BI personnel. Some have left family behind as they live overseas, which further complicates situations.
26. Give thanks for safe travels. In a world where terrorist activity exists, God’s protection is not something to be taken for granted.
27. Pray for U.S. churches. Their strength forms the foundation for missionary endeavors. Pray that God will revive our congregations.
28. Pray that in all of our ways we will acknowledge God, trusting Him to direct our paths.
29. Pray for those in BI’s Text Production Department who handle God’s Word on a daily basis, making it as accurate as possible in other languages Pray for the startup of revising the Tagalog New Testament for the Philippines.
30. Pray for the salvation of world leaders.
31. Pray for the Waalii Bible dedication in Ghana scheduled for May 22.