Passing the Baton

     In elementary school we were sometimes asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In high school we were exposed to different occupations and professions and were encouraged to explore some that might interest us. In college we were required to declare a major and a minor. And upon graduation we were seeking how and where we might fill the right position in our field.
     Going back to the elementary-school question, did you ever tell someone you wanted to be a Bible translator/consultant? Did you ever hear anyone give that as a response? Probably not. It wasn’t included on those lists of occupations we received in high school, either. And in college “Bible translator/consultant” was not an offered degree program. Yet, by the grace of God, there are young people in various levels of training who want to become just that.
     Our task at Bibles International would not be complete if we failed to encourage and enlist the next generation to replace us. With more than 4,000 people groups still needing Scripture in their language, our scope would be short-sighted indeed, were we not making a way for the work to continue once we’re gone. We are thankful for ties with Christian universities that allow us to participate in training future translators and consultants.
     As you faithfully pray for BI this quarter, thank God for those who are preparing to run the race in the next phase of the translation ministry. Ask God to prepare the way for what He alone knows about their futures. Ask that in their pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, they will above all seek Christ.

1. Pray for Joel and Sarah Wagner. Joel is working two jobs while pursuing the master’s in Bible translation at Bob Jones University. Sarah cares for their daughter Hannah who was born in January.
2. Pray for Kelly Wyler, raising her support (currently at 20%) and eager to begin working full time with BI.
3. Pray for Debbie King, pursuing a doctorate in linguistics at the University of Texas. Debbie has provided strong linguistic assistance on two BI trips to Myanmar.
4. Pray for the block courses taught by BI staff at Northland Baptist Bible College each year. God continues to use these classes to instruct and direct students.
5. Pray for Alex Wheeler, who has recently felt the Lord’s clear direction to become part of BI. He is currently pursuing an M.Div. degree at Detroit Theological Seminary.
6. Pray for Jill Zwyghuizen, who eagerly looks forward to becoming a translation consultant with BI. She is finishing up a Th.M. degree at Dallas Theological Seminary and will then begin a Ph.D. program in OT studies.
7. Pray for Kim Hibbard. As a recent BMM appointee, Kim’s support level is 18%. She has a master’s degree in Bible translation and is currently on her second BI trip to India.
8. Pray for Anna Beth Wivell, daughter of BMM missionaries to Australia. She has been appointed by BMM and is currently doing some support-raising in Australia.
9. Pray for continued student interest in the Bible translation degrees offered at Bob Jones University.
10. Pray for Liam Muan Kim, a young Burmese man studying at BJU who is interested in being an adjunct consultant for BI’s Myanmar projects.
11. Give thanks for the good progress that was made on the Kaulong New Testament for Papua New Guinea during a checking session in January.
12. Pray for the Hedges family. Their departure for Chad has been delayed due to unrest in the country.
13. Pray for the second annual BI Banquet for the east side of Michigan to be held April 17.
14. Pray for research on possible new projects in Europe, India, Myanmar and the Philippines.
15. Give thanks that in March BMM Missionary Tim Whatley could be at the BI office to format Peru’s Quechua New Testament.
16. Pray for safety for national translators in countries where unrest is prevalent and also for the consultants who travel to these countries regularly.
17. Pray for God’s provision for the support needs of many BI staff members.
18. Pray for BI’s literacy projects in Myanmar, India, and Chad.
19. Give thanks that the Falam Chin New Testament for Myanmar and the Waalii Bible for Ghana are scheduled to print this year.
20. Pray for BI staff and short-term assistants who are working with our India projects in April.
21. Pray for BI’s personnel needs: translation and literacy consultants, linguists, regional representatives, and a manager for the Stewardship Department.
22. Pray for Projects Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, Eric Elmer, as he travels to India in April.
23. Pray for Projects Researcher Elaine Schulte, currently writing a history of Bibles International.
24. Pray that God will continue to provide funds needed for BI’s nearly 40 translation projects.
25. Pray for BI Translator Daniel Telfort, as he begins translating the Old Testament into Creole for the country of Haiti.
26. Pray that God will allow Bibles International India Society to obtain a much-needed tax ID number. Finance and Office Manager Gary Brewer will travel to India in April to assist with the process.
27. Give thanks for all the progress made on our Myanmar projects when a team from BI was there in January – March.
28. Pray that churches will be planted among the Tenek Indians in Mexico and the Kaulong people of Papua New Guinea.
29. Pray for the following projects nearing the formatting and printing stages: Bualkhaw and Zobya (Myanmar), Chiru and Simte (India), and Dagaare (Ghana).
30. Pray that God will continue to provide all of BI’s financial needs.
31. Rejoice with all the people in the world whose first Scripture will be printed in 2008!