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Tesfaye’s SojournPower of the BegatsEncounters of the Divine Kind

Celebrating the Greatest Gift!

seedlinksGod’s Word For Every Language —In This Generation!

W o r d s f r o m R o y

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Cover: Gamo woman worships God during the New Testament dedication ceremony.

All Scripture quoted is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Rita and I love this season. We are so very thankful for so much — and we’re especially grateful for you and your heart to help national translators bring God’s Word to their people for the first time.

There is no greater gift than the gift of knowing Jesus and His Word.

The Apostle John speaks of the magnificence of this Gift in John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV).

Think of it. God chose a humble couple from the obscure town of Bethlehem to deliver His most precious Gift. Their act of simple obedience would impact countless lives for all eternity. Misunderstood by many, rejected by some, and ousted to the stable … Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus into their home and into their culture, and changed the entire world.

Today, as national men and women who come from such humble places translate Scripture into their own language, they too are “birthing” Jesus — the Word — into their culture.

Every time heart language Scripture comes to a people group — it’s Christmas! Christ is born and the announcement of His birth rings anew.

Recently, the Gamo celebrated having the New Testament in their language for the very first time. Though these Ethiopian people had heard stories about the Savior in the national language, the truth of God’s Word remained locked away until Tesfaye and others began translating Scripture into their language. Then these stories came alive, and the Word came to dwell among them! Gamo people traveled from far and wide to celebrate that God is one of them — that He speaks their language.

In this SeedLinks, you’ll read about Tesfaye’s long and difficult journey of faith. This 71-year-old man’s tenacity in the face of ostracism, criticism and persecution was a catalyst for bringing transformation among his people through Bible translation.

Because of your partnership, hundreds of men and women like Tesfaye are bringing Jesus to their people for the first time. Rita and I thank God for you, and we “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Serving together,

No Greater Gift

Every time heart

language Scripture comes

to a people group —

it’s Christmas!

R o y L . P e t e r s o n | P r e s i d e n tFollow Roy on @RoyLPeterson

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» Watch more of Patty Liu’s story at seedlinks.org.

Patty Liu: A Family LegacyTranslated Scripture Transforms Generations

“The most important thing is for

people to know that God speaks

their language, that He knows

them, that He loves them and that

He can communicate with them

on a personal level.”

— Patty Liu, Seed Company Ambassador

Four generations ago, a young Chinese man risked his reputation and his future when he left the polytheistic religious tradition of his extended family and embraced Jesus Christ. He made this watershed deci-sion after a church worker introduced him to the Bible in Cantonese, his mother tongue. When the time came, he sent his son to a mission school so he too would follow the Savior.

Today, Patty Liu is the third generation of Christians in her family, and her niece and nephew are the fourth. She is quick to share how Bible translation has made a pivotal difference in the lives of her family, and how it continues to shape their future.

“Many people, including East Asians, work hard to do good,” Patty said, “but don’t always understand that hard work is not a substitute for faith.

Work is a gift from God, and it is a part of being a good steward of the things He has given us. The joy of the Lord overcomes the hard striving to ‘work your way’ to Heaven.”

Communicating this joy is one of the reasons for her desire to become an Ambassador for the Seed Company.

“The Seed Company has a unique and accelerated way of reaching … many different peoples, so that they too may have a newfound joy in living this life and a hope for the future in Jesus Christ.”

Patty speaks from the vantage point of her own family’s experience when she meets with friends and colleagues to share about the transformative power of Bible translation and invite them to partner with The Seed Company.

“The most important thing is for people to know that God speaks their

language, that He knows them, that He loves them and that He can communi-cate with them on a personal level.”

Taking a stand for Christ and sharing their Christian faith through Bible translation has become a legacy in Patty’s family. The work of Bible translation “encourages others to know Him, His Word and His Spirit.

“I have seen so many lives permanently changed by knowing Scripture,” Patty said, “and I am encouraged by others growing and maturing in the love of our Lord.” x

To find out more about The Seed Company Ambassador Program, call 855-543-7333.

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The sea of celebrants came in singing, from every point on the compass. Soon more than 10,000 people were crowding into a small field in Ch’ench’a, Ethiopia, for the dedica-tion of the Gamo New Testament. Tesfaye, at 71, the senior member of the Bible translation team, watched the gathering with mounting joy.

A generation ago, while under arrest, he’d been brought to this very field by the Communist authorities on his way to prison with other Ethiopian believers. The dedication ceremony brought full circle his sojourn, along with that of many others of his people.

Tears of happiness glisten on many faces today. Some people dance, their hands in the air; others clap and sing

as church choirs dressed in brightly colored regalia lead each congregation into the field. Some have walked many miles. All are praising God.

Tesfaye marvels at how far his people have come. Not just in the distances they’ve traveled for this event, but from the years of oppression and spirit worship that defined their past.

“The Gamo people are like others in Southern Ethiopia,” Tesfaye said. “Before we knew about God, they worshipped the trees, mountains, rivers and people — and offered the blood of lambs and sheep to Satan. This [translation] is what we were waiting for.”

First Book Printed in GamoIn front of a carefully constructed stage stand two posts hosting a luxuriant purple ribbon to be cut in honor of this day. In nearby boxes and on a display table rest the “Prize”: Printed New Testaments ready for distribution.

Tesfaye watches as history unfolds. “The Holy Bible,” he noted, “is the very first book published in Gamo.”

Tesfaye came to Ch’ench’a at age 10 to attend the local mission school. He became a believer at that time, and his faith continued to grow. At the school he learned both Amharic and English. Later, he became a teacher and taught for 16 years atthe Ch’ench’a school.

During the Communist regime, which lasted from the mid-1970s until the early 1990s, the school was shuttered, along with many churches.

‘The people know it is God’s Book. Now … they will understand everything.’ — Tesfaye, Gamo translator

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Left: Gamobelievers worship God as they receive their New Testament.

Inset (far left): Tesfaye.

» Share the joy of the Gamo people during this day of celebration! Watchthe video at seedlinks.org.

‘The people know it is God’s Book. Now … they will understand everything.’ — Tesfaye, Gamo translator

Tesfaye doesn’t talk much about the two years he spent in prison.

“Under the Communists, we could not preach or even mention God’s name,” he recalled. “You had to just do that in your heart. We didn’t have churches, but we had many groups meeting at night in people’s homes.”

When the Communist government collapsed, church attendance mush-roomed. Though another major religion is common in parts of Ethiopia, the country is governed in a democratic federation and regional political leaders are supportive of the populations in their own region. This region, the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) region, includes many Christians.

Today, government officials are seated on the podium along with church leaders from various denominations.

All will deliver messages of congra-tulations to the Gamo. After the speeches and the ribbon cutting, the New Testaments sell out quickly.

“The people know it is God’s Book,” Tesfaye explains. Before this transla-tion, people heard the Bible read in Amharic, but “until we translated it they could not understand it. Now — they will understand everything.”

Old Testament Translation Already Underway

Similar celebrations took place this same week for the Gofa and Dawro peoples, also in the SNNP. Combined, the populations make up close to 1.3 million people.

In 2005, the Gamo received the “JESUS” film, and hundreds of people heard the Gospel of Luke in their own language at that time. Many accepted

Jesus then, and many visualized the difference God’s Word in their own language could make. Today, they came en masse.

With a bright smile, Tesfaye reflects on the ceremony.

“We didn’t expect this many people to come,” he said. “This is beyond our imagination.”

What is not beyond the imagination of Tesfaye and the Ethiopian transla-tion teams is the completion of the Old Testament in all three languages. The project, which overlaps the New Testament work, began in 2009.It is already well underway. x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Morgan was stunned

as the people asked

to hear the genealogy

again … and again.

Many people accepted

Christ that day.

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Morgan Jackson is a story-teller. He’s a good storyteller. He knows people’s lives depend on it. Morgan’s radical Christian heritage began when his father came to Christ. His dad, Jerry, loved the Lord, and after reading a book about living by faith, he became passionate about sharing the Good News.

Eventually, Jerry and Annette Jackson loaded up their four kids in a 1955 converted school bus and struck out to tell others about Jesus. The family set up at campsites, in towns, hippie communities and Indian reservations to share God’s Word and testimonies of faith.

While preaching at a Hopi Indian res-ervation, Jerry and Annette discovered a roomful of beautiful, unused Hopi Bibles still in boxes. It dawned on them

that the Hopi were an oral culture. The Jacksons’ vision expanded as they realized, “These people need to hear the Gospel!”

The Jacksons’ ministry began to take shape as Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), based on Romans 10:17. Today, four decades later, Morgan knows firsthand how lives are being transformed across Africa, in the Middle East, throughout India and the remote corners of the

Earth as mother tongue Scripture is proclaimed in audio format. Since The Seed Company’s founding in 1993, the two ministries have worked in tandem to translate the Scriptures, record them in dramatized format, and then start Bible listening groups, making God’s Word accessible to all people.

“Without translation, there is no story,” Morgan said. “We cannot record the Scriptures until they’re translated. And we must work fast! People are dying while they wait to hear God’s Word in their language.”

God Speaks KonkombaMorgan remembered the early years when he took recorded Scripture to the Konkomba in Ghana. “I asked one man if the village wanted to hear God’s

Power of the BEGATSA R a d i c a l H e r i t a g e

Above: Listening groups gather around Proclaimers, an audio listening device developed by FCBH, to hear God’s Word.

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» Read a powerful testimony of how a Proclaimer changed one woman’s life at seedlinks.org.

Word in his mother tongue. He said, ‘No, no. God doesn’t speak Konkomba.’

“Then I set up a Proclaimer audio Bible and pushed play. The man’s eyes widened. He grabbed a gongo (piece of metal) and rushed through the village … bam, bam, bam! Soon the entire village sat under the trees ready to listen.”

Morgan pushed “play” again. The genealogy of Jesus rolled out in their language. “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethen ...” (Matthew 1:2, KJV). The crowd was riveted. When the story stopped 45 minutes later, they roared, “God speaks Konk-omba! He’s from among us! We don’t need a translator to talk for God.”

Morgan was stunned as the people asked to hear the genealogy again … and again. Many people accepted Christ that day. As Morgan traveled to other villages, the same thing hap-pened. “I learned that in oral cultures, people cannot separate themselves from a story. When they hear drama-tized Scripture in their heart language, they literally enter into the story. It’s as real for them as if they were there.

“I also learned that unlike America where importance is measured by wealth, education and achievement — in other cultures, it’s all about heritage.”

In other words, they want to hear your “begats.”

Listen Up to the Lineup

One man from Zimbabwe explained it to Morgan. “I am from a very important tribe and family … I am the firstborn of my father, who is the firstborn of his father, who is the firstborn …” the man said. “Our tradition has nothing to do with wealth or education. Your only right to speak has to do with your genealogy. In our culture, during a tribal event, women come out before us dancing and singing about our fathers and grandfathers. The long line of heritage lets everyone know that somebody of great importance has come, and they should listen!”

This man also said the longest lineages they had heard go back 14 generations. When they hear Jesus’ lineage, which goes back more than 40 generations — it’s the greatest genealogy they’ve ever heard. “This must be God!” they say.

Then, as people continue to listen to His Word, “Their worldview is shredded

when they hear statements like, ‘Blessed are the poor … Blessed are those who mourn … Blessed are the meek … the merciful ….’ Jesus speaks wisdom beyond reason that pierces their hearts,” Morgan said.

A Worthy Message

Like his father, Morgan Jackson is a man of radical faith. As Christ-followers, we too are a people of radical faith, hope and love. Together we’re working to tell His Story to those still waiting to hear. Our Message is worthy to be heard and understood — our lineage goes way back. We’re inviting people around the world to get to know our heavenly Father … and become part of the family of God. x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Unlike America where importance is measured by wealth, education and achievement — in other cultures, it’s all about heritage.”

— Morgan Jackson, International Director, Faith Comes By Hearing

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The congregation was overcome with joy. Last Christmas, for the first time ever, collective voices were raised in adoration to the newborn King, in Enula — their heart language!

Enula believers, like many of us, celebrate Christmas with a special church service featuring singing, drama, and Scripture reading. In Enula, the Christmas season arrived with a surprising blessing: 40 Enula college students, from three different villages, who were eager to plan the service from start to festive finish! Church members were not sure what to expect.

During the celebration, worship-pers could hardly believe their ears as the students sang six original songs, all in Enula.

Because Enula believers had been worshipping in a second

language for years, these songs were an unexpected gift, made even more special by the holiday initiative of the Enula young people.

The students’ inspirational gift unlocked a deeper understanding of the Savior’s birth that echoed in Enula hearts long after the last note was sung. The future even took on a new luster that day. Church members agreed these special Christmas songs are a treasure and will be performed every Christmas.“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” — 1 Peter 4:10 x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .» Find out more about the Enula project at seedlinks.org.

An Unexpected Gift in EnulaCHRISTMAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA | 17,200 Enula speakers

“Many ... changes took place

in my life. I was now a free

person — a Christian! Now

I could pray on my own.

Now I could read the Bible

alone. I loved the church

more than I had before.”

— Mongu speaker

B i b l e Tr a n s l a t i o n I s Dis c i p l e sh ip

Christmas holds a place of high regard in the hearts of the Maya people of eastern Nigeria. Despite their limited resources and no matter the distance — inside the country or out — family members try to make it home for Christmas.

Last year, people also traveled from surrounding Maya villages to a Christmas service organized by the translation team. The Holy Spirit filled the atmosphere as Luke 2 was read — in Maya. Then, the youth presented a dramatized Christmas story. Mary rode in on a real donkey to the inn where Jesus was to be born. Hearing the Good

News of Christ’s birth proclaimed by the angels sparked a spirit of evangelism among the people.

After the service, people lined up to buy the available translated Maya Scriptures. And, several fami-lies came forward to offer support for the translation project.

Now, many Maya people are already preparing for their trek home to see loved ones this Christ-mas. Together they will celebrate the Savior’s birth … and hear procla-mation of the Good News in the language of their heart.

In Eastern Nigeria — There’s No Place Like Home for Christmas!

CHRISTMAS IN NIGERIA — AFRICA | 50,000 Maya speakers

Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. — Luke 2:14 x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .»Find out more about becoming a partner in the Maya project at seedlinks.org.

G O D’ S W O R D C H A N G I N G L I V E S —

A R O U N D O U R W O R L D

Blog.theseedcompany.org is filled with more stories about the ways God is changing lives here and abroad. Add your experiences and your ideas now … and share them with others!

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seemed more vivid, and the sounds of praise echoed louder and richer than in years past. Why? The trans-lation team had made Christmas music available in Amarasi for the local Christmas services.

“The congregations were really proud and happy to use their own language in the Christmas liturgy for the first time,” said translator Roni Bani. “All glory to God as the people fully understood and were able to express gratitude on a much deeper level,” he said.

Imagine attending a worship service in a language you don’t under-stand. For the Amarasi, this has been their reality for years, though 99 per-cent of the community is Christian. Excited to celebrate the wonder of Jesus’ birth, they had only been able to worship distantly in the national language of this island country.

This Christmas was differ- rent — the glistening lights shone a little brighter, the colors of the season

Hear Them Sing!CHRISTMAS IN TIMOR — SOUTHEAST ASIA | 80,000 Amarasi speakers

Motivated Children Memorize ScriptureCHRISTMAS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA — PACIFIC | 500 Fanamaket speakers

Recently, Fanamaket translatorspicked out 10 newly translated verses from the Gospel of John and sent them to the children’s Sunday school class in a local New Ireland church. It was the first time anyone in this congregation had seen Scriptures in their own language! And it proved to be an interesting starting place.

The translators included instruc-tions for the children to memorize the verses, and sent pencils, crayons and bookmarks to the teachers to use as prizes. The translators hoped the exercise would not only assist the children with their reading lessons, but stimulate discussion of Scripture in the church as well.

The children welcomed the chal-lenge enthusiastically. After just one Sunday school class, most had memorized all 10 verses!

The church has planned a huge feast to celebrate the children’s accomplishment. Now, as the children discuss these verses with their parents, they too look forward to receiving more of God’s Word in Fanamaket.

“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” — 3 John 1:4. x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .» See how you can help the team bring the New Testament to the people of New Ireland at seedlinks.org.

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of hisname! Tell the world how glorious he is. — Psalm 66:1-2 x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .» Find out more about the Amarasi project at seedlinks.org.

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T H I S S H A L L B E A

Imagine just for a moment that you can’t hear — not the birdsong in the morning, not the laugh of a child in a swing, not the rain-drum on a porch at night. Now imagine that the only thing you know about God is what someone else communicates to you through Sign Language — and they don’t have Scripture in the language you understand.

That’s the reality for millions of Deaf people around the world. Sign Language differs from country to country, or even region to region. This artistic form of communicating is as unique as people themselves.

Translators go through a lively, dramatic and complex process to craft exquisite, clear verses of God’s Word. What a thrill it was for Kenyan translator George to celebrate Christmas last year in his hometown and to share passages he had learned while working on the Kenyan Sign Language Translators’ Notes.

George, who is Deaf, works for D.O.O.R. International (Deaf Opportunity OutReach),* an organization that trains Deaf Christian leaders and translates God’s Word into

D e a f R e s p o n d t o B i b l e S t o r y t e l l i n g

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» Help reach Deaf populations worldwide with God’s Word. Contact seedlinks.org.

Sign Languages by Continent

• Africa – 19%

• Americas – 21%

• Asia – 26%

• Europe – 31%

• Oceania – 3%

the Sign Languages of various countries as a necessary

step toward Deaf church planting. He also works with

the Deaf community, so he was particularly eager to

share Bible stories with his friends at Christmastime.

An Unexpected GiftOn Christmas Eve, he invited some Deaf friends to an

overnight celebration at his home. As they enjoyed their

time together, George shared some of what he’d learned

at the DOOR Bible Translation and Training Center, as he

studied how to teach God’s Word to the Deaf. He shared

Bible stories on a DVD that was produced at the center,

which stimulated a lively discussion in Sign Language.

George taught his Deaf friends techniques for sharing

the stories themselves.

That Christmas Eve was very special, George said later.

“There arose a deep desire and a craving for God’s Word

in their hearts.”

“We kept sharing this Bible portion,” George said. It was the

story of Adam and Eve. When it came time for George

to go back to his job in the city, his friends wanted him

to stay longer and teach them more from God’s Word.

He was deeply touched by how moved his friends were

as they were able to understand God’s Word.

George received a lovely Christmas gift — the eagerness

of his friends for more Scripture. And like the shepherds

outside Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born,

George’s friends now have a “Story” they can’t wait to

share with others. x

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

*DOOR is a Seed Company partner.

“There arose a deep desire and a craving for God’s Word in their hearts.”

DOOR staff and their counterparts at SIL note that surveying the world Sign Languages is incomplete. Both suggest that more than 250 distinct Sign Languages may be in need of Bible translation, though some of these may be closely related.

* Ethnologue, 2007.

** Survey is still needed. Some estimates are much higher.

But that’s just the start. There may be more than

250 Sign Languages**

131 Sign Languages

Worldwide*

Our partner SIL has documented

8 Sign Languages

DOOR is currentlytranslating in Africa, the Americas and Asia in

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POWER Encounters of the Divine Kind

When the man awoke the next morning … there in his hand were those same pages he had burned the night before!

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» Today, you can partner with Bible translators like Ibrahim, Fahim and Ayush. Visit seedlinks.org to find out more.

“I have a divine Book with me,” began Ibrahim,* “and I want to read it for you and let you tell me how it seems, and what is hard or easy [to understand].”

That day Ibrahim, along with other translators from the Sward translation project, went out into local communities to test the Gospel of Luke. When Ibrahim spotted goat herders at work, he took off through the field to speak with them.

Ibrahim sat down and read Scripture passages to the shepherds. Before long, they all were listening. “Please record this for me so I can listen daily,” said one man who left the group and brought back a recorder for Ibrahim to use. Ibrahim read into it as long as he could.

Finally, he stood to say his farewells. As he turned toward home, the man with the recorder was weeping. He told Ibrahim he wanted to “come closer to this faith I am hearing.” Ibrahim hopes to see the man again soon when he has more heart language Scripture to share.

God Moves in Extraordinary Ways

The Sward Bible translation is part of a “cluster project,” an innovative approach to Bible translation in which as few as two, and as many as 15 or more languages with similar dialects are grouped together. This type of regional participation enables the Gospel to spread at a rapid pace. In the Vista Views Cluster, nationals from the Sward, Boulder and Forest languages tackle the task of translating Scripture together.

These translators live in a region where Christians are commonly persecuted and imprisoned. They must listen for the Lord’s guidance in all they do. They often see God move in extraordinary ways as the Message they carry confronts oppression.

Worth the Price of Obedience

One day, Ayush, from the Boulder translation team, traveled into the far reaches of his language area with translated Scripture passages neatly tucked away in his bag. After about eight hours of travel, he stopped to share Bible passages and receive feedback from people in one village. Then he felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to get on a specific bus. Ayush obeyed.

As the bus lurched into action, so did Ayush. He began reading the draft of Genesis aloud. People quieted so they could hear him. Some liked it. Others commented that it was easy to understand. And a handful of people invited Ayush to get off the bus with them in their village, which he did.

Ayush discovered that no Christ-followers lived in this village — not even one. He went home with his newfound friends. He read to them a long time as they discussed the clarity of the Scripture passages. When Ayush finally got up to leave for home, they asked him to come back soon.

“Why do you want to learn more of this?” Ayush asked.

They said they felt a “deep impression, beyond words” when they heard passages from the Book. Both men and women also noted that “satanic feelings” were quiet during this time.

Well-worth the price of obedience, Ayush thought.

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Meanwhile, Fahim, with the Vista Views’ Forest trans-lation team, set out to test passages from Genesis in yet another region. When one man in the village overheard Fahim reading Scripture, he became disruptive and antagonistic. Fahim responded to the man in kindness. He gave the man several printed passages from Genesis — a gift the man promptly threw into the fire.

When the man awoke the next morning … there in his hand were those same pages he had thrown into the fire the night before! He stared at them, and began to read. God had his attention now. The man wanted to read more passages, so he swallowed his pride and tracked down Fahim.

Vista Views translators discovered that when people in rural, non-evangelized villages in this region hear Scripture in their language for the first time — miracu-lous, unexpected, unexplainable events often occur

that change lives forever! x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

* Because of the sensitivity of this area, pseudonyms have been used for all names.

Donna Schmitt and Nelson Jenkins of Hope Church in Dubuque, Iowa facilitate the VBS “penny drive,” collecting more than $500 for the Rewe people of Tanzania.

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Creative Ways to Engage Others3

in Bible Translation

Get Engaged!Do you have a passion for God’s Word? Are you looking for a way to get involved?

1. Pennies From HeavenThe Summer Bible Day Camp at Hope

Church in Dubuque, Iowa got a little more than they bargained for — pennies from Heaven!

During the past two summers, a friendly competition ramped up between the boys and girls to see who could bring in the most pennies for Bible translation through The Seed Company’s OneVerse program.

This year, two 5-gallon buckets labeled “Boys” and “Girls” hung from a balance scale using two-by-fours. Each morning the children arrived eager to tip the scale in their favor with pennies they had collected.

The children sponsored 108 Scripture verses with

1,241 lbs. of pennies!

Their enthusiasm spilled over into Hope’s growing congregation. Before long, the pitched-in pennies split the wooden scale and broke the bucket handles. Larger buckets were brought in. Friday, the girls contributed 275 pounds of pennies in one day — and won!

Hope’s day camp has been a big hit. Children heard the Gospel clearly presented

2. Team OneVerse Heads for the Finish Line

Allison Martin, a middle-school English teacher and marathon runner in Indiana, is a creative OneVerse partner who figured out how to use her passion for running to help Bible translators and have fun with her friends at the same time.

In 2009, when Allison learned about The Seed Company’s OneVerse program, she was sure she could enlist help from other runners. She talked to The Seed Company about the idea, and Team OneVerse was launched. Now, under Allison’s leadership, 15 runners and one church team have helped Team OneVerse raise nearly $17,500 for Bible translation, one verse at a time.

You don’t have to live in Indiana to be part of Team OneVerse. You can enter a marathon anywhere. It’s the same finish line: God’s Word in every language in this generation!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » Find out more about Team OneVerseat seedlinks.org.

while learning about Bible poverty through the GoFish Vacation Bible School program and OneVerse Missions Module.

The kids have sponsored a total of 108 Scripture verses with 1,241 lbs. of pennies over the past two years.

“The world is a big place — where do you start if you’re trying to make a difference?” said Darrell Cloud, executive pastor of Hope Church. “Partnering with OneVerse gives the kids at Summer Bible Day Camp a biblical, practical and inspirational answer to this question.”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » Check out OneVerse Missions Modules for your VBS program at seedlinks.org.

Allison Martin races for Bible translation.

Nine gallons of green slime, and Blake Kersey is still smiling!

3. Children’s Pastors Get Green-Slimed for Bible Translation

For Thomas, 12, and the children’s ministry at First Baptist Church Trussville in Alabama, Bible translation has become a top priority.

“[People groups] wouldn’t have as good of a life as people who have the Bible, because they couldn’t find out that some-body loves them and that somebody cares for them,” Thomas observed.

When the children had an option to support Bible translation as opposed to other worthy causes during the church’s VBS program, they didn’t hesitate. “The kids said, ‘It’s one thing not to have food, or not to have water, but if you don’t have the Word of God, none of that matters,’” Blake Kersey, FBC children’s pastor, said.

The children recently raised enough money to fund the Book of Ruth and the Gospel of Luke for the Akina people in Brazil. In fact, they’ve funded translation efforts for nine books of the Bible since 2008.

“Over the last four or five years it’s been about $20,000 from the children’s ministry,” Blake said.

Blake recently had a contest to see which team — the boys or the girls — would bring in the most funds for Bible translation. The prize? Covering Blake and children’s minister, Jonathan Freeman, in up to 9 gallons of slime, the same green sticky substance used on Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare” show.

Nearly 1,000 people showed up to witness the fun, slimy event and hear about the need for God’s Word throughout the world.

“Through the efforts of these kids … they’ve changed a church that is now focused on Bible translation.” Blake said.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » For information on how your church or children’s ministry can get involved with Bible translation, go to seedlinks.org or call (866) 663-8377.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” — James 1:17 (NIV)

Give the Perfect Gift!It’s almost Christmas. You’re looking for the perfect gift. You want to bless your loved ones with something unique. Something long-remembered.

That was God’s thinking too! His greatest expression of love was sending Jesus, our Savior, to Earth.

Express your love for God’s Word and your loved ones by sponsoring a verse of Scripture in their honor. They will be blessed! And a people group will receive God’s Word in the language they understand best. Gift-a-Verse for $26!

It’s simple to do. • Visit oneverse.org/gift or call 1-866-ONEVERSE (663-8377).

• Select a people group you’d like to help.

• Choose from a beautiful selection of cards.

• A verse of Scripture translated in their honor will be included in the card!

• Your card(s) will be mailed out to you by December 14 if you order by noon, December 7.

Make this a Christmas to remember for eternity!

‘Peace on Earth’

A B O U T U S

V i s i o n : God’s Word transforming lives in every language in this generation.

M i s s i o n : To accelerate Scripture translation and impact for people without God’s Word through Great Commission partnerships.

C o r e Va l u e s : • Honoring God in all we do. • Valuing individuals and relationships. • Partnering effectively. • Encouraging creativity and innovation. • Managing for quality results.

Our Commitment to You: We commit to always maintain the highest ethical and financial standards. The Seed Company is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and complies fully with their rules for Christian ministries.

3030 Matlock Road, Suite 104Arlington, Texas 76015-2934Toll free 877-593-7333Fax 817-557-2393

theseedcompany.org

A Wycliffe Bible Translators affiliate

S O U T H E A S T A S I A

Speakers: 133,700 in Tagasa Cluster

Project goal: Old TestamentProject start: 2012Est. completion: 2023

E ve r y Pe r f e c t G i f t

My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father’s ability to give, which is far beyond what we could ever ask. — John Henry Jowett

God is a giver. He offers us the most costly gift — life through His Son — for all eternity. Promises in His Word shout His generosity. Each promise is a gift of God’s love, given by One who delights in sharing His goodness.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (NIV). Let us rejoice as God’s ultimate gift of salvation reaches the nations!

In South Asia, Rumba speakers have for years worshiped a large nearby mountain, where they gather each winter for a great celebration. Recently, in answer to the prayers of the translation team, a baby was born to translators Bojan and Maruthi. Years earlier they lost their daughter to an early death. Bojan opened his heart to Bible translation after reading the Gospel of Mark in Rumba. Even before their new baby boy was born this year, the couple committed their lives, and his, to teaching their people that Jesus, not the mountain, is Lord.

Please join us in praying for:

• Progress in the work of the Rumba team on the audio translation of the Gospel of Mark.

• Creative ways to engage with young people worldwide to love God’s Word and partner in the work of Bible translation.

• Supernatural empowerment, peace, and wellbeing for translation partners on the ground everywhere they serve, and everywhere they are needed.

Joyfully,

L a u r a G i s h | Manager of Prayer

Ethnic tensions erupted here following a government resettlement program several years ago. Though mistrust continues in the wider society, this four-language translation team works in unity to complete the Old Testament. They need your help as a prayer partner so their people may know the “Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6

Call 866-663-8377, or visit theseedcompany.org/sl/pray to support this team in prayer.