"Bible translation into the mother tongue has opened the way for the worldwide Christian renewal and for diverse cultural expressions"
Lamin Sanneh (in Whose Religion is Christianity?)

The African continent has struggled through colonialism to independence. African nations are seeking to work through the political and economic challenges of that experience. Settlements in Africa vary greatly, from rural villages to cities that exhibit Western and Middle Eastern influence. Geography varies from savanna to desert to tropical rainforests; from the snowy heights of Mount Kilimanjaro to the Great Rift Valley to the riverbeds of the Nile. Africa’s people are as diverse as the landscape. They are nomadic camel herders, computer network specialists, subsistence farmers and seminary professors.

Africa is the world’s second-largest continent in size and population. Home to one-seventh of the world’s population, Africa contains 20 percent of the earth’s land (more than 30 million sq. km) and more than 30,000 km of coastline. Africa is home to thirty percent of the world’s languages. More than 800 language groups have translation needs. Seven hundred are in the heart of Africa--in Nigeria and francophone Africa. This means that Africa has the second-greatest Bible translation need in the world.

Mother-tongue Scriptures are crucial in Africa so that the church can continue to grow and thrive. The church in Africa grew from 10 million in 1900 to 360 million in 2000 and it is still growing. Since 1965, the Christian population of Africa has grown from about 25% to about 46% of the total population.

With the growth of the church has come a growing vision for evangelism and discipleship. There is also a growing awareness of the need for mother-tongue Scriptures. The church faces many challenges from other major religions, the continuing power of traditional beliefs and practices, and syncretism of Christianity with these. Pseudo-Christian cults also abound; believers need good teaching to stand firm in the truth and be able to identify error.

In partnership with Wycliffe and other organizations, the African Church is taking on a high level of responsibility for Bible translation, language development work, literacy, discipleship and evangelism. The church is also working to address community development needs, the HIV/AIDS crisis, justice, health and education.

Africa has a rich heritage in the Word and in the translation of the Word. The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew to Greek in Egypt between the third and first centuries B.C. By the third and fourth centuries A.D., there were complete Bible translations in both the Coptic language of Egypt and the Ethiopic of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox churches are among the oldest churches in the world, dating back to the fourth century A.D. Today there is a continuing spiritual hunger as, echoing the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8, many ask, “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?” Today, many Africans are still waiting and are working toward the day when they will all have God’s Word in the languages they understand best.

Opportunities abound for Africans and people from all around the world to work together in meeting the remaining Bible translation needs in Africa. Right now, Wycliffe is looking for more than 700 workers to join nearly 1,000 already working there in partnership with thousands more who want God’s Word to be available for all peoples. Together they can work to further engage and mobilize the African church. There are needs for language personnel to teach and train in linguistic and translation degree programs and workshops and for people who can help manage projects and participate in teams that manage project funds and report to donors. There are needs for computer specialists and communications professionals.

Accelerating Bible translation in Africa also requires increased funding. Finances must be raised to pay for Bible translation projects, for administrative efforts to manage the work, for jobs like IT development and for equipment needs.

Above all else there is a need for prayer on behalf of Africa. Pray that the church in Africa will connect its growth with an understanding of the need to participate in Bible translation. Pray that God will raise up champions for the cause of Scripture translation and use in every African nation. Please also pray for peace and open doors across the continent.