Pray for Gamo

On June 10, 2012, the Gamo people arrived by the thousands at Chencha Town Square.  Before and during the communist regime in Ethiopia, many Gamo Christians were brought to this square to be beaten, tortured, and martyred for their faith in Jesus. On this day, however, they had come to celebrate the launch of the New Testament in their language.  Pray that the Gamo will have "spiritual wisdom and insight so that [they] might grow in [their] knowledge of God" (Ephesians 1:17) as they read His Word in their language.

Seventy-eight years after the arrival of the first missionaries, three communities in Ethiopia finally have the New Testament in their own languages.  The Gamo, Gofa, and Dawro New Testaments were launched in June 2012. In 1996, translation began in all three languages under the Luke Partnership programme. In 2003, Word for the World Ethiopia began translating the remaining books of the New Testament. Translation of the Old Testament is ongoing in all three languages. The translation teams anticipate that the full Bible will be available by 2016.  Several organizations are partnering together in the various aspects of these projects: translation, literacy, and Scripture use. 

ETHIOPIA cluster—GAMO, GOFA, and DAWRO languages; Ethiopia; 1,236,000. The New Testament is being printed; pray for no delays in this process and that they will be able to celebrate their New Testament in 2012 or 2013. In the meantime, work continues on the Old Testament. The team is writing portions and checking them with mother-tongue speakers; pray that they would continue to get good feedback. Keep praying that local people will become fluent readers of their languages. Pray that mother-tongue literacy programs will be started so this can be a reality. www.theseedcompany.org