Bali-Mba

SnapshotYou can support a small number of dedicated Mba and

Bali Christians who have renounced traditional occult practices and are living as ambassadors of Christ in their communities! The gospel has yet to pierce the core beliefs of the local culture.

Valverde, a pastor, says, “Since I was analyzing the Word of God in the translation [process], I was able to preach really well, so that people could really understand. And because of that, the church started to grow.”

Believers in both language communities are eager to have the entire Bible, or at least the New Testament, translated into their mother tongue. Your support will enable them to build strong Christian communities, overcome poverty with literacy, and preserve their rich culture for future generations.

Quick Facts Potential population impacted: About 80,000

Number of languages served: Two

Focus ministry: Bible translation and promoting the use of translated Scripture

Geographic area: The equatorial forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, surrounding Kisangani

Total Ministry Year need (to August 2018): $28,900

Translation phase one: 2018-2020

Challenges

No Scripture in their languageWith few Scripture portions available in their mother tongues, both the Bali and Mba churches have to use Bibles written in other languages, such as Swahili, Lingala and French. As a result, congregations without trained pastors often hear conflicting or confusing sermons.

Widespread occult practices Christians in these regions often try to observe their traditional beliefs alongside Christian beliefs, which can lead to some inconsistent practices. For example, to protect themselves from magic spells, the Bali and their neighbours turn to sorcerers for protection. The fear of sorcery is so strong that some pastors will pay a fee to sorcerers, hoping this will permit them to safely open a new church.

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Bali-Mba

Isolated villages and unreliable roadsThe Mba people lead a semi-settled life. From December to March, a period reserved for farm work, they leave their villages to scatter into the forest, where every family has their own small plot of land. The Bali people live over a large territory. Many live in small settlements in the heart of the equatorial forest. The roads between these villages are often treacherous—even impossible—to pass in certain seasons.

Poverty makes it difficult tofundraise within the countryThe Congolese franc is depreciating, affecting this project. Fundraising within the region is very limited. Most people in the hot, rainy climate earn a very meagre living. Fundraising for this Bible translation work can only be done during the rice harvest, when many villagers have some money available to them. But even then, they do not have the means to fund much of the Bible translation and literacy work.

New generations are losing their language and cultureDuring a literacy class, Pastor Jean Mangada Bedupe exclaimed, “We think that we still have our language, but we don’t! If we don’t mobilize people to work for its preservation, we will lose the coming generation. They will be a generation of foreigners in the world who, at one time, were part of Bali, but who no longer speak the language.”

Another pastor observed, “It’s important for us to organize language classes in the mother tongue, for ourselves and for our children, rather than consciously lose our linguistic identity without doing anything about it.”

FocusTranslating the ScripturesFor these language communities, this is the first time that a complete plan has been put together to translate the Bible. Believers in these related languages express a strong desire to access God’s Word in their mother tongues. They say that a series of Bible stories, passages from the Psalms, the Gospels and Epistles, and other key Bible passages will provide excellent tools for spiritual growth.

In the first phase, the teams focused on translating the Scripture materials, while promoting the work of Bible translation to engage churches and communities in the process. These activities laid the foundation for a full-fledged Bible translation program, which was launched in the fall of 2017.

We are encouraging and equipping a number of communities to commit to continued Bible translation by developing local language committees and prayer groups. Production and distribution of translated Scripture materials is also underway. The goal is to make sure that the majority of pastors and other church leaders are accessing the translated texts!

Sharing the gospel through media such as the “JESUS” film in local languagesIn partnership with local churches, the Good News is being shared through printed materials, audio recordings, oral storytelling and songs! These diverse formats help all people in the language community access God’s Word. The “JESUS” film has been dubbed into Bali and is awaiting release by the ministry Power to Change. The Mba are hoping to soon record the film once their translation of the Gospel of Luke has been completed and consultant-checked.

Encouraging and equipping local people involved as they take pride in their heritageDuring an awareness-raising session at Kapalata, a pastor promised his church’s support. He explained, “It’s necessary that one generation make sacrifices rather than allowing language and culture to perish.”

You can bring the Good News to the Mba and Bali people and ensure that this is not the last generation to embrace their beautiful cultures and languages.

ImpactTranslation and literacy transform livesPeople are accepting Christ as they understand the gospel in their heart language. They are gaining hope for the future as they learn to read and write in their mother tongue.

Regarding the Mba mobilization project, the president of the Mba Association said, “I know that the translation of the Bible will bring about the spiritual development of the Mba people, which in turn will contribute to social development for our people.”

Passion for the Word is growingA number of churches and denominations are partnering in this Bible translation work! Local people are showing passion for the Word of God.

Louise, a widow in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, declared to a staff member in the Bali-Mba language translation project, “We who are poor will be the first to contribute towards translating the Word of God into our language because the gospel was received first by the poor. As for me, I will contribute my part before I die!”

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Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada Inc. is a registered charity: #10822 3371 RR0001.

In November 2016, Louise donated 5,000 francs, about $4.50 Canadian, towards Bible translation in her language. In February 2017, she passed away. Her gift challenged others to give. As a result, additional support came in from the entire community!

Love for the Mba and Bali languages is producing unityMba and Bali people are coming together for this project. They share a passion for their language. After the presentation of the Mba culture at the University of Kisangani, many people were happy and said, “We too are an important people and we have shown our strength and capacity via our culture and language. Why were we afraid to sing and display our culture?”

During an awareness campaign, one older man said, “It’s love that produces unity and unity results in work.” In other words, the love of their language is uniting his people and this unity will lead to success in promoting the translation of materials in their language.

Get InvolvedWe would be happy to hear from you!

To give, pray or serve, please visit our website at wycliffe.ca or email engagement@wycliffe.ca

Objectives for 2018• Continue Scripture translation, testing,

revision and consultant-checking.

• Expand promotion of Bible translation and literacy.

• Continue promotion of Bible translation in Bali and Mba communities using oral Bible story workshops.

wycliffe.ca BM 2018