Christianity Today has a great story from Ethiopia about the “handing-off” of the work Bible translation to national translators: The Gospel Hand-Off.This story highlights some the roles that Wycliffe is playing in translation today.

We can’t help but rejoice at the increased involvement in Bible translation by so-called “target” communities. May we all see ourselves as “partners” in Bible translation for the glory of God and the building up of the Church.

In a victory the Caudwells could scarcely have imagined 12 years ago, the churches of Basketo now have the Gospels of Mark and Luke in their mother tongue, and the entire Basketo New Testament is currently being reviewed. Throughout the process, the credit for the work was due not to one or two missionaries, but to a wide team of translators, consultants, and supporters both in Ethiopia and worldwide. Today, the Basketo people are more than 90 percent Christian.

Indigenous missionaries like Getachew are increasingly sent out to neighboring people groups. Foreign and local ministries are ministering in greater ways than either could alone. “Foreigners increasingly need to adopt a posture of service to the local and national leaders,” says Simon.

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