I get nostalgic around Thanksgiving. This year finds me thinking back to my childhood on the mission field in the Middle East.
Those were dangerous times. We were evacuated three times amid gunfire and threats, my Dad was arrested in Iraq, and he was even kidnapped by Palestinians. We had to leave this missional minefield, but my parents figured out how to continue the ministry via correspondence courses.
[Tweet “The power is not in the sower, the power is in the seed”]This is when I began to understand the power was not in the sower, but the power was in the seed. After 30 years in ministry, I’m increasingly aware that there is nowhere that is closed to the sovereign move of God’s Holy Spirit. He will go where He will, when He will and nothing shall prevail against Him and His Church.
A battle rages fiercely against our children and youth today. The only thing that can shield our precious children and grandchildren from the wiles of the evil one is to give them God’s Word.
As we try to reach children who have never before heard God’s Word, we have to believe that the Great Commission is not the just the dream of a future generation, it is the reality of ours.
[Tweet “The Great Commission is not the just the dream of a future generation it is the reality of ours”]This year, I’m so thankful for translation collaboration through organizations like IllumiNations, and for the legacy of people who are part of the scripture translation family. We stand on the shoulders of many who have prayed, worked, sacrificed, and given their lives to ensure that every tribe, tongue, and nation has a chance to encounter our Savior Jesus through His Word.
Everything we do carries the birthmark of a Bible translator. The hallmark of all of our work is owed to the sweat and toil of those who have gone before us and those who are even now blazing trails ahead of us.
The lifeblood of any church planting, Bible distribution, or unreached people group movement is dependent on translation. Without translators, we cannot keep giving God’s Word to the next generation.
This year, my heart is moved with thankfulness for everyone who has answered the call to take the seed to those without access to the Word. For those who pay the price to be the messenger, then step back and let the Holy Spirit do His work. For those with the passion and vision to see lives transformed by God’s powerful Word. For patrons of Bible translation and Scripture translation comrades – you are my heroes. Without you One Hope can’t do what we are called to do.
For those with the passion and vision to see lives transformed by God’s powerful Word. For Scripture translation comrades, they are my heroes. To those who have been and will be the patrons of Bible translation, providing God’s Word—because without you we can’t do what we are called to do. I’m so thankful for everyone I get to link arms with and do what none of us could, or were ever intended, to do alone. I thank God for you, and don’t take for granted those who have paved the way for us to continue sharing a message of hope through each generation.
It has been exciting for us to read of the ongoing ministry of One Hope. My wife and I were part of the distribution of the Book of Hope in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia in 1992. Although we did not feel we were qualified at all my wife and I stayed behind after the rest of the team left and started a small church which today runs around 800. We look back on that time and realize again and again that it is truly not about us but about the Holy Spirit doing His work. All we need to do is say yes. Thank you for that opportunity for it was one of our greatest blessings and was the catalyst to launch us into the destiny God had for our lives.