Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, has urged churches and partners worldwide to expand the Bible translation work so that every oral language community can hear Scripture in its own voice.
Mrs Nalumango notes that today, in over a thousand languages and through countless voices, oral Bible translation is advancing.
She said the voices are telling the story of God’s love and redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ and it is the story that changes everything.
Mrs Nalumango was speaking at the Oral Bible Translation conference held in Chongwe District.
She noted progress in Zambia, citing last year’s dedication of the first oral New Testament for the Nsenga people and reports that more languages are now receiving their first oral New Testaments.
“What we are witnessing is extraordinary, you are not just participants in a movement but witnesses to what God is doing in our generation and the Word of God is being heard clearly and powerfully, across continents and cultures, in the languages of people who have waited for it all this time,” she said.
Mrs Nalumango further stated that oral Bible translation had proven effective in reaching communities where written literacy is limited, allowing scripture to spread through relationships in homes and churches.
The Vice President commended leaders and organisations championing the cause, saying oral Bible translation honours their culture and opens the door for millions who would otherwise remain without access to God’s Word.
She stressed the need for stronger global partnerships to meet the remaining need, noting that millions still lack scripture in a form they can understand and engage with.
“The work ahead will require many more voices to join you, I therefore implore local churches to step forward not just as recipients, but as owners and proclaimers of the Word,” Mrs Nalumango added.
United States of America, Faith Comes by Hearing Vice President, Alex Matthew, said technology is enabling people with little or no formal education to be trained in oral Bible translation using software.
He noted that six oral New Testaments are now available, including the Senga version dedicated in April last year.
Mr Matthew said the three – day gathering would focus on innovation in the space, including the use of artificial intelligence to support translation and the development of scripture songs for worship.
“The value of oral translation is for oral communities, especially where the remaining translation needs are and even with very little education, they can be trained so that their own heart languages can have Scriptures,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bible Literature Translation Association (BiLTA) Executive Chairperson, Jackson Katete, said oral Bible translation builds on African oral traditions of listening, interpreting and internalising knowledge.
Reverend Katete added that packaging Christianity in a foreign language risks making it feel foreign, but translating it into local languages makes it part of people’s identity.
He said BiLTA was partnering with others to train Zambians locally and send some for linguistic studies in Israel, Canada, the US and South Africa, to ensure translations remain faithful to the original text while being clear in context.
He added that the association was also looking at how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could speed up translation for oral communities, the blind and the deaf, and stressed that technology should serve the Word rather than be used for non-beneficial things.
Rev Katete noted that this was the first time the global gathering was held in Zambia, after previous editions in Indonesia and Uganda, stating that Zambia’s status as a Christian nation and its reputation for peace made it an ideal host and provided an opportunity to market the country internationally.
She wants bible translation instead of science, technology, engineering, and math. Wrong priorities. Probably she must translate how it is difficult to work with free masons.
Thats why she was chosen no threat coming from her side