Wycliffe-Frontlines-Fall-2025 - Flipbook - Page 1
WINTER
2025
God’s Word in the Kaluli Language: “A Really Big Thing”
More than 2,000 Kaluli people hiked for days from their
villages in Papua New Guinea to attend the dedication of
their completed New Testament. The line of people wove
like a ribbon decorating the surrounding hills, spreading an
atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. They had
waited a long time for God’s Word in their language.
A church had been established among the Kaluli by 1985,
but the Kaluli didn’t have Scripture in their language. So
the local church appointed two Kaluli men to start
translating the Bible. They began with a notebook and
pencils. After some time, the two wrote a letter to SIL, a
strategic partner, asking for help. An SIL couple joined the
work, and the church appointed others to help. The two
men who had started the translation continued their work
alongside other team members throughout the years. And
40 years after the translators first picked up their pencils,
the New Testament was completed!
On Feb. 17, 2024, the Kaluli team presented the completed
New Testament to the community. “This is really a big
thing,” said one translator, “because the Word of Life is
there in the Bible.”
The morning started with the Kaluli people and guests
gathered in a procession. Local pastors read Scripture and
prayed over the New Testaments. Translation team
members each took a box and carried it to a gateway
where local pastors were waiting. It was time to hand off
their work to the pastors so they could get the Scriptures
into the hands and hearts of the people.
Worship leaders led the gathering in jubilant songs of
praise. “I feel as though angels were surrounding our
musicians, exulting along with us,” said one team member.
In addition to the special music, people gave testimonies,
the translation team received awards and the national
church leader made a speech.
Afterward, people eagerly received copies of God’s Word. In
addition to the printed Scriptures, they distributed solarpowered audio Bibles, reading glasses, and SD cards with
Kaluli audio and video Scriptures. The stock of audio players
sold out quickly, and the team took orders for 200 more!
One of the translators said: “My heart is so happy. My heart
cries; my physical eyes cry because I’m so happy.”
If you would like to help more people receive the
joy of God’s Word, visit wycliffe.org/frontlines or
scan the QR code to support Bible translation
efforts around the world!
ABOVE: Bwitengi villagers celebrating
the completed Ikoma New Testament.
