Wycliffe Bible Translators and Church of the Palms PartnershipWycliffe Bible Translators, USA (headquartered in Orlando, FL ) is part of an international association of Wycliffe organizations comprising of over 5000 active members from 46 countries. Within the USA our role is to provide the links for churches here to help build the church around the world and give people access to the words of life.
Already Wycliffe workers have helped to complete over 625 translations, making God's Word available to more than 83 million people. This has always been done hand in hand with local communities. But now more than ever we are able to pass on our skills through partnership with churches and agencies worldwide.
The remaining task is immense .
More than 270 million people are still waiting for the Bible in their “heart” language. It still is unavailable in more than 2,500 of the almost 7,000 known languages on earth. We in the US have over 400 different translations of the Bible whereas many people have none. Each of us can make a difference for the Lord in spreading His Word. The good news is that the number of people without the Bible in their “heart” language continues to shrink. On September 28, 2006, in Orlando, Wycliffe had a very special New Testament Dedication where 14 newly translated New Testaments were dedicated from 13 different countries enabling over 6.5 million people to have access to God's Word.
Wycliffe's Vision 2025
Wycliffe's mission is to assist the church in making disciples of all nations through Bible translation. Wycliffe's vision is to see translation in progress among every language group that needs it by 2025 -- Vision 2025 .
Vision 2025 is a vision for all of God's church. It is not a program or campaign. It is a call to commitment. A call to action.
Wycliffe believes God is calling for a greater sense of urgency in translation work. They believe God is giving them a humanly impossible vision. But they also believe it can be realized, if they work under God's direction in worldwide partnership with others.
The Partnership of Church of the Palms and Wycliffe
Church of the Palms has already begun to help in this worldwide Bible Translation effort by financially supporting Dale and Carole Hoskins and family who are Wycliffe missionaries in the Kenya, Africa area on the Bible translation project with the Orma people group. If you are personally interested in the worldwide ministry of Bible translation beyond your financial giving through the Church of the Palms, there are several additional things you could do.
Perhaps you feel God calling you toward
1) taking a one day bus trip to visit Wycliffe in Orlando , or
2) supporting translation work through prayer or
3) financially supporting the missionary work of a specific Wycliffe missionary either in the US or abroad or
4) serving as a volunteer either from Sarasota or in Orlando or abroad, or
5) serving as a short-term or long-term member.
Whatever your interest, we want to help find a place for you to help if you desire. If you have an interest in any of these 5 alternatives or beyond, please contact Reyn Kamphuis, a member of Church of the Palms and the Missions Committee as well as a volunteer with Wycliffe. He can be reached by calling 941 360 8474 or by email at rakamphuis@aol.com or you can call Wycliffe directly at 1 800 Wycliffe for more information or via their website at www.wycliffe.org .