'Pruor'

THE

Newsletter of the Pioneer Bible Translators

JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1977

VOL.2

NO. 3

PRYOR'S IN
PAPUA

NEW GUINEA
On June 22, 1977, David and John

Pryor, along with their respective

famiiies, arrived in Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea to begin their first
term as missionaries. The Pryor's are
the first

missionaries of American

Christian Churches and Churches of

Christ to serve in this country.

Papua New Guinea is a land of

many languages, between 600 and

700 in fact. The Pryor's mission is to
enter two of these languages, learn

them, create alphabets and translate

STUDENTS AND STAFF OF 1977 PLI, CINCINNATI BIBLE SEMINARY, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

God's Word for the speakers of that

language, in translating God's Word

they will also be evangelizing, telling
the people the Good News about
Jesus Christ.

Before they will be able to do this,

however, surveys will have to be
made. David Pryor, who is PBT's Field

Coordinator, has the responsibility of

surveying a few possible areas in
Papua where linguistic analysis and
Bible translation are needed, and then
make recommendations for final en

try. PBT has the encouragement and

help of the Summer institute of

Linguistics (the

Wycliffe

Bible

Translators) in Papua In surveying

and determining where needs are the
greatest. Readers of the Pioneer

newietter can expect a final an

nouncement in a future issue con

cerning the location and the tribal

languages where the Pryor's will be

working.
In the meantime, pray for David
Pryor and his wife Sharron, and for

A WORTHILE INTRODUCTION
"A worthwhile introduction to the com
now see the urgency to have more
plex world of linguistics" stated Linda translators!"
Cooper, a student of Manhattan Christian
Another, but related purpose of PLI is to
College, Manhattan, Kansas on finishing interest people in the missionary ministry
the week of study at the 1977 Pioneer of Bible translation. This purpose, too, was
Linguistic Institute.
fulfilled, as Larry Dershem of Ozark Bible
This year PLI was held May 22-28 on the College stated, "I have an Idea of what is
campus of Cincinnati Bible College and involved in translation work. It has stirred
Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio. Twenty-six my interest in it."
students attended. They came from nine
Of special interest this year were the
different colleges: Boise Bible College, presence of two missionaries. Larry
Cincinnati Christian Seminary, Harding Doggett and June Crowl, both long-time
College, Johnson Bible College, Lincoln missionaries from Zaire (Africa). Both
Christian College, Manhattan Christian were enthusiastic about the PLI program.
College, Minnesota Bible College, Ozark Larry Doggett, who is also serving as the
Bible College and Wheaton College. Also President of the 1977 National Missionary
In attendance were a high school senior, a Convention, recommended that veteran
grandmother and two veteran mis missionaries be invited to attend to in
sionaries.
troduce them to linguistics and to what the
The Pioneer Linguistic Institute is Pioneer Bible Translators can do in help
designed to introduce the fields of ing to expand their mission work in the
linguistics, translation and culture to area of linguistics and translation. Both
Christian workers so they can draw a Larry Doggett and June Crowl told of the
better idea of the studies and skills in
need they have for Bible translators
volved in translating God's Word into an among the several tribal languages they

that will require the Lord's strength to

unwritten tribal language. This year's PLI are serving in Zaire.

fulfilled this objective for all who attended,
The linguistic Institute began each
as Dale Winters from Minnesota Bible morning with Phonetics taught by Dr.
College stated, "(PLI) gave me a good in David Filbeck of Lincoln Christian

do.

troduction into a field I knew llttie about. I

John Pryor and his wife Bonita. A

great work lies ahead of them, a work

continued on back page.

DR. DAVID FILBECK TEACHING PHONETICS.

DR. SUSAN HIGGINS TEACHING SYNTAX

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MtKE LITTLE LEADING A PHONETIC LAB SESSION.
JUDY GLAZE LEADING A SONG DURING CHAPEL.

WHERE PEOPLE ARE ...

The summer months are a time for

lingustic activity. After the Pioneer

Linguistic Institute, which was held In May

and which brought together most of the

personnel associated with RBI have
scattered to follow other, but related ac
tivities.

Actually, it all started during the week of

PLI

when

Al

Hamilton

and

Ron

Augsburger (the designated Field Service

Director for Papua New Guinea) traveled
to Mexico City to attend the international
meeting of the Wycliffe Bible Translators.
There they met with WBT leaders from
Papua New Guinea to discuss the needs of
Scripture translation in that country.

concluded from front page.

Next, in June after PLI was over, several

In other personnel news, Bill Barton

has assumed the responsibility of

teaching position at Miiiigan College and

will begin there this coming school year.
Dr. Rondal Smith traveled to Ventnor,

Seminary, followed by Phonetic Lab

where students drilled and practiced mak
ing various sounds. Chapel came next
with Robert Morse, veteran missionary

New Jersey to continue working on a pro

ject sponsored by the American Bible
Society. The project Is the production of a
new type of Greek-English lexicon.

Burma,

Dr. David Fiibeck traveled to Norman,

preachrng. FHHng out the morning were

Oklahoma to teach in the Summer

and

Bible translator from

Dr. Susan Higglns (Miiiigan College) Institute of Linguistics, which Is held on the
teaching Syntax and Dr. Rondal Smith campus of the University of Oklahoma. In
(Lincoln Christian College) teaching addition to David, several PBT recruits
enrolled at SIL Norman to study
Semantics and Translation. In the after
noon, Dr. Charles Taber of Mllllgan linguistics. In all, fifteen people are study
College taught Cultural Anthropology. ing at SIL; Bob and Dawn Baird, Ron and
Library time for readings In Linguistics Lisa Augsburger, William and Robin
and related subjects was after Dr. Taber's Butier, Paul and Cathy Peelman, Judy
class. Each afternoon ended with Smith, Judy Glaze, Anita Downs, Roger
volleyball, a sport that has become Quarton, Bruce Krldle, Martha Wade and
traditional among Bible translators. Pic
Corinne Bare.
tures of the 1977 PLI may be seen on the
Several of these students are already In
inside pages of this Issue of the Pioneer. their second year of linguistic training.
Already plans are being made for the After another year of study they will be
1978 Pioneer Linguistic Institute. The ex
ready to go to the mission field with PBT.
Others are In Support Personnel training.
act time and location are yet to be an
nounced. Perhaps you should plan on at This latter type of training is not designed
tending, for as Kim Jackson, a student for Bible translation but to enable the per
from Lincoln Christian College said, "PLI son to perform "backup" duties in behalf
opened my eyes to many matters I was un of those who are located in outlying areas,
aware of." The 1978 PLI will help you un

receiving and helping new missionaries

derstand

get settled In a country, operating a guest

the

need

for

more

Bible

translators to reach the more than 2,000

house

tribes without God's Word.

evangelism in town, and numerous other

PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS

Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln has chosenf

PBT personnel traveled to various places

to either study or teach In other Institutes.
Dr. Susan HIggins traveled to Toronto In
Canada, to teach in the Toronto Linguistic
Institute. Susan has also accepted a

"A WORTHWHILE INTRODUCTION"

duties. It is a job that will have to be done if

translators are to get out and live among
tribal people.
In other personnel news, Bill Barton has
assumed the responsibility of Develop
ment Director Is establishing an office in

for

missionaries

In

town,

Development Director is establishing an

office In Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln was

chosen because of the many Christian

Churches In Illinois and because so many
PBT recruits receiving training at Lincoln

Christian College and Seminary. Develop

ment Is not only raising funds, but also
guiding people through the necessary
Bible and linguistic training for a transla
tion ministry. The new address for this of
fice is Bill Barton, Box 826, Lincoln, Illinois
62656.

CONGRATULATIONS, JANET!
On April 8,1977, Janet Davis, secretary
for PBT at Bedford, Texas, was married to

Ron

Manna, Vice President of Dallas

Christian College. All PBT personnel wish

Ron and Janet many years of happiness
as they both serve our Lord.
Janet Is continuing on a part-time basis

helping Al Hamilton In the PBT office. We

appreciate her willingness to serve PBT in
this capacity.

THE PIONEER
President

Al Hamilton

Editor

David Fllbeck

Published quarterly by The Pioneer Bible

Translators, Box 811, Bedford, Texas 76021.
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