MAY 2010

A Clear Message
Sign-language translation supports the growing
Deaf missions movement

 NARD’S
 STORY:  A
 COMMUNITY’S PASSION:
Free Bible-focused VBS materials 2 Branchu New Testament dedicated 6

Words From Roy
As we enjoy a season
of life and hope already
knowing our Creator,
I have some great news:
“This same Good News
that came to you is going
out all over the world. It is
bearing fruit everywhere
by changing lives, just as
it changed your lives from
the day you first heard and
understood the truth about
God’s wonderful grace”
(Colossians 1:6, NLT).
That’s just as relevant
today as it was when Paul
first wrote it nearly 2,000
years ago.
Thanks in part to your
involvement, people are
translating Scripture
in more than 1,900
languages worldwide today.
“God wanted them to know
that the riches and glory of
Christ are for you Gentiles,
too. And this is the secret:
Christ lives in you”
(Col. 1:27, NLT).
Sometimes we can
forget our unique biblical
foundation here in the
United States.
SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—2
The high value we place
on individuals and cultures
is a heritage many other
nations don’t have.
People who don’t know
that God loves them often
live with a deep sense
of shame and low self-
esteem. Many Bibleless
groups see themselves in
that same light. Globally,
the people groups in power
may treat other ethnicities
like slaves.
Through His Word, God is
transforming people and
validating cultures. The
good news God Himself
sent in the language of
their deepest thoughts
offers them power,
freedom and equality that
changes them forever.
Thank you for your part,
Roy L. Peterson, President
Nard’s Story
Inspiring the next generation
Nard Pugyao was born and raised in a small remote
village in the mountains of the Philippines. His
parents would never have dreamed that their
son would grow up to help Bible translators as a
missionary pilot. It was rare for children in that part
of the northern Philippines to leave their village.
This summer, through a partnership with GoFish
VBS curriculum that will feature Nard’s story, many
children will learn how they, too, can be used by God
and make the Bible a central part of their lives.
GoFish, a Christian band for children, will share
Nard’s story as a missions component of their popular
Backstage with the Bible VBS program.
Nard’s story is a natural fit for a group focused on
“Putting the Bible back into Vacation Bible School.”
When Nard was a child, a foreigner came to his area
to translate the Bible. This man, Dick, became a
friend and mentor to Nard. Dick helped Nard with his
studies, and Nard helped Dick learn his language. As
Dick shared with Nard what he was translating from
God’s Word, Nard came to know Christ.
Like Nard, every child needs Christian friends and
mentors that point them to God’s Word.
Photos courtesy of Nard Pugyao
A Great VBS Addition
Already selected a VBS program?
You can still use the FREE
OneVerse missions materials. Find
out more at oneverse.org/vbs
Sharing the Clear Message
Sign-language translation is the first in South Asia
Hashar never wanted to be a Christian.
But after nine frustrating
years in a school with
hearing students, Hashar
transferred to a Deaf school
where he was around
believers. As he learned
to communicate in Cocos
Sign Language, he mocked
Christians he met there,
but their lifestyle impressed
him. He soon became
curious about this Jesus.
After someone explained
the gospel clearly to him in
his sign language, Hashar
accepted Christ.
Hashar didn’t have many
options to help him grow
in his young faith. He
joined what he thought
Over 1,200 Deaf
people celebrated
the arrival of the
salvation story
and others!
was a devout group but
they deviated drastically
from Scripture. This cult
sent him to the office of
D.O.O.R. International
(Deaf Opportunity
OutReach) as a spy. God
had other plans, however,
and today Hashar is
faithfully serving God.
Hashar’s confusion
highlights a significant
problem among “core”
Deaf, that is, those born
deaf and those who became
deaf before learning to
speak well. Only about 15
percent of the Cocos group
are literate. Reading words
on a page with no sound
is like trying to memorize
hundreds of phone
Cocos translators hold up
the translation story board
with pictures of the signed
translation.
numbers. Without a clear
translation in their sign
language, print literature—
including the Bible—is
incomprehensible.
This is changing. More
than 1,200 Deaf people
from throughout the nation
gathered to dedicate the
first set of 32 Bible stories
in Cocos Sign Language on
January 30. They celebrated
completing this set, which
explains the salvation
message. Through a new
partnership with The Seed
Company, Wycliffe Bible
Translators and DOOR,
Hashar has been involved
in outreach to other Deaf.
(Continued on page 8)
SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—3
 God at Work:
Stories From Around the World
Bendo’s New
Beginning
CAMEROON, AFRICA—Bendo’s
French Bible didn’t make much
sense to him and it showed.
His family lacked what they needed because he wasted
his money on liquor. “I didn’t take care of my family. I
was living contrary to the will of God, because I didn’t
understand His Word in any depth.
“But from Genesis 2:18-25 I understood the place of the
wife. God created her with a rib from man—that is part of
myself! This Word of God in Yambetta penetrated to the
core of my heart.
“Now my wife and I manage our finances together. We’ve
decided to celebrate our marriage in a church ceremony
very soon. Thanks to the Word of God in my mother
tongue, we’re able to do this. May the Lord be praised!”

“But from Genesis 2:18-25 I understood the place of

the wife. God created her with a rib from man—that is
part of myself!” “ —Bendo

Hiding the Word in Their Hearts

NIGERIA, AFRICA—In an
environment of civil unrest
near Nigeria’s capital city,
the Ichen translation team
is making steady progress.
Believers are hungry for
the Word.
One translator’s family is
using the newly published
Gospel of John during regular
family devotions. “My mother
cannot read, and she is so
excited to hear God’s Word in
our language! She is making
my children read the gospel
stories from John to her every
night so she can memorize
them.”
The gospel is bringing
hope and assurance in the
midst of personal and civil
uncertainties.

“[My mother] is making my children read the gospel

stories from John to her every night so she can
memorize them.” —Ichen translator

SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—4


Marking His Words
UGANDA, AFRICA—
The Lubwisi-speaking
churches in western Uganda
are making good use of their
only published Gospel so far:
Mark. A leader shared, “I
thank the Lord for the Gospel
of Mark in Lubwisi. Although
I’ve been a church leader for a
long time, I can’t understand
the New Testament in the
other language the church has
been using.
“For example, the real
meaning of the important
word ‘grace’ wasn’t coming
across. But as I read Lubwisi,
I understood the meaning
well. In fact, it was as if Jesus
Himself was speaking to me!
May God bless the translators
for the great job they’re
doing.”
The team is planning to
complete the New Testament
in 2011.
“I thank the Lord for the
Gospel of Mark in Lubwisi.”
—Lubwisi leader
Setting Prisoners Free
PHILIPPINES, PACIFIC—Inmates
in a prison of Antique Province in
the Philippines deeply appreciated
a special gift from Governor Sally
Zaldivar-Perez. She had brought
each one a Scripture portion in
their Kinaray-a mother tongue.
“They read it over and over again,”
she said. She promised them
copies of the soon-to-be-published
New Testament.
Since then, the governor has
ordered 1,700 copies of the
Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez
(pictured) ordered 1,700 copies
of the recently published Kinaray-a
New Testament for prisoners in
her province.
recently published
Kinaray-a New
Testament. When
project advisor Bea
recently visited the
prison and rehab
center, she saw the difference
it was making.
“When I read the Bible in my own
language, the heaviness in my
heart becomes lighter,” said one
prisoner. Another told Bea, “I am
learning to humble myself and to
have patience.” God’s Word doesn’t
just rehabilitate people;
it transforms them.
Read more about these projects and
other projects around the world at
theseedcompany.org
SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—5
 Preserving Their Culture and Growing the Church
God uses many means to five years old. With a
initiate Bible translation backdrop of civil conflict
projects. In 1999, it was and overt religious
clear that the Branchu opposition, this courageous
people had a strong desire group requested help.
to preserve their Branchu
Very early in the project,
language and heritage.
George and other Branchu
This was the open door
workers published
Christians needed to add
calendars, songbooks,
the New Testament to the
literacy booklets and
growing body of Branchu
small magazines in their
literature.
language. They sent a
The church, consisting traveling “road show” team
of about a few hundred using Branchu dances
believers scattered in and entertainment and
a people group of over finishing with offering
300,000, was only about materials in the language.
People soon embraced the
New Testament translation
project as a local work and
accepted the Christianity
associated with it as a local
Over ten years as Scrip-
ture portions became
available, the number of
believers has increased
about 500 percent!
SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—6
phenomenon rather than The New Testament
as a foreign religion. is complete, but God’s
work among the Branchu
Over ten years as Scripture
people is just beginning.
portions became available,
The six-member Branchu
the number of believers
team is transitioning
has increased about
into a new project to help
500 percent! In one of
facilitate translation in
three New Testament
a cluster project for four
dedications, more than
neighboring languages.
650 believers gathered.
Photo by Todd Sasnett (The Seed Company)
Branchu Christians
contributed more than
$3,000 toward the
celebration activities.
Because Branchu speakers
live in two countries,
the New Testament was
published in two scripts on
each page.
The team distributed
45 audio players to
leaders who successfully Working Together
completed their training
“We’re all a part of God’s
and committed to starting
work, whether we’re doing
new listening groups. The
evangelism or translating Bibles.
device will help grow new
It’s God’s plan to fulfill the Great
cell churches from the
seed of God’s Word in their Commission and do His work in
mother tongue. these last days. I’m just honored
that I got to be there and be a
part of that.” — Mike Ketner,
international evangelist
 Deaf Kenyans now have
a Scripture DVD and
storyboard book in their
language!

New Life: Deaf believers in Kenya receive

God’s Word for the first time.
God’s plans are always more amazing than we can ever expect. DVD Bible Story and a storyboard he can use in teaching. The
This has been clear as D.O.O.R. International (Deaf Opportunity literal English translation of the title is Know God How. The study
OutReach), a Seed Company partner in our sign-language will help the learners understand the gospel and give them
translations, builds its International Deaf Bible Translation and opportunities to respond.
Training Center in Kenya.
In addition to this evangelistic outreach, Deaf fellowships are using
A foreman on the construction project started a Bible study with the DVD series for group study during their meetings. New believers
some hearing workers and five came to Christ. Mwiti, a Deaf can find encouragement and can grow in their faith as they interact
construction worker wondered how he could bring this same with other Deaf in these fellowships.
experience to his 15 Deaf co-workers. “Do you have something we
While the men working at DOOR’s site are building a translation
can use for our Deaf Bible study?” he asked the DOOR staff. Then
center, the translated Scripture is building them. They’re working on
he signed, “But I really don’t want books. Do you have something
holy ground. Photo by Todd Sasnett (The Seed Company)
we can use for our Deaf
Bible study?”
“The members of the Deaf world see themselves not as
For the first time,
people with a disability, but as members of a language
the answer was an
enthusiastic “YES!” minority whose native language happens to be a signed
Mwiti now has 17 copies language.”— John Holzman, Seed Company partner
of the newly released
Kenyan Sign Language

SEEDLINKS, JUNE 2007—5 SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—7

 Seed Company launches a new initiative
Meet Elvis Guenekean
Each day in translation projects around the world,
God is using highly qualified nationals to bring the
Bible to their people. Elvis Guenekean is just one of
the new candidates for The Seed Company’s FACT
internship, a program that helps prepare Facilitators,
Advisors, Coaches and Trainers in their community.
Elvis isn’t new to translation work. He has worked
faithfully as the translation project coordinator in
Central African Republic for almost ten years despite
a period of government instability.
Elvis writes about his experience: “When our project
was forced to relocate because of violence in our area,
it served to reinforce my sense of calling to this work
and my trust in God’s protection on my life and that
of my family. He preserved us through enormous
difficulties, and this showed me that
He had a plan and purpose for me.”
Seasoned Bible translators like Elvis
can provide valuable insight and
oversight for new projects. That’s why
The Seed Company launched a new
initiative to prepare capable project
leaders. FACT leverages capacity
among mother-tongue translators whose projects
are completed, so they can assist as project managers
in neighboring areas. This program will help build
appropriate translation capacity within 1,000
language groups over the next ten years.
Elvis is eager to begin. “I want to be of service to the
work of Bible translation in my country and maybe
in the future even more broadly.” It’s certain God will
use him in a powerful way.

“I want to be of service to the work of Bible

translation in my country and maybe in the
future even more broadly.” —Elvis

Sharing the Clear Message (Continued)

He’s started numerous Deaf fellowships
and been a signer for the Cocos Sign
Language Bible DVD.
Deaf fellowships are hungry for the
DVD Bible. These groups, led solely
by Deaf believers, use the Scriptures
in DVD format along with dramatic
retelling, picture books called
storyboards and signed discussion
to help their members understand,
memorize and effectively retell the
stories so they can apply the truth to
their lives.
Cocos is the first sign-language
Scripture project completed in South
Asia. An estimated nine million Deaf
live in this nation. Cocos is the mother Deaf Bible translators sign the
tongue for about 100,000 of them. Bible passage for a camera
This DVD Scripture series is shattering in front of a green screen that
the sound barrier that has long is later digitally replaced with
marginalized the Deaf community and
pictures and other visuals.
isolated them from God’s truth.
Photos by Elyse Patten (Monsoon/Wycliffe Australia)

See photos from the recent Cocos dedication.

Visit theseedcompany.org/cocosphotos

SEEDLINKS, MAY 2010—8

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