“I consider my life worth nothing in bearing witness to the gospel.”
As the underground churches continue to grow in Muslim-majority Iran, Bible translators are putting their lives on the line to bring the Gospel into the local dialects.
The Christian Post U.S. interviewed two Iranian female bible translators recently. The two women are working to translate Bible material from Unfolding Word, an organization that supports the translation of the Bible in local dialects, in Farsi language to other Iranian dialects. The CP reported this under pseudonyms to protect their personal lives.
Miriam who is from one Iranian people group says she is often treated as a second-class citizen because of how those from other people’s groups view her status in her people group. Miriam’s life could be in danger if the Iranian government finds out that she follows Jesus in the Islamic Republic.
“I cannot even imagine leaving this work unfinished. I must complete this work and see the result. I want to see my loved ones experience salvation in Christ. This is my dream; that my people can talk about God and speak His name freely without any fear,” Miriam said.
Another Iranian Bible translator who is using the pseudonym Stella accepted Jesus into her heart after her husband died of cancer. Following her husband’s death, Stella was left alone to care for her young son. During that time, she relied on the peace of God as her only hope.
“God has helped me. The Name of Jesus Christ was in my life. I didn’t need anybody. Jesus fed me, put clothes on me and gave me peace,” she said.
Stella is currently working on a Bible translation in her heart language. Her sister-in-law became a Christian thanks to her work of translating the Bible. “God wants us to do this. I am thinking about my mom, my father, my childhood, and everyone that doesn’t have it right now. I want to bring God to my town and my people,” she said.
Evan Thompson (pseudonym), CEO of Unfolding Word, said in an interview with CP, “1.45 billion people around the world who speak about 5,500 languages do not have a Bible in their native language,” and “the church has expanded exponentially over the years. They lead someone to Christ, but they have learned the lesson that without the church the new believers cannot survive on their own.”
“You can start a church, but if that church doesn’t have a Bible in their native language, it usually only lasts one generation,” he said. “Unfolding Words, which has been going on for about seven years, works with church leaders around the world who lack Bibles in their native language,” Thompson said. (Source: Christian Today Comprehensive)
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:24, 32)
God, we thank You for allowing Iranian women who have experienced Your love to move forward with all their hearts in translating the Bible into their tribal languages, thus evangelising their people. Please pour on them the fullness of the Holy Spirit to deepen their relationship with You throughout their translation work. May You help the Bible be delivered to different tribes in Iran and many will be saved through reading Your Word. May churches of Jesus be established in Iran and the Middle East through Your word so that the work of revival full of vitality continues in the nations.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
