The Year in Review

Blessings to you in this new year! January started a little differently than I'd expected, but it's been good. I've been able to work from Brownsburg this week and be available for some things to help Mom. All has gone very well. Lord willing, I will drive south tomorrow. I'm grateful for your prayers for the trip up -- it was the smoothest drive I've had -- and will appreciate them on my return.

Many people observe the practice of reviewing the past year as the new one begins. Through the challenges of 2020, God has still been at work in bringing His Word to the world. Watch as Dr. John Chesnut, Wycliffe President/CEO, reviews some of the year's brightest moments for Bible translation. Through your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry, you are a part of the team God is using to accomplish all these things!

​youtu.be/X7PLSCo-JhY

We will host another two-week virtual Equip session, beginning January 16. We eagerly look forward to the time when we may be face-to-face with new co-workers, but are very thankful for technology that helps us deliver their orientation virtually now. On January 29, we will host two virtual meetings to help care for and celebrate those who have served overseas. Thanks for your prayers on our behalf as we continue to explore the most effective ways to serve our colleagues in the current paradigm.

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It's a true privilege to join you as together, we seek God's glory in 2021.

Chameleon

Saul & Rebecca Thurrowgood are Wycliffe Australia members who are excited about Chameleon, a motion capture technology Saul has spent years perfecting. Rebecca explains that, just like the chameleon’s ability to adapt and change in order to communicate, "the goal of Chameleon is bringing the gospel to the Deaf in a new way that protects the people involved by changing their appearance." Currently, less than two percent of the world’s Deaf identify as followers of Jesus. Many do not have access to God’s Word in a language they understand—their own sign language.

There are significant barriers to videoing real people for the translation of the remaining sign languages. For many regions around the world, persecution is a daily occurrence. Filming a real person may be a dangerous move. The use of animated characters eliminates these risks and also enables the translation work to be accelerated. After many years of setbacks and trials, Chameleon 1.0 is almost ready for release. Rebecca adds: "We are so grateful knowing that this product will be a way to get the gospel out to places where it otherwise may have been impossible to create a sign language translation safely."

Story Source: wycliffe.org.au/chameleon-changing-the-future-of-deaf-bible-translation/

See the calendar for dates of my upcoming trip to Indy. God used your prayers to keep me alert and safe on the last long trip. Thank you in advance for your prayers again! I look forward to connecting with family and with as many of you as possible, within the safety guidelines that likely will continue to be in place.

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It's a true privilege to join you.

Skills Used in Bible Translation

God uses all kinds of skills and experiences in Bible translation. Just as he uses you as you pray and give, he uses me as I arrange logistics and train and coach. He also uses translators and teachers and airplane mechanics and even… lawyers!

One colleague who came through our Equip orientation training is Majeedah Murad. Majeedah is originally from Florida. She began her legal career here and then spent several years in private practice in Dallas. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and Texas, two states where Wycliffe USA has a significant presence. Majeedah looks forward to serving at the Wycliffe USA Headquarters as associate general counsel. She is in the process now of building a team of prayer and financial partners who will invest in her Wycliffe ministry. The staff in the Office of the President eagerly anticipates her arrival.

Majeedah’s skills and expertise are greatly needed, and we would like to have her join the team as soon as possible. There are a wide variety of legal issues that confront a global organization with 3,000+ employees working in more than 70 countries. On any given day, we deal with matters related to complex contracts, employment, tax, insurance, intellectual property, international law, real estate, and more. Truly, there is never a dull moment, and this year in particular, just keeping abreast of the latest developments from the U.S. Supreme Court has called for a significant investment of time. We look forward to Majeedah’s contributions to the team. — Josh Heidelman, General Counsel, Wycliffe USA

All of us working together accelerates Bible translation so that more people have opportunity to understand God’s Word and have their lives transformed. Would you pray for God to provide for Majeedah’s Wycliffe ministry so she might be able to begin her assignment soon?

For more information, see wycliffe.org/partner/murad.

For a personal update for Lisa, visit my google group.

Thank you

You've met Jack and Lindsay before. As they finished their initial time of asking God to build their team of prayer and financial partners, they wrote a very gracious note and asked me to share it with you so they might express their gratitude.

Here's the link to their note: campbellsonmission.com/post/a-big-thanks

It has been so good to reconnect during my time in Indiana. I'm so grateful for your prayers for the drive up and would appreciate them again on the return trip (Oct 26 and 28, with a day off in between).

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It's a true privilege to join you.

Equip #48 is in the books!

Praise the Lord with me!

• Equip #48 was completed yesterday.
• Our technical and health challenges were minimal.
• These 30 colleagues will serve all around the world in a variety of roles.
• Lord willing, I still plan to come to Indiana, October 13-25.
• I plan to worship at Faith Church on October 18.
• I plan to worship at Solid Word Bible Church on October 25.

Requests:

• Pray for the Equippers as they work and ask God to raise their teams of prayer and financial partners.
• Pray for safety as I'll be driving north on October 12 and south on October 26.
• Pray for opportunities to connect with family and friends during my time in Indy.

Thank you -- your impact as you have prayed for these folks may only be known in eternity. I am grateful for your faithfulness in walking this journey with me. Please let me know how I might pray with you.