Transforming Power

Imagine living in a world where you’ve never read the Bible in your own language. Where the stories of Jesus and the promises of God are distant, unfamiliar, and foreign. You might hear portions read aloud, but they don’t speak to your heart in a way that makes sense. This is the reality for millions of people today—communities who still don’t have the Bible in their heart language.

The story of Bible translation is deeply human, filled with prayers, struggles, and the passion of those who believe God’s Word is for all people. Picture a missionary sitting with a group of villagers, listening to their language. Bible translation begins in these moments—understanding not just words, but how people see the world and understand life. Translators become students of language and culture, seeking to bring God’s Word to life in a way that resonates deeply.

Since its founding in 1964, Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) has been part of this sacred work. Lutheran Bible Translators missionaries serve in remote communities, learning unwritten languages, creating alphabets, and working with local teams to translate the Bible. This work is slow and painstaking, but it is transformational.

Picture a village gathering around as someone reads the Bible in their own language for the very first time. The words, once distant, now speak directly to their hearts. The stories of God’s love, His faithfulness, and the promise of salvation suddenly become personal and alive.

This moment—when God’s Word finally breaks through—is what Bible translation is about. It’s about a widow hearing that God sees her pain. It’s about a father realizing he is not alone in his struggles because the Bible speaks to him personally. These moments of revelation happen because of years of patient work by translators who immerse themselves in the language and culture of the communities they serve.

For Lutheran Bible Translators, the work of translation is more than transferring words. It’s about sharing the heart of God with people who have never heard His voice clearly. Bible translation brings people into a personal encounter with Christ that changes everything.

Even as we celebrate the stories of communities receiving the Bible in their language, the work is far from finished. Over 1.5 billion people still do not have a full Bible in their heart language. Many rely on oral traditions, requiring creative approaches that incorporate storytelling methods. Political instability and complex languages add to the challenges faced by translation teams.

But these challenges are met with faith and perseverance. LBT and other Bible translation organizations continue to push forward, driven by the belief that everyone deserves to hear God’s Word in a way that speaks to their hearts.

Bible translation is, at its core, a ministry of hope. It reflects the heart of God, who desires to speak to all people in a way they can understand. Throughout history, Bible translation has helped people encounter the Gospel in personal and transformative ways. From the early translations of the Bible to the modern efforts of Lutheran Bible Translators and its partners, this ministry has made it possible for countless people to experience God’s Word in a way that resonates deeply with their culture and identity.

For Lutheran Bible Translators, this mission continues today with the same conviction that drove Martin Luther to translate the Bible into German centuries ago: that everyone should have the opportunity to hear and understand God’s Word in their own language. The ministry of Bible translation continues, one translation, one community, and one life at a time.

At the heart of this ministry is the belief that God’s Word brings life and transformation. It’s about building relationships, walking alongside communities, and offering hope. This is the story of Bible translation: ordinary people answering an extraordinary call to share the Word of God with the world.