"We've Never Heard This Story Before!"
At a Good Friday service in 1980, Leonard Bolioki stepped to the front of
the church he attended in Cameroon and began to read the story of
Jesus’ crucifixion. Always before, this passage from John’s Gospel had
been read in French, but this time the priest had asked Leonard to read
it in the local language, Yambetta.
As he read, he became aware of a growing stillness; then some of the older women began to weep.
At the end of the service they rushed up to Leonard and asked, “Where did you find this story? We have never heard anything like it before! We didn’t know there was someone who loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die like that… to be crucified on a cross to save us!”
Leonard pulled out his French New Testament and showed them that the story was in the Bible. “We listen to this Passion Story every year during Holy Week,” he told them, but they insisted that they’d never heard it before. That, says Leonard, is what motivated him to translate the Scriptures into the only language his people could really understand—Yambetta!
Leonard had to work full-time to support his family, and for many years, he could only translate when he found free moments. By 2008, Leonard and other Yambettas had drafted just 35% of the New Testament.
And then in 2008, the Seed Company picked up the project and began providing funds for training, equipment, and living expenses for Leonard and his team of translators and literacy teachers. In addition, SIL Cameroon was also able to assign someone to work alongside them as a consultant. Completion of the New Testament is anticipated in 2016!!!
Leonard says, "I took it upon myself to translate for my people this Word of God that gives life. From 1980 on, this goal remained uncertain. But now, I can see the realization of this dream and I can only be happy--VERY happy! May this Word of Life that has saved many people from other language groups also save the Yambetta people!"
Wycliffe Bible Translators, with its many global partners (including SIL and The Seed Company), desires to see God's Word accessible to all people in a language that speaks to their heart.
As he read, he became aware of a growing stillness; then some of the older women began to weep.
At the end of the service they rushed up to Leonard and asked, “Where did you find this story? We have never heard anything like it before! We didn’t know there was someone who loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die like that… to be crucified on a cross to save us!”
Leonard pulled out his French New Testament and showed them that the story was in the Bible. “We listen to this Passion Story every year during Holy Week,” he told them, but they insisted that they’d never heard it before. That, says Leonard, is what motivated him to translate the Scriptures into the only language his people could really understand—Yambetta!
Leonard had to work full-time to support his family, and for many years, he could only translate when he found free moments. By 2008, Leonard and other Yambettas had drafted just 35% of the New Testament.
And then in 2008, the Seed Company picked up the project and began providing funds for training, equipment, and living expenses for Leonard and his team of translators and literacy teachers. In addition, SIL Cameroon was also able to assign someone to work alongside them as a consultant. Completion of the New Testament is anticipated in 2016!!!
Leonard says, "I took it upon myself to translate for my people this Word of God that gives life. From 1980 on, this goal remained uncertain. But now, I can see the realization of this dream and I can only be happy--VERY happy! May this Word of Life that has saved many people from other language groups also save the Yambetta people!"
Wycliffe Bible Translators, with its many global partners (including SIL and The Seed Company), desires to see God's Word accessible to all people in a language that speaks to their heart.
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