*We will be working for the Wycliffe Global Alliance after we complete our partnership development and move into our full-time roles. In order to help explain how the Wycliffe family of organizations works together, we thought a little explanation might help. We hope you enjoy this post, borrowed from our team leader’s blog.
I love this photo of one of the table groups from our meetings here in Asia. Actually, we know most of these people. We’ve even been to some of their countries. Seven people – seven different countries. These are leaders of Wycliffe organizations in six countries as well as the director of the Africa Area for the Wycliffe Global Alliance. Each person represents a part of the global Bible translation movement. Each one is connected to an organization that is part of the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
You might be wondering, so what exactly is the Wycliffe Global Alliance? I thought you worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators. Actually, both are true.
We are a part of an organization in the USA called Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA, and we are a part of an international organization called the Wycliffe Global Alliance for which Wycliffe USA is a part.
For those of you who give to us, whether you give directly to Wycliffe USA or give through another Wycliffe organization, eventually all gifts to our ministry are sent to Wycliffe USA for processing. We also receive lots of support services in addition to finances from Wycliffe USA like insurance, retirement planning and some of our training. Wycliffe USA also serves us and Bible translation in general by advocating for Bible translation in our home country. Some of you may remember that we also both used to work at the Wycliffe USA office.
However, Bible translation is not just a movement of Americans who serve in the US and abroad. It’s a global movement. Just like Wycliffe USA participates in Bible translation, so, too, do another more than 100 organizations around the world. Each organization serves in Bible translation in different ways. Some provide resources (like funds, people, and prayer), others serve primarily in promotion or church engagement, and others lead Bible translation programs.
The Wycliffe Global Alliance is the place where these organizations come together to participate in the Bible translation movement. It is an organization of organizations, providing opportunities for more and more people to take part in this critical aspect of God’s mission by helping to create an environment for greater and broader participation. Collectively, the Alliance serves in advocacy with minority language communities to see God’s Word translated, accessible and in use in every language community that still needs it.
For the last several years, we have been seconded by Wycliffe USA to serve on the staff of the Wycliffe Global Alliance. While we still see and interact with many of our colleagues from Wycliffe USA, it’s been exciting to expand our network and experience with our international community. We’ve personally seen how God is raising up people from every corner of the globe to participate in this one facet of His mission.
I love how one of our colleagues from Denmark put it. She says, “Wycliffe needs people from all countries, cultures and language groups. It signals that this is really what the Church wants to do. We are all in this together.” Read what else she had to share.
(The Wycliffe Global Alliance was previously called Wycliffe International. Read the background about the name change here.)