World Bible Translation Center
A Non-Profit Group Translates the Bible into Multiple Languages
Dec 30, 2008
The World Bible Translation Center (WBTC) was started in 1973 in Arlington, Texas, by a group of people who, according to the organization's web site, had “the common desire to see God’s Word accurately translated into a simple and clear way into the world’s languages.”
Determining which Languages to Target
The WBTC works with individuals and groups involved in world-wide missions to help determine which languages translations should be developed for. Some questions asked before making these decisions are:
- Have clear, effective and accurate Bible translations already been developed for the language?
- How large is the population which speaks the language?
- Are native speakers available who are capable of performing translation work?
- Will the translation support evangelism efforts which are planned or in progress?
Translation Priorities
Three priorities in the development of new Bible translations by World Bible Translation Center are:
- Clear Communication. Translations are developed by those who speak the native language targeted by the translation which allows the Bibles to be read and understood by the average person.
- Accuracy. Qualified Greek and Hebrew scholars use third-party back-translation to check that each verse in the translation is accurate to the original meaning.
- Urgency. The process of developing new translations is accelerated by utilizing newer technology and tools, such as computers and other resources, to develop, check and edit new texts and to organize and store data. The old translation process can be reduced from fifteen or twenty years down to as little as three years for a New Testament version.
History and Ongoing Projects
World Bible Translation Center first produced The English Version for the Deaf, an easy-to-read version designed for hearing-impaired individuals, by using in-house translators and deaf-language consultants. Following this, The Easy-to-Read New Testament was published as an English version which has since been revised. In addition, World Bible Translation Center has developed The International Children’s Version and the New Century Version.
Several projects are currently in progress to distribute Bibles throughout the world:
- WBTC, working with the Uganda Department of Ethics and Integrity, completed a project which provided 324,000 Bibles and teaching guides to school teachers in Uganda. The teaching guides serve as resources to help teachers cover topics such as honesty, faithfulness and love.
- Arabic Bibles have been distributed in almost every country in the Middle East. In 2008, Word Bible Translation Center began a project to provide 324,000 New Testament Bibles to Iraqi citizens.
- Within the past year, work has begun on a Turkish text. To date, there is no modern translation of the Bible in the Turkish language.
- A Mandarin Bible is being distributed by World Bible Translation Center into China while Russian language Bibles are being sent into the former USSR.
- Literacy clinics have been established in India where the Bible is used to help Indians learn to read.
To date, WBTC has printed and distributed over 18.5 million Bibles and New Testaments with 37 language translations which are either complete or in progress.
Funding
While World Bible Translation Center offers its Bibles for sale over the Internet, virtually all of their Bibles are provided to those in need free of charge. The organization relies on donations from individuals, churches and other mission-oriented groups to both operate and grow and has been able to use its financial resources so efficiently that WBTC recently earned a 4-Star award from Charity Navigator, an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities.
World Bible Translation Center realizes that its goal to provide an easy-to-read Bible translation to “billions of unevangelized people” presents a great challenge. Still, the organization believes that “no challenge is too great” and points to 1 Chronicles 28:20 which states, “Be strong and brave and finish this work. Don't be afraid, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will help you until all the work is finished. He will not leave you.”
Additional Resources:
Stites, Josh. "World Bible Translation Center." Personal Communication with Ron Falconberry. November 11, 2008.
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