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MAY 2

NARDS STORY:

Free Bible-ocused VBS materials 2

A COMMUNITYS PASSION:

Branchu New Testament dedicated 6

A Clear MessageSign-language translation supports the growing

Deaf missions movement

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Nard Pugyao was born and raised in a small remote

village in the mountains of the Philippines. His

parents would never have dreamed that their

son would grow up to help Bible translators as a

missionary pilot. It was rare for children in that part

of the northern Philippines to leave their village.

This summer, through a partnership with GoFish

VBS curriculum that will feature Nards story, many

children will learn how they, too, can be used by God

and make the Bible a central part of their lives.

GoFish, a Christian band for children, will share

Nards story as a missions component of their popular

Backstage with the Bible VBS program.

Nards story is a natural fit for a group focused on

Putting the Bible back into Vacation Bible School.

When Nard was a child, a foreigner came to his area

to translate the Bible. This man, Dick, became a

friend and mentor to Nard. Dick helped Nard with his

studies, and Nard helped Dick learn his language. As

Dick shared with Nard what he was translating fromGods Word, Nard came to know Christ.

Like Nard, every child needs Christian friends and

mentors that point them to Gods Word.

As we enjoy a seasonof life and hope already

knowing our Creator,

I have some great news:

This same Good News

that came to you is going

out all over the world. It is

bearing fruit everywhere

by changing lives, just as

it changed your lives from

the day you first heard and

understood the truth about

Gods wonderful grace

(Colossians 1:6, NLT).

Thats just as relevant

today as it was when Paul

first wrote it nearly 2,000

years ago.

Thanks in part to your

involvement, people are

translating Scripture

in more than 1,900

languages worldwide today.

God wanted them to knowthat the riches and glory of

Christ are for you Gentiles,

too. And this is the secret:

Christ lives in you

(Col. 1:27, NLT).

Sometimes we can

forget our unique biblical

foundation here in the

United States.

The high value we placeon individuals and cultures

is a heritage many other

nations dont have.

People who dont know

that God loves them often

live with a deep sense

of shame and low self-

esteem. Many Bibleless

groups see themselves in

that same light. Globally,

the people groups in powermay treat other ethnicities

like slaves.

Through His Word, God is

transforming people and

validating cultures. The

good news God Himself

sent in the language of

their deepest thoughts

offers them power,

freedom and equality that

changes them forever.

Thank you for your part,

Roy L. Peterson, President

Nards StoryInspiring the next generation

A Great VBS AdditionAlready selected a VBS program?

You can still use the FREE

OneVerse missions materials. Findout more at oneverse.org/vbs

Words From Roy

Photos courtesy o Nard Pugyao

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him. He soon became

curious about this Jesus.

After someone explainedthe gospel clearly to him in

his sign language, Hashar

accepted Christ.

Hashar didnt have many

options to help him grow

in his young faith. He

joined what he thought

was a devout group but

they deviated drastically

from Scripture. This cultsent him to the office of

D.O.O.R. International

(Deaf Opportunity

OutReach) as a spy. God

had other plans, however,

and today Hashar is

faithfully serving God.

Hashars confusion

highlights a significantproblem among core

Deaf, that is, those born

deaf and those who became

deaf before learning to

speak well. Only about 15

percent of the Cocos group

are literate. Reading words

on a page with no sound

is like trying to memorize

hundreds of phone SEEDLINKS, MAY 20

numbers. Without a clear

translation in their sign

language, print literatureincluding the Bibleis

incomprehensible.

This is changing. More

than 1,200 Deaf people

from throughout the nat

gathered to dedicate the

first set of 32 Bible storie

in Cocos Sign Language o

January 30. They celebracompleting this set, whic

explains the salvation

message. Through a new

partnership with The See

Company, Wycliffe Bible

Translators and DOOR,

Hashar has been involved

in outreach to other Deaf

(Continued on page 8)

Over 1,200 Deaf

people celebrated

the arrival of the

salvation story

and others!

Sign-language translation is the first in South AsiaSharing the Clear Message

But after nine frustrating

years in a school with

hearing students, Hashartransferred to a Deaf school

where he was around

believers. As he learned

to communicate in Cocos

Sign Language, he mocked

Christians he met there,

but their lifestyle impressed

Hashar never wanted to be a Christian.

Cocos translators hold up

the translation story board

with pictures of the signed

translation.

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Bendos NewBeginningCAMEROON, AFRICABendos

French Bible didnt make much

sense to him and it showed.

His family lacked what they needed because he wasted

his money on liquor. I didnt take care of my family. I

was living contrary to the will of God, because I didnt

understand His Word in any depth.

But from Genesis 2:18-25 I understood the place of the

wife. God created her with a rib from manthat is part ofmyself! This Word of God in Yambetta penetrated to the

core of my heart.

Now my wife and I manage our finances together. Weve

decided to celebrate our marriage in a church ceremony

very soon. Thanks to the Word of God in my mother

tongue, were able to do this. May the Lord be praised!

NIGERIA, AFRICAIn an

environment of civil unrest

near Nigerias capital city,

the Ichen translation team

is making steady progress.

Believers are hungry for

the Word.

One translators family is

using the newly published

Gospel of John during regular

family devotions. My mother

cannot read, and she is so

excited to hear Gods Word

our language! She is makin

my children read the gospe

stories from John to her ev

night so she can memorize

them.

The gospel is bringing

hope and assurance in the

midst of personal and civil

uncertainties.

[My mother] is making my children read the gospel

stories from John to her every night so she can

memorize them. Ichen translator

God at Work:

Stories From Around the Worl

Hiding the Word in Their Hearts

But from Genesis 2:18-25 I understood the place of

the wife. God created her with a rib from manthat is

part of myself! Bendo

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Marking His Words

UGANDA, AFRICAThe Lubwisi-speaking

hurches in western Uganda

re making good use o their

only published Gospel so ar:

Mark. A leader shared, I

hank the Lord or the Gospel

o Mark in Lubwisi. Although

ve been a church leader or a

ong time, I cant understand

he New Testament in the

other language the church has

een using.

For example, the real

meaning o the important

word grace wasnt coming

cross. But as I read Lubwisi,

understood the meaning

well. In act, it was as i Jesus

Himsel was speaking to me!

May God bless the translators

or the great job theyre

doing.

The team is planning to

omplete the New Testament

n 2011.

PHILIPPINES, PACIFICInmates

in a prison of Antique Province in

the Philippines deeply appreciated

a special gift from Governor Sally

Zaldivar-Perez. She had brought

each one a Scripture portion in

their Kinaray-a mother tongue.

They read it over and over again,

she said. She promised them

copies of the soon-to-be-published

New Testament.

Since then, the governor has

ordered 1,700 copies of the

recently published

Kinaray-a New

Testament. When

project advisor Bea

recently visited the

prison and rehab

center, she saw the difference

it was making.

When I read the Bible in my own

language, the heaviness in my

heart becomes lighter, said one

prisoner. Another told Bea, I am

learning to humble myself and to

have patience. Gods Word doesntjust rehabilitate people;

it transforms them.

Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez

(pictured) ordered 1,700 copies

of the recently published Kinaray-a

New Testament for prisoners in

her province.Read more about these projects

other projects around the world

theseedcompany.org

I thank the Lord for the

Gospel of Mark in Lubwisi.

Lubwisi leader

Setting Prisoners Free

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God uses many means toinitiate Bible translationprojects. In 1999, it wasclear that the Branchupeople had a strong desireto preserve their Branchulanguage and heritage.This was the open door

Christians needed to addthe New Testament to thegrowing body of Branchuliterature.

The church, consistingof about a few hundredbelievers scattered ina people group of over300,000, was only about

five years old. With abackdrop of civil conflictand overt religiousopposition, this courageousgroup requested help.

Very early in the project,George and other Branchuworkers published

calendars, songbooks,literacy booklets andsmall magazines in theirlanguage. They sent atraveling road show teamusing Branchu dancesand entertainment andfinishing with offeringmaterials in the language.People soon embraced theNew Testament translationproject as a local work andaccepted the Christianityassociated with it as a local

phenomenon rather thanas a foreign religion.

Over ten years as Scriptureportions became available,the number of believershas increased about500 percent! In one ofthree New Testament

dedications, more than650 believers gathered.Branchu Christianscontributed more than$3,000 toward thecelebration activities.Because Branchu speakerslive in two countries,the New Testament waspublished in two scripts oneach page.

The team distributed45 audio players toleaders who successfullycompleted their trainingand committed to startingnew listening groups. Thedevice will help grow newcell churches from theseed of Gods Word in theirmother tongue.

The New Testamentis complete, but Godswork among the Branchupeople is just beginning.The six-member Branchuteam is transitioninginto a new project to helpfacilitate translation in

a cluster project for fourneighboring languages.

Over ten years as Scrip-

ture portions became

available, the number of

believers has increased

about 500 percent!

Working Together

Were all a part o Gods

work, whether were doing

evangelism or translating Bibles

Its Gods plan to ulfll the Grea

Commission and do His work in

these last days. Im just honore

that I got to be there and be a

part o that. Mike Ketner,

international evangelistEEDLINKS, MAY 20106

Preserving Their Culture and Growing the Church

Photo by odd Sasnett (Te Seed Company)

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Gods plans are always more amazing than we can ever expect.

his has been clear as D.O.O.R. International (Deaf Opportunity

OutReach), a Seed Company partner in our sign-language

ranslations, builds its International Deaf Bible Translation and

raining Center in Kenya.

foreman on the construction project started a Bible study with

ome hearing workers and five came to Christ. Mwiti, a Deaf

onstruction worker wondered how he could bring this same

xperience to his 15 Deaf co-workers. Do you have something we

an use for our Deaf Bible study? he asked the DOOR staff. Then

e signed, But I really dont want books. Do you have something

we can use for our Deaf

Bible study?

For the first time,

the answer was an

enthusiastic YES!

Mwiti now has 17 copies

of the newly released

Kenyan Sign Language

DVD Bible Story and a storyboard he can use in teaching. The

literal English translation of the title is Know God How. The study

will help the learners understand the gospel and give them

opportunities to respond.

In addition to this evangelistic outreach, Deaf fellowships are usi

the DVD series for group study during their meetings. New believ

can find encouragement and can grow in their faith as they intera

with other Deaf in these fellowships.

While the men working at DOORs site are building a translation

center, the translated Scripture is building them. Theyre working

holy ground.

SEEDLINKS, MAY 20

New Lie: Dea believers in Kenya receiveGods Word or the frst time.

The members of the Deaf world see themselves not as

people with a disability, but as members of a language

minority whose native language happens to be a signedlanguage.John Holzman, Seed Company partner

Deaf Kenyans now have

a Scripture DVD andstoryboard book in their

language!

Photo by odd Sasnett (Te Seed Company)

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Sharing the Clear Message (Continued)Hes started numerous Deaf fellowships

and been a signer for the Cocos Sign

Language Bible DVD.

Deaf fellowships are hungry for the

DVD Bible. These groups, led solely

by Deaf believers, use the Scriptures

in DVD format along with dramatic

retelling, picture books called

storyboards and signed discussion

to help their members understand,memorize and effectively retell the

stories so they can apply the truth to

their lives.

Cocos is the first sign-language

Scripture project completed in South

Asia. An estimated nine million Deaf

live in this nation. Cocos is the mother

tongue for about 100,000 of them.

This DVD Scripture series is shattering

the sound barrier that has long

marginalized the Deaf community andisolated them from Gods truth.

3030 Matlock Road, Suite 104, Arlington, Texas 76015-2934Toll-free: 877-593-7333 Fax: (817) 557-2393

www.theseedcompany.org A Wycliffe Bible Translators affiliate

Parke BrownManaging EditorRick DembickiDesign Director Jenny EvansWriter Tanya CharfaurosDesigner

The Seed Company VisionGods Word transorming lives inevery language in this generation

Gods WordFor Every Language

In his Generation

SEEDLINKS, MAY 20108

Deaf Bible translators sign the

Bible passage for a camera

in front of a green screen that

is later digitally replaced with

pictures and other visuals.

Each day in translation projects around the world,

God is using highly qualified nationals to bring the

Bible to their people. Elvis Guenekean is just one of

the new candidates for The Seed Companys FACT

internship, a program that helps prepare Facilitators,

Advisors, Coaches and Trainers in their community.

Elvis isnt new to translation work. He has worked

faithfully as the translation project coordinator in

Central African Republic for almost ten years despite

a period of government instability.

Elvis writes about his experience: When our project

was forced to relocate because of violence in our area,

it served to reinforce my sense of calling to this work

and my trust in Gods protection on my life and that

of my family. He preserved us through enormous

difficulties, and this showed me that

He had a plan and purpose for me.

Seasoned Bible translators like Elvis

can provide valuable insight and

oversight for new projects. Thats why

The Seed Company launched a new

initiative to prepare capable project

leaders. FACT leverages capacity

among mother-tongue translators whose projects

are completed, so they can assist as project managers

in neighboring areas. This program will help build

appropriate translation capacity within 1,000

language groups over the next ten years.

Elvis is eager to begin. I want to be of service to the

work of Bible translation in my country and maybe

in the future even more broadly. Its certain God will

use him in a powerful way.

I want to be of service to the work of Bible

translation in my country and maybe in the

future even more broadly. Elvis

Meet Elvis GuenekeanSeed Company launches a new initiative

See photos from the recent Cocos dedication.

Visit theseedcompany.org/cocosphotos

Photos by Elyse Patten (Monsoon/Wyclife Australia)