Voices of Courage: Female Bible Translators in the Shadows of Persecution

miles1727
Aug 25
3 min read

Not Forgotten in Prayer: Bible Translators

How Women Bring God’s Word to Their Communities Against the Odds

In a country marked by uncertainty, persecution and danger have driven men from their homes and families. Despite these unsettling conditions, a quiet but powerful revolution stirs within the church. Void of the faithful men who, in the past, led the secret congregations, women have risen to translate Scripture.These courageous Christians ensure the Truth reaches their language community.

The Word for the World shares this inspiring testimony of an all-female oral Bible translation team serving the Langdi* people.

The New Face of Bible Translation

The Langdi people’s world is shaped by hardship and disruption. Living in a sensitive country where male believers face intense scrutiny and danger, many have been forced to flee leaving behind families, livelihoods, and a vacuum of leadership within the church and community. Now, the daughters of the Lord carry faith forward and shoulder the sacred responsibility of Bible translation.

Women have long taken active roles in indigenous churches; even so, the current situation in Bible translation is extraordinary. Women across countries and language groups step up to rigorously train in Bible translation, mastering linguistics, exegesis, textual criticism, and cultural contextualization.

Women’s Traditional Roles and the Langdi Example

Most of the 3,000+ bibleless language groups live in hard-to-reach, often persecuted regions with rigid societal roles. Women typically care for families at home and work the fields, harvesting and selling produce at local markets. This is especially true among the Langdi people. There, women generally receive only an elementary education, and a fortunate few progress to secondary schooling. Most women cannot imagine receiving a biblical education, let alone becoming Bible translators.

However, with men forced to leave the country or remain in hiding, trusted women take up the crucial work of Bible translation, answering the urgent need for Truth and comfort in perilous times.

From Hesitation to Hope: The Journey of the Langdi Women

At first, the women selected for the Langdi project hesitated, questioning their worth and doubting their church leaders. But as these brave souls trained through The Word for the World’s Bible translation courses and progressed toward diplomas, transformation unfolded. The once-timid females embraced the sacred work before them. Confidence blossomed as translation drafts underwent community and consultant checks. Momentum gathered. Initial tentative steps became a determined stride, and soon passion exploded within the team. The women poured their hearts into the work, realizing they were not just translating ancient texts but shaping their culture’s spiritual future.

The Rarity and Power of All-Women Teams

Though women have long contributed to indigenous Bible translation alongside men, all-women teams remain rare, particularly in cultures with deeply ingrained gender roles. Around worn tables, these Holy Spirit-led women use laptops, objects, and papers to internalize Scripture as they pray over every oral translation phrase.

Impact, Hope, and a Call to Service

The impact of these women’s efforts resonates far beyond the translation itself. Their hidden labor opens God’s Word to their communities and inspires Christian girls within the community.

In a world where risk and adversity are ever-present, the faithful service of these translators has become a beacon of hope. These uber-brave women’s legacy proves that even in the hardest circumstances, God equips those willing to serve.