32nd translation of the Bible completed in Congo

Each of the past two Sundays I was privileged to attend the dedications of Mbandja Bible, first at Yakamba SW of Gemena near Budjala and the most recent at Gbado-Gboketsa NE of Gemena.  The Mbandja Bible translation is the 32^nd completed translation in DR Congo which has 215 different languages.  Both were wonderful celebrations that honored the Lord, reminded people of the history of the translation and challenged the denominations and local churches to put this new tool to work.

The Mbandja Bible translation project started 32 years ago when Larry and Cami Robbins arrived at Kala and began linguistic analysis of the language. During their three years in Congo they completed the Gospel of Mark.  The full New Testament translation project did not start until 1989 when Jim Fultz returned and a Mbandja translation team of Congolese translators was trained.  Rev Goma Mabele, Rev. Abulu and M. Kosema were the first translation team.  These men each came from a different denomination, Evangelical Covenant (CEUM), Evangelical Free (CECU) and Catholic, and thus each the main denominations in the area where the Mbandja people lived has a part in the translation.  The NT was completed and dedicated in 2001 and the OT completed in 2010 with the dedication just this month. There are two versions of the entire Bible, a Protestant and a Catholic one including the Apocrypha.

Rev Goma presenting the Bible to REv Kongo

As he presented the Bible to Rev Christophe Kongo, General Secretary of the Bible Society Rev. Goma stated “this translation fulfills all the criteria established by Wycliffe, SIL and the Bible Society.  It is accurate, clear and natural.  As a representative of the translation team I am giving this Bible to the Bible Society.  All God’s peole should read this work.”

Bible presented to CEUM VP Vungbo

“This Bible is being given to the church,” said Rev Kongo.  “Our prayer is that it will be a blessing to the church and the people.  We, the Bible Society, have completed our work.  Now it is for you, the church, to do you work.”   The translation was the work of a long-term partnership between Wycliffe Bible Translators, SIL International, The Seed Company, the Bible Society of DR Congo and ACOTBA-SUBO (the local Bible translation and literacy organization).

Galen passing the relay baton to the church representatives

Galen Johnson, Coordinator for The Seed Company (TSCO) for French speaking Africa, handed a relay baton to representatives from the three churches and explained, “We are in a relay race that we are all in together.  In a relay race the baton goes from one person to the next on the team.  Our work as TSCO is finished and we pass the baton to you the churches to share and teach this Bible.”

Larry Robbins receiving a copy of the Bible for SIL

Larry Robbins of Wycliffe and SIL commented to the congregation, “It is truly precious and deeply moving to be part of this joyous celebration.  This day is a great joy for me and my family.  Thanks to all the churches who supported us and this project and to ACOTBA-SUBO.  May the book be read, studied and memorized and may it transform people’s lives.  We pray that the Word of God in this language will become daily food for the souls of the Mbandja people.”

the crowd peering in

2,159 attended the celebration at the Yakamba Catholic mission and 2,222 attended the celebration at Gbado-Gboketsa.  At each of the celebrations Bibles were given away to the translators and representatives of the churches with the charge that they be read and preached from regularly in services and homes.  There was a special price of only $8 for a Bible the day of the dedication.  The normal price is $10.

Below Pastor Goma reads from John 17:8-17.

When asked about the significance of having the Bible in his own heart language Rev. Goma commented, “it is very significant in the sense that now the Mbandja [people] have World of God in their own proper language and thus they will have no excuse before God on the last day, judgment day.  The existence of the Bible in our language is a large contribution to preserving our language and culture for the coming generations.  It will serve as a linguistic reference for generations to come.”

In the vehicle going to and from the dedications I asked the Mbandja passengers what difference it meant to be able to read the Bible in their own heart language. They commented:

• “when I read texts which say ‘God said …’ I understand that God said those words, but when I read it in Mbandja it is like God is speaking directly to me.
• “The translation makes if God is speaking through my ancestors right to me.”
• “It sounds just exactly like we talk with no other Lingala or French words added in.”

drummers

Mbandja cultural presentation

kids sitting in a coffee bush to see over the crowd