DanFull Bible Translation
Celebrate with us! The Dan Bible drafts are complete and now head to checking. Pray that Dan-speaking communities are united by God’s Word, and pray for their continued growth in faith and literacy.
Bible Translation
Country
- Liberia
Region
- West Africa
Language Population
280,000
Dan speakers pray for the full bible
A Dan speaker prayed for translation to resume after a 14-year interruption due to a civil war. The Dan New Testament (completed in 1981) was out of print, but the church grew, and the Dan people recognized the need for Scripture in their language.
The Bible Society prints and distributes around 500 draft copies of translated books to Dan speakers for proofreading. Local churches partner to assist with reviewing translated portions. “People love these booklets. They sit together and read while others listen and ask questions,” reports translator Rev. Levi Yentee.
They are eager to have the Bible – the full story of salvation.
Empower Local Leaders
We believe that every community should have the chance to read the Bible in the language they understand best. Your financial gifts and prayers enable local leaders in Liberia to complete the final stages of Bible translation and bring God’s Word to the Dan-speaking communities.
Program Goals
- Team check Ephesians, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 Corinthians, Colossians, Philemon, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude, and Revelation – a total of 2,368 verses.
- Complete the final review of the full Dan Bible.
dan Program Plan
Step 1
Progress through the team checking phase of 2,368 New Testament verses.
Step 2
Invite the community into a checking process to improve clarity and accuracy.
Step 3
Complete the final review of the full Dan Bible and prepare for publishing.
Meet the Local Team
Team Members
The team consists of 16 people: 2 consultants, 4 translators, 6 members of the review team, 1 CAP officer and 3 admin staff
Dr. Becky Grossmann
Becky currently serves as a Bible translation consultant for projects in Liberia and Sierra Leone. She facilitated the completion of the Gola New Testament in 2019. She is involved with four whole Bible translation projects, particularly for the Bandi, Dan and Maan people in Liberia and the Themne people in Sierra Leone. Becky assists translators via innovative technologies such as internet communications and teleconferencing, with periodic in-person visits.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
The Dan language crosses the borders of three countries (Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast).
38 subdialects have been identified.
Whistle speech has been reported in the Ethnologue.
Many Dan speakers farm rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, cocoa and coffee; as well as livestock, including: cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens.
Program Progress
Drafting of the Dan Full Bible has been completed!
