KEREWEBIBLE TRANSLATION
Equip the team to translate portions of the Old and New Testaments. Increase their capacity through workshops and training. Deepen relationships with church partners and the community.
Bible Translation
Country
- Tanzania
Region
- East Africa
Language Population
241,000
God’s Word is reaching the Unreached
“Always, we are thinking of going to reach the unreached,” says Rev. Andrew Petro Gulle, bishop of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). But decades of outreach to the Kerewe people of Ukerewe Island had little effect. Church attendance was sparse because worship was held in Swahili, which was not well understood.
The ELVD, in partnership with Lutheran Bible Translators, began translation work in 2018. Preliminary drafts of Scripture portions have been well-received by the community. Scripture apps allow people to read and listen to God’s Word on their phones. Church attendance is increasing as people anticipate the day when worship will be conducted entirely in Kerewe.
Empower Local Leaders
We believe that every community should have the chance to read the Bible in the language they know best, led by people they trust and respect. Your financial gifts and prayers enable us to equip leaders in Tanzania to translate the Bible into the Kerewe language spoken in northern Tanzania.
Program Goals
- Build capacity of local leaders via workshops with the consultant, translation workshops, advanced English training, and computer training.
- Deepen engagement within the community, including meetings with the other bishops and church leaders from other denominations.
Kerewe Bible Translation Program Plan
Step 1
Develop and distribute preliminary drafts of Scripture portions for Old and New Testaments.
Step 2
Draft the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Step 3
Promote Scripture use in worship entirely in Kerewe.
Meet the Local Team
team members
Program Manager
Assistant Bishop Lema
Translation Coordinator
Rev. Domisian Alloys
Additional Team Members
• 3 translators
• 1 back translator
Dr. Michael Megahan
Rev. Dr. Michael Megahan and his wife, Jo Ann, began in missions in Tanzania in 1982. Michael later served as assistant to the bishop of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese in Mwanza. He was sent to north central Kenya to work with the Samburu tribe. In 2004, the Megahans began their work with Lutheran Bible Translators.
Ruthie Wagner
Ruthie is a Translation Advisor and Exegete working with translation programs in Tanzania, particularly with the Kerewe Bible Translation Program. Ruthie primarily works remotely from Minnesota and travels to Tanzania a couple times a year. She teaches and trains Bible translators using technologies such as YouTube, Zoom, and WhatsApp.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
The Kerewe people make a living through farming and fishing on Ukerewe Island.
Kerewe, belonging to the Niger-Congo language family, is an endangered indigenous language.
Three dialects include: Bwiro, Irugwa, Mumbuga
