Where We Serve / Suena Bible Translation

Suena Bible Translation

Equip and train Suena translators to help bring the Old Testament to their community.

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Bible Translation

Country

  • Papua New Guinea

Region

  • South Pacific

Language Population

3,600

Training and Resources Drive Suena Bible Translation Forward

Expatriate missionaries translated the Suena New Testament in the 1970s. It is actively used by the Zaka Lutheran Church Circuit in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Today, Suena church leaders are working toward an Old Testament so congregations can read the whole of Scripture in their own language.

To succeed, the team requires support for translation and technology training, access to workshop resources, and financial assistance for leaders who travel for training.

Empowering Local Leaders to Unlock Scripture

Your prayers and financial gifts sustain the Suena Bible Translation work in Papua New Guinea. Local translators are receiving training, tools, and guidance needed to translate, check, and test Scripture with their own communities. This work is led by the church and carried out over time, with care for accuracy and understanding.

Program Goals

  1. Advance Old Testament translation
  2. Strengthen translation and checking skills
  3. Support back translation and consultant review
  4. Provide essential translation tools and equipment
  5. Care for the team’s spiritual and emotional health

Program Plan

Step 1

Advance Old Testament Translation

  • Conduct group checking, advisor checking, and community testing on Old Testament books in progress.
  • Current work includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Esther, and Jonah, with progress varying by book.

Step 2

Enhance Translator Skills

  • Provide Paratext training, back translation workshops, and Rev79 training to support current and new translators.
  • Recent training has focused on software use, reporting, and translation workflow.

Step 3

Support Emotional and Spiritual Health

  • Provide care for the translation team through fellowship and training.
  • A five‑day trauma healing workshop was completed in January 2026 in partnership with the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinea.
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Meet the Local Team

  • Team Members

    • Kepa Semu – Translator & Project Coordinator
    • Joe Soweni – Translator & Team Lead
    • Helen Ausa – Translator
    • Sola Uwi – Translator
    • Aki Dasiga – Translator
    • Bego Tera – Translator

  • Team Members

    • Nonege Out – Assistant Translator
    • Pakera Simon – Assistant Translator
    • Seblon Bego – Assistant Translator
    • Senior Kepa Anai – Assistant Translator
    • Gosa Zibo – Checker

Partner Organizations

Program Progress

  • Team checking, advisor checking, and community testing underway on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Esther, and Jonah
  • Community testing completed for Genesis and Jonah
  • Trauma healing workshop completed in January 2026
  • Ongoing Paratext, back translation, and Rev79 training supporting current and new translators 
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Regional News & Media

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Bring Scripture to the Suena Community

God speaks Suena. Your gift helps translate God’s Word into the Suena language.

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for wisdom and clarity during advisor checking and community testing, especially for Deuteronomy and other books in progress.

    Become a Prayer Partner

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for cooperation between translation teams and parish councils during training and community testing at Zaka

    Become a Prayer Partner

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for wisdom and unity as the Suena translators draft and check five Old Testament books.

    Become a Prayer Partner