The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is the largest Lutheran church in the world. But over half of the 85 languages in Ethiopia do not have Scripture in their own language.
Mekane Yesus Seminary (MYS) and Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) partnered in a pilot seminary program to prepare future pastors to serve minority language communities in Ethiopia through Bible translation. The first cohort at MYS (15 seminarians) received training to become pastors and Bible translators.
Trained pastors will provide leadership, facilitate partnerships, and build sustainability. MYS and LBT envision multiple cohorts graduating from the program. More people will be equipped to translate the Word resulting in millions with access to Scripture in their own language.
GOALS
Continue to train the existing 35 Bible Translation students, preparing 15 of them for graduation.
Select and enroll 20 new Bible Translation students to begin training.
IMPACT
Future church leaders are inspired to value translation in the heart language.
Sustainability increases as graduates of the program serve in Bible translation locally and throughout Africa.
FIELD NOTES
Help language communities in Ethiopia gain access to Scripture in the language that speaks most deeply to their hearts. The Christian churches in Ethiopia anxiously await the arrival of God’s Word to give them the tools they need for personal spiritual enrichment as well as effective outreach to their people.
Want to get involved?
Contact a recruiter and see
what options are available!