Wycliffe Bible Translators

Without access to Scripture in your language, life can seem hopeless. WYCLIFFE offers hope by creating language tools, teaching literacy and translating the Bible worldwide. Help open doors. Change lives!

Why do we exist?

Wycliffe was founded in 1942 by William Cameron Townsend. A missionary to the Indians of Guatemala, Townsend caught the vision for translation when Cakchiquel-speaking men expressed concern that the Bible was not available in the language they understood best. Townsend resolved that every man, woman and child should be able to read God’s Word in their own language.

Since its inception, Wycliffe has made great progress in Bible translation around the world. To date, Wycliffe and partner organizations have played a part in the translation of Bibles or New Testaments in approximately 740 languages, representing more than 82 million people. Yet much work remains.

Of the nearly 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, more than 2,300 do not have any Scripture in their own language, and many have no writing system. To meet this need, Wycliffe has adopted Vision 2025—an initiative to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by 2025.

What have you accomplished?

Wycliffe's work doesn't end with translation. Literacy training is an important part of the task. Without this step—or some other provision, such as audio recordings of Scripture—a completed translation may fail to move from the page to the heart.

People who learn to read the Scriptures often find that their new literacy skills have added benefits. Wycliffe programs promote mother-tongue literacy and teach basic math skills, so important in the marketplace.  Literacy opens the door to a realm of exciting, new possibilities such as better jobs, access to a variety of information, and increased participation in the broader culture. Literacy empowers people to provide for their families.

Additionally, Wycliffe often translates health information.  For example, Wycliffe and its partners have provided life-saving information by promoting the translation and community use of Kande’s Story, the true story of AIDS orphans.  It is now available in approximately 100 languages in 14 countries.

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