The kind gesture!
November 14, 2023by BTL CommsBlog
by Daisy Kilel
“There are 55,100 Laka people living in the Sous Prefecture of Baibokoum, Moundou, Doba, and Ndjamena, the majority being Christians,” read the first sentence of the Laka Project proposal dated November 28, 2012. “The Laka community desires to have the word of God in their mother tongue; they have established a translation committee; some pastors are available to do the translation work; but we are limited in resources to start the work.” The problem statement read.
About 10 years ago, ATALTRAB, BTL’s sister organization based in Chad, aspired to provide the Scriptures in the heart language of the Laka people. However, they faced a financial hurdle in initiating the translation work and contacted BTL for assistance. In response to this need, BTL funded the initial two years of translation for this project, officially launched five months after the proposal was shared with BTL. During the launch, as shared in the progress report, “translation work starting in the Laka community became a reality because of the grace of God. The Lord sent us His miracle through BTL to allow us to begin the translation among the Laka people.”
The eagerness to have the word of God was felt not only by the community but also by the translators. Within three months of the translation work starting, they had drafted the gospel of Mark. Not only that, they immediately embarked on drafting the gospel of Matthew. They kept the momentum so that by the 10th year since translation work started among the Laka community, the New Testament was dedicated and launched on March 31, 2023, for use in the community. Praise the Lord!
Two months after the dedication and launch, an opportunity arose for ATALTRAB’s Board Chairman and the Director to travel to Kenya for the Wycliffe Global Alliance Africa meetings, of which BTL and ATALTRAB are members. As a testimony of God’s faithfulness and as a gesture of appreciation and recognition for BTL’s support in assisting to jumpstart the translation work among the Laka people, they carried a copy of the Laka New Testament and presented it to BTL’s Board Chairman and the National Director. There was so much laughter and joy during the short moments of handing over the Laka New Testament to the BTL’s leadership team.
Praise the Lord for the word of God in the Laka language. Pray that this Word brings hope and grace as the Laka people read it. Pray for impact and salvation.
