A Translation 150 Years in the Waiting...

In a place where it is winter for literally half of the year, with snow covering the earth upwards of 6 feet, live a hunter-gatherer people known as the Khanty.

The Khanty are known to be brave, solemn and hardworking, showing little emotion.

They are also known for reindeer herding.

Located in Siberia, perhaps this place is a bit like a real-life Narnia before Aslan and the White Witch have their showdown – “It is always winter but never Christmas” here. (C.S. Lewis fans rejoice. All others may read The Chronicles of Narnia.)

Of these 32,000 people, there are so few Christians that they are considered to be “unreached” with respect to the Gospel.

The Khanty language has been waiting on a complete translation of Scripture since 1868, when bible stories and portions of Scripture were first translated into the language.

Recently Wycliffe Associates held a MAST Translation event: a two week translation workshop where church leaders among the Khanty gathered alongside Wycliffe team members to translate the Bible in their local language.

And that’s what they did.

Luke, James and 1 John were translated entirely. The so-called “People of the Forest” have now become a “People of the Word.”

For people who do not overtly display their emotions, many were overcome with tears of joy.

Wycliffe Associates even provided the Khanty people with tablets, translation recording equipment, and internet access.

This equipment will allow them access to resources that support the efficiency and accuracy of the translation process in the months and years to come.

One of these tools includes the Greek Lexicon Stephen is working on, which gives mother tongue translators – like the Khanty at the translation workshop – a simple, accessible, and accurate definition and explanation of every Greek word in the New Testament.

Our prayer is that our project and others like it will enable the Khanty to translate, read and understand God’s word in their native language, and so be transformed by the freedom found in the gospel.

Thanks be to God for sending his Son to save the Khanty.

Thanks be to God for speaking to his people – in the language of our hearts and theirs.

“Of Jesse's lineage coming. As men of old have sung.

It came, a flower bright. Amid the cold of winter.”