Dear Friends:
Linda and I decided in July 2018, after starting Bible translations with 26 language groups over a two-year period with Wycliffe Associates, that we would rather be involved with just one language group until the completion of their Bible than continue with new starts. Our long-term mission relationship with Brazil led us to working with the Deaf of Brazil and the translation of a Brazilian sign language Bible.
The goal of Wycliffe Associates is to start a Bible translation project with a language group, turn it over to the group as quickly as possible, and move on to another language group to get them started. We talked to Wycliffe to see if they might be interested in keeping us on as associates with a focus on only one language. It was expressed to us that there was no such position at Wycliffe and there was concern about creating a position outside the existing organizational structure. In April 2019, Wycliffe Associates did agree to keep us on as associates and give our ministry focus a try. After one year of experimenting with the new relationship, it was mutually agreed that our long-term, single language focus was not a good fit with Wycliffe Associates’ objectives.
Linda and I know there are mission organizations that are better suited to providing the organizational support we need for our specific ministry vision. We are in the process of affiliating with a new missions organization that can give us the support we need for ministry success, which is a Brazilian sign language Bible for the 2 million Deaf of Brazil. Our goal is to complete this transition to a new organization by August 2020. We ask you to pray with us the Lord will lead us to a fruitful and joyful partnership. Thank you for your encouragement and support.
Paul Fahnestock
