Pray for the Rito New Testament

This is a thrilling time to be a part of the ministry of Bibles International, as we are currently printing more Bible translations than at any other time in our history.  It seems that every few months I hear of another project that is finally finished, and I can once again rejoice with those who are now able to read the Scriptures in their mother tongue.  Just this past weekend, two more New Testaments were dedicated in southeast Asia.  Others are scheduled to be printed soon, and they need your special prayers at this time.  Satan does not want God's Word to spread, and will do all he can to prevent it.  Please pray with us that "the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified" (1 Thess 3:1).

I'd like to start introducing you to some of these needy language groups, and to the men and women who are working diligently to translate the Bible into their own languages.  So keep watching in the "Ministry Notes" section for occasional updates and profiles of our Bible translation projects.

THE RITO NEW TESTAMENT

Rito is spoken in northern CAR and southern Chad

Rito translators Ndjoni Elisée and Kounandji Gilbert

The language group that I'd like to introduce to you today is the Rito language.  This language is spoken by over 20,000 people in northern Central African Republic and southern Chad.  There is no Bible printed in this language, in fact, there is nothing at all published in Rito except the literacy primers that are used to teach people to read the language.  So the first full-length book that people will read in Rito will be the New Testament!

What is even more exciting is that the Rito New Testament is nearly finished!  Translators Gilbert and Ndjoni, along with BI consultant Susan Hossack, are working on making the final corrections to the translation in preparation for printing.  If all goes well, the Rito people will have their New Testament in their hands next year!

HOW YOU CAN PRAY

Here are some ways that you can pray for the Rito New Testament project:

•  Pray that the Lord will give wisdom and strength to Gilbert, Ndjoni, and Susan as they complete the translation.
• Pray that they will be able to finish the final corrections on the translation this year so that it can be printed next year.
• Pray for the financial needs of the project.  It is expensive to produce a Bible translation!  About $9,182 are still needed to cover the printing costs of the Rito New Testament.
  
  

  

  Ndjoni listens intently during a translator training workshop

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you are interested in helping with the financial needs of the Rito New Testament project, here are some ideas:

• Designate a special missions offering, Sunday School offering, or VBS project toward the Rito New Testament. For more information, contact inbox@biblesint.org.
• Make the Rito a special family prayer/financial project.  You may like to request a special family devotional packet with information about the Rito project for the whole family, and instructions on how your kids can make their own "Bible Banks" to save money for the project.  Just $4.25 will print one New Testament, so this is something even children can be involved in.  To request a packet, email inbox@biblesint.org with "Family Prayer Project" in the subject line.

 

Thank you for praying! 

Map original source: User Eric Gaba in Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:African_continent-en.svg.