“Let God Use You In Bible Translation Support and Move You Out of Your Comfort Zone
By Dan Wooding
ORANGE, CA (March 20, 2000) – (ASSIST) Bruce Smith, the new Chief Executive Officer of Wycliffe Associates USA, has challenged American Christians to “let God use you in Bible translation support and move you out of your comfort zone.”
Mr. Smith, who has left Mission Aviation Fellowship in Redlands, California, where, since 1994, he has been Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, to take up his new position with Wycliffe Associates in Orange, California, went on to say, “When you go with God, He creates comfort in places where you didn’t expect it, and it’s His strength that enables you to do things that you didn’t believe that you could do.”
“We are not trying to ask people to become uncomfortable; we are trying to help them broaden their vision to see God use them in a good way.”
Mr. Smith, who is married and has two daughters, ages 17 and 14, explained why he has taken the new job. “I took the position because the purpose and mission of the Wycliffe organizations to translate the Gospel is a strategic initiative; it’s essential for the extension of the Gospel around the world.”
“It’s a job that needs to be done well and we have the opportunity as Wycliffe Associates to link lay people in the church into that essential task of getting the Gospel to people who need it.”
In his first interview since his recent appointment, Mr. Smith, who enjoys creative writing, running marathons, international travel, and reading, said that he saw the work of Wycliffe Associates as being “very similar” to that of MAF.
“I’ve spent my whole mission life in service and for me it’s exactly the same expression of a servant attitude,” he said. “It’s coming alongside people and helping them do what they do well by doing what we do well.”
ANOTHER BRANCH OF THE FAMILY TREE
He admitted to being sad to have left MAF. “It was a very meaningful ministry,” he said. “I gave my heart and soul and life to it and I believe it’s a mission that is worthy of giving a life to and most of our friends and family are in MAF and I’ll miss them. From the looks of it, Wycliffe Associates is a similar family. It’s just another branch of the family tree.”
When asked why he thought that the Bible translation of Wycliffe was so important, he replied, “Can you imagine what it would be like not to have the Word of God in your own language? All you’d have to do is to go to a church some Sunday and confiscate their Bibles at the door and ask the people how they would feel about never having those Bibles back. If that occurred, people would be able to understand pretty quickly how important their Bibles are to them.”
“I have heard that some people ask, ‘Why don’t you just teach the people the language in which the Bible is already written, like French or English?’ That would be like asking an English speaker to read the Scriptures in Japanese and say to them that we’ll teach you Japanese so you can read what God wants to say to you. It’s too much of a stretch.”
“God needs to speak to you in your own language – your heart language – and He can. We have the capability of doing that now and we want to do it.”
When asked what his message was to American Christians about getting behind Wycliffe Associates, Mr. Smith said, “It is an opportunity to participate in a strategic effort in missions — getting the Gospel to new places. We want people to have an opportunity to join in, to use the gifts and skills and strengths that God has given them probably in a place and in a way that they haven’t done previously. This links them to this global effort rather than just being part of the local effort in their local church.”
“A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE”
“It’s a life changing experience. Once you become involved one time, you will want to continue to be involved because it is that kind of experience of getting linked up with the global church.”
Mr. Smith then explained some of the ways that American Christians can find out more about how they can be involved with the Bible translation ministry.
“There are some opportunities for people to find out more about the banquet program that Wycliffe Associates will be staging which begins on March 27 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and ends on May 9 in Houston, Texas,” he said. “This spring we have 100 banquets in several states all across the nation. People can go to a banquet and find out how they can get involved and they will also learn about Vision 2025, a new Wycliffe Bible Translators effort to see a Bible translation project in every language needing one by the year 2025. Wycliffe Associates support campaign to help make that happen is titled, ‘The Word in Every Language: Together We Can!’ Working together and coming alongside the translators we can support Vision 2025.”
“The Wycliffe Associates construction ministry helps to build and remodel the facilities needed worldwide to translate the Bible.”
“We also have a hospitality program where missionaries come back on furlough and people can open up their homes and invite these missionaries into their homes.”
Mr. Smith said that he wanted to encourage Christians to become involved with the prayer ministry and the Chapters ministry and if they call 1-800-THE WORD, they can find out more about these ministries.
He concluded by saying, “One of the things that is wonderful about Wycliffe Associates is that you don’t have to give up your job. God can use you right where you are today. We have short-term mission projects needing construction workers and helpers, VBS teachers, child-care workers, and prayer partners. You can take a couple of weeks off and work here in the U.S. or go over to Africa and make a difference. God can use you in little bits of time here and there in these efforts.”
Organized in 1967 by friends of Wycliffe missionaries, Wycliffe Associates is a ministry that supports Wycliffe Bible Translators around the world. Wycliffe Associates has over 50,000 members and friends across the US who support Wycliffe by praying, going as volunteers, and giving. God often works through the banquets to call people to serve in tangible ways.