Unfoldingword

Strategic Language Resources: The Strategic Language Resources (SLR) portfolio aims to address the resource gaps and challenges that impede Bible translation, particularly in unreached communities. It provides open-licensed and accessible resources and tools to empower local church networks to lead translation efforts. This approach ensures sustainable access to Scripture in the languages that resonate most with these communities. The portfolio focuses on several key needs, including equipping church networks with resources to reach unreached people groups and translate the Bible into their heart languages. It also aims to enhance accessibility by providing unrestricted access to Bible translation sources and training materials for the global church in languages they understand. Additionally, it seeks to overcome barriers, such as reliance on all-rights-reserved English resources.In 2024, the Organization worked with BiblioNexus, a collaborating foreign organization, to implement AI-assisted tools to help complete the English Old Testament resources in 2 years instead of 5, which will accelerate the process and create valuable content for other Strategic Languages. The Eurasian team of collaborating foreign organizations completed five book packages in Russian and another five books of Scriptures were translated into the Ukrainian Romani Ruskoroma language. In the Middle East, the Bible Society of Jordan, a collaborating foreign organization, has assembled a new translation team and created 12 translation resources for three books of the New Testament. The resources created in MSA are then being tested by the Organization's collaborating foreign organizations in Sudan.

Technology: The Tools and Technology portfolio addresses the critical shortage of accessible, self-service Bible translation tools for church networks in under-resourced and restricted-access areas. It also highlights the need for global software developers to engage in this ministry. Current translation tools often require advanced technological infrastructure, formal training, and external oversight, creating barriers for many language communities that desire Scripture in their heart language. Key issues being addressed include the spiritual needs of people who do not have access to a complete Bible, technological obstacles, and the fact that existing Bible translation tools typically require internet access, consultants, and complex software. These requirements make them inaccessible to churches in remote areas. Additionally, the initiative seeks to address the persecution and security risks faced by churches in restricted-access regions by providing decentralized, offline-capable solutions that allow them to continue translation efforts safely. Another important focus is meeting the needs of oral cultures and low literacy communities, particularly for unreached people who rely on oral learning. This portfolio initiative aims to provide open-licensed, mobile-friendly, and offline translation tools, empowering churches to lead their own translation efforts without depending on external experts.As of 2024, over 2,700 translators worldwide use the Organization's translationCore toolset. The Open Components Ecosystem (OCE) continues to expand, with over 50 participants from 10 collaborating foreign organizations who attended the two-week event featuring seven sessions on AI language models, VS Code Extensions, and key initiatives like Aquifer and Platform.Bible. The developers collaborated in teams, both in person across multiple global locations and remotely, leading to the presentation of 11 innovative projects. Other achievements include building an offline capability into the rebranded LEVEL.Bible translation software (previously VCANA) and continued development of Scribe SE.

Catalyzation: The Catalyzation Portfolio serves a vital purpose by equipping church leaders and translation practitioners with Church-Centric Bible Translation methodologies. This initiative provides a global platform for sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and developing innovative solutions. It aims to strengthen collaborative partnerships and networks among churches, translation organizations, and funding bodies while informing and inviting churches and organizations to engage in projects and collaborations. By tackling these gaps, the project will accelerate the availability of Scripture in new languages, promote sustainable translation movements, and ensure that churches remain at the forefront of Bible translation efforts.In 2024, the Organization held its third annual Global Church Centric Bible Translation Forum with 63 participants representing 24 different collaborating foreign organizations of various nationalities. Nearly half of the participants were new to the forum in 2024, expanding the Organization's reach and influence. In 2024, the Organization began training a church planting network with more than ten million house churches. The Organization also began to see an exciting increase of cross-network training with collaborating foreign organizations in Latin America providing training for an Island-Asia team, collaborating foreign organizations in South Asia training a new South Asian team, and collaborating foreign organizations in Sudan training a team in Kenya.