Pokomo Bible

Shedrack Falama is not just a translator. He wears shoes of different needs of the Pokomo community he translates the Scriptures for. In his community, he is not Shedrack Falama but BTL. At one time, he was invited to speak at a funeral in a neighboring village, “I shared of our Bible Translation progress of the Pokomo Old Testament. This is what the people expect of my colleagues and I to tell them in every event they invite us to.”

As he made his way back to his seat, a Giryama pastor approached him inquiring if he had carried a copy of their Pokomo New Testament. “I had carried neither a hymn book nor a New Testament, I never imagined of anyone in need of it and especially in a Giryama populated area.” As he conversed with the pastor, someone who had sat close to them overheard the pastor’s question. “He too stood to join in our conversation with the pastor. He also expressed interest of a copy. I was overwhelmed.”

Shedrack Falama’s office was 10KM away from the burial venue; he decided to go for the two Bibles. “I rode my motorbike to our office. When I got back, on the mourners seeing me hand over the copies to the two fellows, more than 10 others came forward expressing needs for their own copies.”

“My Bibleless hands did not worry of what they were going to give to the brethren that stood before me; instead, my heart rejoiced for what the Lord was doing in the lives of His people. I saw a thirst for God’s Word in a way that I could not understand.” Since Falama could ride back to his office, he promised the growing number to carry enough copies for them as soon as he could.

*Pokomo New Testament was dedicated in 2005. Translation for the Old Testament is at its final stages and we are hopeful that in the next 2 years, Pokomo full Bible will be launched and dedicated. Pray for the remaining process of the translation to proceed well.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

This quote by Nelson Mandela speaks to the heart of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto in a special way. In his address to the Kenyan Spiritual Fathers at a Bible translation breakfast on 18th October 2018, he narrated to them how God used his own father for his benefit. “My father never went to school but through reading the Word of God in a language that he could understand, he became literate and understood the value of taking his children to school. I believe that they are other people who will benefit the way I did if the Bible was in their language,” he said

The Deputy President has attended a number of Bible Dedications in the past and is conversant with the enthusiasm and emotions of the communities as they receive the Word of God in their language. “In the year 2012, BTL invited me for the Sabaot Bible Dedication. I was moved to see the community members shed tears as the Word of God was being read to them.”

Having supported Literacy and Translation projects that are run by Bible Translation & Literacy (BTL) and Bible Society of Kenya (BSK), His Excellency at some point was confused by what the two organizations were each involved in. He therefore invited Reverend Peter Munguti, BTL’s National Director and Mrs. Elizabeth Muriuki, BSK’s General Secretary to his office seeking to understand what each organization was engaged in. “Having sat with them and understood their work, I saw the challenges that they go through in putting God’s Word in the hands of the Bibleless communities that they serve in; many years of translations, limited resources and I saw that there was value in what they were doing. I therefore thought that it would be good for all of us to put one big effort to allow these organizations to do their work in an organized manner than how they have been doing.”

With quite a number of communities yet to receive God’s Word in their languages, and especially the small language groups, The Deputy president reminded his congregation of how God had blessed them with more than they could share. “If you read the list of communities today which do not have a Bible in their language, majority are the minorities. Let us not allow them to be minorities here on earth and minorities in heaven. I thought God had provided an opportunity for me to assist and work with our spiritual Fathers to evangelize through the Word of God by ensuring that these communities that do not have the Bible in their language, get to read God’s Word.

It is not an individual effort but an effort of millions of people. This is an effort that belongs to all of us as Christians in this nation. Politicians in the National Assembly, Senate and County Assemblies are being mobilized because this is our moment to make a statement that this is a nation of God,” he concluded.

When the Deputy President shared with the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, about his early commitment that morning and the vision he had for the Bibleless communities in Kenya, the President was elated to be part of the fundraiser on 6th December 2018 as the Chief Guest. Praise the Lord for His unmerited favour toward the Bibleless communities. Pray for the plans of that big day.

To be part of this noble task, share this vision to your families, friends, church and colleagues. You can also send your contribution via:

Paybill No: 777332
Account No: Your name or name of your church

or

Account Name: Kenya Bible Translation Trust Bank and Branch
Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Parliament Road Branch
Account No.: 01122163819300