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In 2024, Bible Societies worldwide completed Scripture translations in 105 languages, benefitting more than 580 million people. Now, for the first time in history, over 6.1 billion people have access to the full Bible in their heart language!
Here, Rev. Dirk Gevers, UBS Secretary General, reflects on the progress made on Bible translation throughout 2024:
“The global Bible translation movement led by Bible Societies, which began over 220 years ago, celebrates a significant milestone in 2024—providing Scripture in the heart language of over 6.1 billion people.
“However, much work remains, as 48% of languages still lack any biblical text. Many of these are spoken languages used by small communities; without intervention, they risk being lost. As Bible Societies, our core mission is to make the Bible accessible to everyone, everywhere. In the process, global linguistic diversity is also preserved and enriched.”
Download the full 2024 Translation Statistics Report below.
Bible Society New Zealand Group is delighted to announce the appointment of David McLay as the new Chair of our Board of Trustees. David brings a wealth of experience and a long-standing commitment to the Bible Society, having been involved since 2010.
David’s journey with the Bible Society includes serving as a board member and later as Chair of the fundraising subsidiary, Bible Society Development Fund. He joined the National Board in 2018 and has most recently chaired its Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
David’s extensive background as a tax barrister, with expertise in trusts, charities, Parliamentary practice, and Iwi structuring and Treaty settlements, will be invaluable to his new role. He has a strong history of service in various Christian and community organisations, including roles with the Church Growth Resources Trust, Anglican Cursillo, the Diocesan Council of the Wellington Diocese, and the Kaiārahi Trust. His experience also includes chairing the Rewrite Advisory Panel for the Income Tax Act and membership of the GST Advisory Panel.
We want to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing Chair, the Rev. James Coleman, for his exceptional service and leadership over the past eight years. James’s dedication has played a crucial role in the success of the Bible Society, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We are also thankful that he will remain on as trustee until our AGM later this year, where we will formally bid him farewell. Interestingly, both James and David share a background in the Anglican Parish of Karori, later moved to the Hutt Valley, and have a heart for the mission.
Join us in warmly welcoming David McLay to his new role and in thanking James Coleman for his significant contributions to the organisation. We look forward to David’s leadership as we continue our mission.
Grow in Faith:
*The Field Guide to the Bible $7.00 retail price offer is current until
31 December 2024. Offer is available in-store and online. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Use Coupon Code: GROW52 online at the checkout or show the ad in-store to redeem the offer. Trade not supplied.
Connect With God:
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Heart Languages:
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World of Difference:
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More Than a Bookshop:
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Sword of the Spirit:
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A new translation is a completely fresh translation into a language that already has Scripture. This is not based on an existing translation, but is a completely new translation, using source texts.
A revised translation updates a translation that already exists so the language is understandable to the community today.
A first translation is the first time that Scripture is made available in a language. For instance, a first Bible is the first time that language has received the full Bible. A first portion is sometimes the first time a language receives any Scripture at all, but it could also be the first time that it receives an additional portion of Scripture. For example, a language may already have the New Testament, but it then receives the Book of Ruth for the first time.
