Dear Faithful Partners in the Bible translation Ministry,

 

I want to share with you what the Lord impressed upon me a few hours ago, after reading a Facebook post of a friend regarding Joseph. In essence my friend was saying that Joseph, the husband of Mary who bore our Lord Jesus, was probably the most overlooked person in the life of our Lord Jesus. There was no recorded of any word he spoke, nor did he have any testimony. His name was mentioned a few times in the Bible and that ends his record. God simply used him to accomplish His purpose of facilitating the coming of the Messiah into the world. He stood as the earthly father of the Lord Jesus to take care of His needs as a baby, as a toddler, as a young boy, a young man, until he started his ministry thirty three years later. We know very little about Joseph because there was hardly anything told us about him.

As I was thinking about this, you my faithful partners in the ministry of Bible translation came to mind. I see you as like Joseph. Most likely, besides me, not many people know your role in God’s plan. But just as Joseph facilitated the coming of the Messiah into this world, you are also facilitating the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, into the different ethnic groups (nations) around the world through the translated Word (Jesus, the Messiah, John 1:1) of God. My heart rejoices greatly as I think about your role in the ministry of Bible translation through the perspective of Joseph’s role in the life of our Lord Jesus. The following activities in 2019 illustrate how we facilitate the coming of the Messiah into the different ethnic groups.

• The translation of Leviticus and Numbers in Isnag have been revised and checked. This brings the total of checked OT books to 56%.

• I have finished checking the translation of the New Testament in Ayta Abellen, and it is being prepared for publication.

• I am almost finished with the checking of the New Testament translation in the Ayta Mag-Ind language. I have four more books left to check: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans and Hebrews; difficult books.

• More than 200 people attended our Holy Week retreat on April 18-21.

• There were 109 children, ages 3-10, who attended our Vacation Bible School from 4 villages.

• There were 63 young people from 10 different villages who attended the three day Youth Camp. 40 of the campers made decisions to accept Jesus Christ into lives as their Lord and Savior, and 23 of them rededicated their lives to the Lord. Two of the campers indicated their desire to go Bible School.

As you can see, the Ayta Abellen and the Ayta Mag-Indi people of the northern Philippines will soon encounter the Messiah, speaking to them in their heart language. These are just two of the many ethnic groups around the world to whom the Messiah will soon come. Just imagine, you are one of those who is facilitating His coming to them! It is a great privilege to serve with you in this capacity.

I hope that from now on you will see yourselves through the “Joseph perspective,” and be encouraged as you continue to serve God in the capacity he has given you.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Joyfully serving the Lord Jesus in Bible Translation in partnership with you,

Rudy

For more Information Email:

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Isnag Ministries Foundation

5701 Davis Rd,

Waxhaw, NC 28173

Phone: 704-843-1793

Dibagat, Philippines

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Dibagat is in the province of Apayao, in the northern Philippines on the island of Luzon.