Learning from Church Leaders in Togo
We spent time with a group of seven church leaders talking about the church in Togo, its role in the country, the impact of mother tongue scriptures, and need for more translation of scriptures and literacy courses to take place. These church leaders represent several church federations that together represent hundreds of local denominations across the country. Wycliffe Togo is taking a leading role in communicating with churches and church federations about Bible translation and literacy needs in their country, and they are encouraging the active use of existing translated scripture. Below is some of what these leaders shared with us.
“The challenge is you preach in French or even preach in a local language, but when you read the Bible, it’s often done in English and French.” We have to do more to encourage the use of available scriptures and translate for those that don’t have it.
“Those who teach feel more at ease when they read the Bible in their local language because they are confident it is understood.”
“There is a lady [in one of our local churches] who can only read in her language. The whole Bible is available in it. The pastor asked her if she would be at this level of faith without the Bible. She said no, and that is why she supports the work of Bible translation.”
“It is our turn to be involved and help others to have the Bible in their language. The church is involved, but they need to more–more translation and literacy. Literacy because it is only when people can read that they will be impacted [by scripture].”
“When you read in French and then translate it [verbally], they question if that is really what it means in their language. When [a written Bible] translation is done, it helps people to understand that God’s word is not just for white people.”
“In the church [some] people feel they can only pray in French. They say they can’t pray because they don’t speak French. More needs to be done with pastors in literacy so they can read and preach in their [local] languages”
“As you do evangelism, and you meet someone who speaks your language and you speak to them and read in your language, it has a bigger impact.”
“In the past when we would have a wedding ceremony, the pastor would just read it in French.” The couple would just answer ‘yes’ to the vows without really understanding what they had agreed to. “But, now even this can be translated.”
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