Project Summary
2020
The translation project for Kivunjo Bible started in January 1992 and was expected to end in December; 2014.The completion date has been revised to 2019 due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding. The New Testament was completed, Published and officially launched in November 2000; the project is in the stage of Typesetting.
In 2020 we plan to finish up Launching the Kivunjo Bible.
It is desired that in 2020 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Launching
Traditionally the Kivunjo community is marred by evil practices such as witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and idolatry. Kivunjo people have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years. This continuing translation is a blessing to this community. It is expected that, availability of the Bible in kivunjo language will have a positive effect on church growth and deepening of personal faith that will lead to changed behavior in the community-minimizing the bad practices. . Having the Bible in their language will not only enable them to understand the Bible better, but it will also help preserve their language and cultural heritage.It is targeted that a total of 250,000 people will benefit from this project.
Our partners in this project are Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches in the project area. The Bible Society has learnt that, Church involvement in the Bible cause brings great success to Bible translation work.
This project in line with Philadelphia promise and the Bible Society of Tanzania Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
2019
The translation project for Kivunjo Bible started in January 1992 and was expected to end in December; 2014.The completion date has been revised to 2019 due to reasons beyond our control including inadequate funding. The New Testament was completed, Published and officially launched in November 2000; the project is in the stage of Typesetting. In 2019 we plan to finish up Printing and Launching the Kivunjo Bible.
It is desired that in 2019 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Printing
- Launching
Traditionally the Kivunjo community is marred by evil practices such as witchcraft, alcoholism, polygamy and idolatry. Kivunjo people have longed to have the Bible in their mother tongue for many years. This continuing translation is a blessing to this community. It is expected that, availability of the Bible in kivunjo language will have a positive effect on church growth and deepening of personal faith that will lead to changed behavior in the community-minimizing the bad practices. . Having the Bible in their language will not only enable them to understand the Bible better, but it will also help preserve their language and cultural heritage.
It is targeted that a total of 250,000 people will benefit from this project.
Our partners in this project are Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches in the project area. The Bible Society has learnt that, Church involvement in the Bible cause brings great success to Bible translation work.
This project in line with Philadelphia promise and the Bible Society of Tanzania Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
Project Goal
To make available the Bible available in the Kivunjo language for faith and spiritual enhancement among the Kivunjo language speakers.
Project goal’s relationship to overall bible society strategy
To translate the Bible in Kivunjo language for mission work among kivunjo speakers. This is in line with the Bible Society’s
Strategic objectives that emphasizes the Society’s responsibility of facilitating translation of the Bible into languages without Bible, publish, and print the same – making it available to the community as the Word of God helping them to grow both in faith and spiritually
Strategic Fit
Connecting your project to your Bible Society’s overall mission strategy
How does your project relate to the Philadelphia Promise?
The Philadelphia Promise affirms the fellowship commitment to make the
Work of God available to all people in languages they prefer or understand better
through the process of translation, publishing, printing, distribution,
Bible engagement and advocacy. This translation project therefore, falls in
line with the Promise.
About the beneficiaries
How did you arrive at your beneficiary impact number?
According to the Tanzanian statistics
Beneficiary focus
The target audience are all Christians and non-Christians who speak and read this language. The Bible is expected to be used for evangelism as well as for liturgy for the more than 400 thousand speakers of this language who currently use the Swahili Bible.
How have the needs and perspective of the beneficiaries helped shape the design of the project?
Thorough research was done before Kivunjo translation started. The Church
in the language area requested the Bible Society to facilitate the
translation and was ready to partner by providing translators, reviewers
and office space.
National Context
The Kivunjo-Chagga speakers have never had Scriptures in their own language. They have mainly used the Swahili Scriptures. Hence the request by the churches to create Scriptures in this major Chagga dialect to enable speakers to read the Scripture in their own language.
Need
We experienced good teamwork and effective use of computers which has made the project successful.
How this project will help the beneficiaries
The Bible is expected to help evangelism as well as churches growth. But also to change the Kivunjo behavior. Availability of the Word of God in Kivunjo language will also impart Bible
knowledge to the language speakers that will help them to grow in faith
and spirituality – such knowledge will help them to ward off evil
practices like occult, idolatry, rampant suicide behavior and polygamy
Scripture & Prayer
Key Verse
Mathew 28:16-20
Prayer points
- Pray for the typesetter to finish the work as it is planned
- Pray that the Full Bible will be actively used and bring about the required impact..
Project Activities
Project activities
2020
It is desired that in 2020 the following activities will be carried out:-
- Launching
Project partners
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania- Northern Diocese:
The Diocese provides the Translators and Reviewers.
Monitoring of translation work on a day to day basis.
Encouraging and motivating translators in doing quality job
Provide office for translation work
The Bible Society of Tanzania:
paying monthly honoraria to translators
Training translators on different translation programmes like Para-text, computer use
Training of reviewers to facilitate review sessions to ensure good quality translation
Providing equipment like computers, printers and utilities like stationeries
The United Bible Societies Africa Area Service Centre:
Provides translation Consultant
Provides training for new translators
Provide training on new translation programmes.
Resourcing the Project
Non-financial Resources
Typesetters
Outputs & Impacts
Outputs from the project
2020
- Shipping
- Launching
Impact
-
Impact 1
Short term impact
- Increase in translation skills among translators
- A strong relationship between churches and Bible Society built
- Unity among Church denominations enhanced
- Increased enthusiasm and inquiries on the full Bible among the Kivunjo speakers.
Long term impact
- Increased understanding of the Bible message.
- Increased denominational unity among churches.
- Increased skill and knowledge for translators
- Increased sell of Bibles.
- Kivunjo speaker’s traditions and culture archived.
- Churches equipped with a tool of evangelism.
- Increased demand for Scriptures
- Reduced number of malpractices in the community such as: – Adultery, Early childhood marriages, polygamy, drunkenness, witchcraft, stealing, etc.
- Increased awareness about the Bible Society.
Indicators
- Reduced quarrels arising from family misunderstandings.
- Reduced level of alcoholism
Tracking
– Undertaking facts finding research – interviewing community members & leaders.
Tracking unexpected outcomes
Visiting the language area, meeting with the readers of the Bible
Supporting Information
Supporting Documents & Multimedia Assets
Research
The Church in the language area approached the Bible Society and presented their need of the Bible in their language.
Informal research was carried out to ascertain the need for the project and the need was then approved by the Board.
Leadership track record
The Bible Society of Tanzania has good track record after undertaking many projects successfully. The Bible Society has a stable and able leadership that keeps close followup on projects implementation.
The Bible Society also has Translation Manager who keeps close followup on translation projects.
Best practices
The Church leaders and the community cooperation with translators is quite motivating and engaging.
The Bible Society involvement creates confidence in the implementation of this project