A dedicated team of local disciples worked tirelessly over the last year to translate portions of the Bible into a language spoken in Northwest India. They successfully completed 53 Discovery Bible Study lessons, translating a total of 853 verses from the Old and New Testaments. However, just as they neared completion, their efforts were discovered by members of their unbelieving community. Tragically, all their materials were confiscated and burned by an angry mob.
Due to security risks in their area, the team chose a paper-and-pen approach instead of using electronic devices. Carrying laptops or tablets would have drawn unwanted attention—three ordinary men (who were doing the translation) suddenly handling such equipment would have raised suspicion. Printing physical copies posed its own dangers; taking their drafts to a photocopy shop could have led to immediate confiscation and even physical harm.
Looking back, the team acknowledges that they should have taken photos and clearly labeled each as first draft, second draft, and so on. But at the time, they believed their efforts were discreet enough to go unnoticed.
They were wrong.
That experience has transformed how they now operate—not only in high-risk areas but also where the threat level seems lower.
Undeterred, the team began the painstaking process of starting over. They were under intense scrutiny from some in their community. By God’s grace, they have completed the drafting and testing phases of their work.
*Joel, a movement catalyst, has securely stored the translation in multiple places—including his computer, the cloud, and an external hard drive—to ensure it is never lost again.
Join us as we celebrate the completion of this translation! It is available in the Discovery Bible Study South Asia Bible app. We pray Isaiah 55:11 over it, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Pray that these newly translated Scriptures will reach thousands of South Asians, leading them into God’s Kingdom.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer to see this project through to completion.
*pseudonyms
BEYOND is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation