Frequently Asked Questions

When was Wycliffe founded?

Wycliffe was founded in 1942.

Who founded Wycliffe?

Wycliffe was founded by Cameron Townsend. When Townsend tried to sell Spanish Bibles in Guatemala in l9l7-19l8, he discovered that the majority of the people he met did not understand Spanish. Neither did they have a written form of their own language, Cakchiquel. Townsend abandoned his attempts to sell Bibles and began living among the Cakchiquels. He learned their complex language, created an alphabet for it, analyzed the grammar and translated the New Testament in the remarkably short span of ten years.

How was the name "Wycliffe" selected?

The name "Wycliffe" was chosen by Cameron Townsend to honor the first man to translate the Bible into English, John Wycliffe.

How big is Wycliffe?

Wycliffe Bible Translators is the world's largest Bible translation organization. Wycliffe USA is one of dozens of organizations around the world who are part of Wycliffe International. Over 7,000 people are directly engaged with one of these organizations, with 3,500 of them coming from Wycliffe USA. Thousands of additional men and women committed to Bible translation are engaged with this movement in various capacities.

How many organizations are part of Wycliffe?

Wycliffe is an international association of organizations which includes thousands of individuals serving through dozens of organizations that include:

• Wycliffe USA and its subsidiaries: Wycliffe Foundation and The Seed Company

•  Wycliffe Canada

• BTL (Bible Translation and Literacy of Kenya)

Wycliffe works in partnership with a variety of organizations worldwide to accomplish its mission. Some of Wycliffe's primary partners include:

• SIL International

• JAARS

• Wycliffe Associates

• The Graduate Institute for Applied Linguistics

• The OneStory Partnership

• Faith Comes By Hearing
  

  
  

Who leads Wycliffe?

Wycliffe USA is governed by a 15-member board of directors. The president is Robert M. (Bob) Creson.

Where is Wycliffe at work?

Wycliffe-affiliated partners are at work in at least 93 countries and on every continent but Antarctica.

How many Bible translations has Wycliffe completed?

Since its founding some 70 years ago, Wycliffe has been involved in more than 721 New Testament and Bible translations, touching more than 80 million people.

Where is Wycliffe headquartered?

Wycliffe USA is headquartered in Orlando, Fla.

What is Wycliffe's online address?

Wycliffe USA can be found online at www.wycliffe.org.

How many languages are in the world?

According to Ethnologue (15th edition, 2005), there are 6,912 languages spoken in the world today.

How many languages are still in need of a Bible translation?

There are currently 2,251 languages currently without any portion of the Bible. In fact, the Bible has only been translated in its entirety into 429 languages.

In how many languages is Wycliffe currently working?

Wycliffe personnel are working in Bible translation, literacy and/or preparatory linguistic work in 1,415 languages.

How long does it take to translate a Bible?

The time required for a new translation of the Bible varies greatly depending on the many factors. As a point of reference, the translation of a New Testament can range from three years to more than twenty years.

What are the steps of Bible translation?

Bible translation is the process of drafting, checking, polishing and producing a final version of Scripture for publication. In most communities, Wycliffe uses a process that includes seven steps:

• Survey

• Team formation

• Development and adaptation of tools

• Translation of Scripture texts

• Literacy training

• Production of Scriptures

• Refinement and checking

What is the worldwide impact of Wycliffe's work?

Wycliffe's work is diverse and far reaching. In addition to its primary impact of allowing people to read the Bible in their own heart language for the first time, Wycliffe's work is leveraged by other ministries such as The JESUS Film project, Faith Comes by Hearing and the local church to further their work among unreached people groups.

Beyond its ministry impact, language development work is relied upon by governments and NGOs to address some of the world's most pressing issues including AIDS, Avian flu, regional conflicts and the potential loss of indigenous cultures.

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