Our mission - A language surveyor and a linguist serving God in East Africa
Christopher and Lauren Merke have joined Wycliffe Bible Translators to help fulfill the goal of seeing the scriptures translated into every language of the world! In January of 2016, Christopher and Lauren packed up their lives and moved to Tanzania in East Africa to do linguistic analysis, language survey, and vernacular media work.
As a linguist, Lauren’s responsibilities include analyzing and evaluating the linguistic and cultural data that is collected by language survey workers. Her role is very important because it speeds up the Bible translation process and makes translators more effective, ensuring the Good News of Jesus Christ reaches people as quickly as possible. Christopher is fulfilling two roles as a language surveyor and as a vernacular media technician. As a language surveyor, Christopher travels to remote villages in order to gather linguistic and cultural data about various people groups and language groups. This is critical information, as it lays the foundation for Bible translation work through seeking answers to critical questions in the first stages of the Bible translation process. As a vernacular media technician, Christopher’s role is to help translate various materials, such as The Jesus Film and Christian radio programs, into other languages in Tanzania to ensure that the Gospel reaches as many people as possible. Christopher and Lauren are thrilled to be able to use the gifts that God has given them and would like for you to prayerfully consider partnering with them in this journey! |
Language DevelopmentLauren is a trained linguist who has joined a language project in Mbeya, Tanzania that is currently working to translate the Bible into 13 distinct languages in Tanzania that still do not have access to a complete Bible. While working on this Bible translation project Lauren is participating in translation and language development. This is a complex job that encompasses many aspects of Bible translation, but one of the things she is working on is creating writing systems. There are many languages in the world that are still oral languages and have never been written down. She works to actually create a writing system with the people who speak that language so that the Bible can be written down. She also has the necessary skills to develop the languages in ways that make it possible for translators to do Bible translations even faster than they could before.
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Language SurveyLanguage survey is the very first step in the Bible translation process. For this role Christopher travels through the mountains and jungles of East Africa in order to reach minority people groups and study their languages and cultures. The work of language survey is vital to the life and growth of minority language communities. It lays the groundwork for Bible translation and language development by helping Wycliffe to make informed decisions about how and where to focus their efforts and resources. Language survey creates opportunities for developing languages, revitalizing cultures, and transforming lives in the image of Jesus Christ.
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Vernacular MediaChristopher is also working as a vernacular media technician, where he is working near the end of the Bible translation process. This role involves creating video and audio resources of the Bible for various people groups in Tanzania. Many of you have likely watched, or at least heard of, The Jesus Film. This film portrays the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ in a movie, which he helps translate into the many languages of Tanzania, so that those who cannot read still have access to the message of the Gospel through film. Along with assisting in projects like The Jesus Film, Christopher also helps to create radio programs, websites, recorded Bible stories, as well as other audio and video resources of the Scriptures! All of these resources are made with the mission of reaching as many people as possible with the saving message of Jesus Christ!
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