When an indigenous people asks for the Bible

In Costa Rica, the Ngäbe people are experiencing Scripture for the first time. The more they read of it, they more they want it. In celebration of this, 39 people here at home have stepped forward and twinned their Bibles with the first ever Bible in the Ngäbere language. This is an act of generosity and faith that will soon put the entirety of God’s word in the hands and the hearts of the Ngäbe people.

The Ngäbe are Costa Rica’s largest indigenous group that is still without a translation of the Bible in their language. The story starts with the Ngäbe approaching Bible Society in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, to ask for the Bible. Translations had already been published in Cabécar and Bribri, the languages of neighbouring indigenous peoples.

Ngäbe Christians wanted at least a Gospel so they could share their faith with their neighbours. And even non-Christians showed a keenness to see the Bible in their language. Gabriel Brais, who leads the team in San José, said: ‘We serve by bringing the word of God to every corner and population in our country since all have need of the Bible in their own language. 

Bringing the Bible to the Ngäbe

‘The translation team has travelled through the entire indigenous territory to evaluate people's interest in a Bible translation. Without exception, all of the communities consider that having the Bible in their language will elevate their culture and afford it the dignity they deserve as people made in God's image.’

The Costa Rican government requires the use of indigenous languages in education alongside Spanish, but there’s very little literature available in the Ngäbere language. This means the Ngäbere Bible, when complete, will be a gamechanger and undoubtedly enjoy a prominent place in schools. So in response to this need, Bible Society started training Ngäbe believers to translate the Bible. From 2017 (the tenth anniversary of the Bribri Bible and the twentieth anniversary of the Cabécar Bible) various portions of Scripture have been published in the Ngäbere language.

‘Bible portions come in many shapes and sizes,’ said Nicolas, who leads the translation team. ‘One of our strategies has been to create calendars that people will use, but that also communicate biblical messages. In the first year we distributed 500 calendars among the Ngäbe people.’

The calendar features Bible verses newly translated into Ngäbere alongside familiar Spanish translations. For a lot of people this was an introduction to the Bible, and it helped to build excitement for the arrival of the full New Testament, which was then some years away.

How you are supporting the work 

Translating the Bible is an immense challenge, especially for a small team. Nicolas and the others managed to complete Mark’s Gospel in the first year, and that’s already been a great gift to the Church. But people have left the project and when 2020 came, precious time was lost during lockdown as translators were confined to villages without internet access.

Not long after, people here at home with a passion to share Scripture started twinning their Bibles with the in-progress Ngäbere Bible. A donation of £60 supports translators as they work through as many as ten verses of Scripture. Imagine a passage that has changed your life touching the mind and heart of an Ngäbere-speaking person for the first time. Donors who twin their Bible make a significant contribution towards the completion of a project that is bound to have a transformational impact.

The team has been able to make great progress with the support of people here. More team members have been recruited, including a professor who teaches Ngäbere, and they’ve worked closely with Ngäbe churches, constantly testing the work carried out so far. With the Gospels complete, they’ve distributed special editions of the parables as a tantalising introduction to the teaching of Jesus.

Nicolas says: ‘Please keep praying for the Ngäbe people and that our efforts might be blessed by God to bring them his word in their native language.’

Will you help the translators complete their work on the New Testament? You can join the 39 generous supporters who have twinned their Bibles with the Ngäbere Bible. Your crucial support will help fuel a final push to finish the translation and put God’s word in the hands of Ngäbere people for the first time.

Twin your Bible today