Kibaku of Nigeria

Kibaku speakers are farmers in the northeastern most state of Nigeria. They manage a living from their land, but poverty plagues them. About 98% of the Kibaku population claim faith in Christ. Kibaku parents pressured the government until they were allowed to offer religious instruction in their schools. However, they don’t have the Kibaku Scriptures from which to teach. Two Kibaku translators are committed their work. Other members of the team include local church leaders who will serve as chairman and treasurer of the project, committee secretary, literacy coordinator and an eight-member prayer team. Local churches are enthusiastic about the project and have offered to assist with some funding. Major technical and consultant help will come.

  • The Kibaku team finished reviewing Matthew, and the translators are pushing to wrap up Luke. Then copies of both Luke and Mark will go out to the Kibaku community to receive input and begin ministering to people.

  • Since the team is able to adapt their Scripture translation from an existing related-language translation, the Kibaku version is speeding along with John, Acts, Romans, Philippians and Philemon — all in various draft stages.

  • The translators learned how to use the program called Paratext. Pray that the team will utilize to best advantage the features offered by Paratext as they labor on the vernacular Scriptures.

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