Suryoyo of East Mediterranean

Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord.” -Luke 1:11-15a (NLT)

The Suryoyo people take pride in their long Christian history. They have a Bible, called the Peshitta, that dates back thousands of years. Although they revere the Word of God, the language of the Peshitta is no longer understandable. Last year, these people received the New Testament in their modern mother tongue. Many of them have seen the “JESUS” film, also recently published. At least 13 churches in the homeland, other speakers abroad and many clergy members are eager for the completion of the Old Testament. Literacy among Suryoyo Christians is less than 5 percent so the team is working on an audio edition as well as a printed version.

  • The fulfillment of Old Testament promises through the covenants God made with Abraham (Genesis 12) and David (2 Samuel 7) form the basis of the New Covenant that was announced in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and fully revealed in the New Testament through Christ. Pray for the Suryoyo translators as they endeavor to make God’s covenant promises come alive in their own language.

  • Praise God that the team has finished drafting Psalms. They continue to test the translation with people of different ages and genders. A consultant’s detailed review is on the agenda. Meanwhile, the translators are wrapping up their team-check of the book.

  • Pray for continued headway translating the book of Genesis and the children’s Old Testament Bible stories.

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