Impact Report 2025 - Report - Page 22
A Church’s Gift to Bible Translation
in Vanuatu
After years of prayer and preparation, the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV)
is stepping boldly into the ministry of Bible translation by launching the Nafsanigir
PCV Cluster project. With 26 languages in need of God’s Word, PCV has organized
them into five clusters and plans to launch a new cluster every few months. To make
this vision a reality, the church has established and staffed its own translation desk,
appointed a field coordinator and begun conversations with local communities to lay
the groundwork for lasting impact.
What makes this story extraordinary is not just the scale of the project but also the way
the church itself is leading and investing in it. PCV isn’t waiting for outside organizations
to do the work for them — they are giving generously of their own resources.
In fact, the church and local communities are contributing an astonishing $1.33 million
of in-kind donations, covering more than half the project’s overall budget. From
staff and facilities, to volunteer time and local leadership, this gift represents their
deep commitment to see Scripture accessible in every language.
This approach, known as “Church- and Community-Based Bible Translation” or
CBBT, places the ministry of translation directly in the hands of local believers.
Within the first year, PCV leaders will have the capacity to organize and facilitate
training with minimal outside help, while also inviting collaboration across the
Pacific to strengthen skills and increase capacity. Rooted in community ownership,
the project ensures that translation is not only done for the people but by the
people — a model that will benefit generations to come.
In Vanuatu, generosity looks like a church giving what it has — people, places
and passion — to bring God’s Word to life in 26 languages. Their gift in kind
is more than numbers on a budget; it’s a powerful testimony of faith, sacrifice
and vision for the Great Commission.
