Solid Food, Not Milk
I want to take you on a little journey to Africa today. . .
Specifically, to a region in east Africa. . .
To visit the Vizunda people.
“The Vidunda people’s ancestral land lies in the foothills between two mountains of Tanzania. On the north, Mikumi National Park borders their homeland. In the past, sugar planters gradually usurped the plains, forcing the Vidunda people into the mountains. During WWII, enemy soldiers massacred large numbers of Vidunda speakers who were hiding in a cave. In recent years, government officials have forbidden farming on top of the mountain. This history of exploitation and abuse has made the Vidunda people very wary of outsiders.
In this language group, more than 60 percent affiliate with Christianity. However, most still fear witchcraft and engage in many kinds of animistic rituals along with their non-believing neighbors. Many Christians still hang amulets on their children to protect them from evil spirits and curses. Because they’ve been hearing Scripture in a language foreign to them, most Vidunda people have little idea what it actually teaches.
The majority of Vidunda speakers still live in fear of spirits rather than experiencing the redemption and freedom they could know in Christ. Non-Christians can’t see much victory or joy in the lives of believers. The Scriptures in their mother tongue will offer believers tools for deliverance from the bondage of fear. It will also support personal spiritual growth and provide a solid foundation from which to reach out to others.” – OneVerse
The Vidunda people are part of 340 million people who cannot read the Bible in their own language. They continue to live in constant fear of spirits, practice rituals, and are fearful of the evils of witchcraft. While many are professing Christians, the living breath of Scripture, the food that grows us and matures us in Christ, is not available to them.
“for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14
In America, where Bibles pepper our homes and are easily found in the pews in front of us every Sunday, we cannot understand the richness we have at our fingertips. But 340 million people yearn for the Bible in the language they speak, yet they cannot because there is no such thing.
I am NOT okay with that.
Are you?
You may be familiar with my children’s allegory about the Ocean Dwellers. The focus of that story was to introduce my children to the realization that not all people on Earth are able to read the Bible in their own tongue. At the same time, I wanted to bring into focus to my readers and visitors the necessity of partnering with other Christians to make Bible translation happen for our siblings in Christ around the world.
I have partnered with OneVerse because I am passionate about being used by God to bring His word to peoples all over the world. This year, specifically, my fellow OneVerse bloggers and I will be using our blogs to work towards raising money for the Vidunda people to gain even more scriptures in their language. So. What does this mean for you?
First, you will be hearing a lot more from me about OneVerse and the Vidunda people. Daily I am praying that those who visit Wisdom Begun will be touched and moved. Second, I want to challenge you to make a monthly donation towards supporting Bible translation for the Vidunda people. Look at these pictures, see the faces of your fellow Christian brethren, and pray to see if this is something you should be a part of.
Friends, I am so excited that I am a part of this. I cannot go to every country to minister to each and every person, but I can use the money God has given me to give back to giving a priceless gift to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is amazing! Isn’t it?!
Make sure to head over to the OneVerse Blog to read more about the OneVerse Bloggers team and to read from my fellow team members why this project is so important to them.