Celebrating Generosity: Banyala Luke Translation Complete
Imagine Zero is an initiative by The Seed Company to end Bible poverty around the world. There are over 2,000 people groups that do not have a single verse of Scripture in a language they can understand.
In October of 2019, Reston Bible Church partnered with The Seed Company, which currently works with 120 partner organizations and 1,555 local ministries and churches to help bring God’s Word to the Bibleless. As a church, we adopted the translation of the book of Luke into the heart language of the Banyala people in Kenya. When we introduced the project last year, within a few short weeks, all 1,151 verses of the book of Luke were “adopted” by RBCers at $35 per verse.
Now, one year later, the Banyala people now have the book of Luke completely translated into their heart language. By the grace of God at work through your generosity, copies of Luke’s gospel are now being printed and distributed to the Banyalan people. Please continue to pray for the Banyala people, that as the Word of God goes forth, it will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).
Other specific prayer requests from the field include:
- May God continue uplifting those involved in bringing the Bible closer to the people.
- Thank God for a good translation team that will eventually see the New Testament fully drafted.
- Pray for God to give sobriety and self-control to the young people. Since people now spend much of their time at home because of COVID-19, there is a great deal of strain upon families. Many relationships have been impacted negatively, and with the schoolchildren all at home, there have been a lot of teenage pregnancies. The team prays that their translation of the Bible into the local language will help alleviate problems caused by the stress of the pandemic.
- Praise God that although the impact of COVID-19 varies from project to project, all translation teams have been able to continue their work. Travel restrictions have redirected responsibility for staying on schedule more directly to translation teams and communities, who have accepted even greater ownership of the work.
- Praise God that the closing of churches due to COVID has encouraged family worship, and many believers are now reading and studying the Bible for themselves.
- Pray for the pastors and ministers. Many churches have experienced a decrease in offerings and tithes, and some churches are unable to pay their pastors. Please pray for them as they continue to minister to the people in their care.
The video above is the update given in services last Sunday and includes a word of thanks from Nyanjugu Githui, the field project manager. In the video below, Banyalan translator and pastor Fred Egessa shares how translating the book of Luke impacted him personally.
Awana Message for October 18
QUEST: Outdoor Service for October 18
Family Quest: Extreme Makeover, Spiritual Edition – Soul, Lesson 1
LESSON 1: AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
When we talked about loving God with our heart we referenced our personality and passions. That’s pretty deep. When we talk about loving God with our soul, that’s deeper still because our soul is the innermost part of who we are. It is used as a synonym for life, our life, our essence. It’s the part God created to last for eternity. Sadly when sin entered the world it separated our soul, our life, from God’s presence. We are eternally dissatisfied until our soul finds rest in Him. Why? Because before we accepted Christ our soul was enslaved to sin. We were longing for Him, for a perfect leader in this Quest called life. After we know Jesus our souls can rest because we have “returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for October 18
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
Chapter 4, A New Beginning
This week’s Big Idea:
God rescued Noah and his family because of His grace, not their goodness. We too are saved by God’s grace.
This week’s Key Verse:
Genesis 6:5
Doxologies: God of Revival
If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
As we, the Church, find ourselves in the midst of the wind and waves of culture, it’s easy to be distracted, unsure and even gripped by fear. But while the sea may be angry, powerful, and capable of consuming us in the frailty of our humanity, it is no match for our sovereign and mighty God who calms it with a simple command, “Peace, be still.”
There is such hope and assurance to be realized in the character of God. He is the Ancient of Days and the living King of the world even to this very day (Daniel 7:13, Isaiah 44:6). He parts and calms the sea (Exodus 14:21, Psalm 107:29). He changes seasons and times (Daniel 2:21). He causes the earth to tremble at His glance (Psalm 104:32). He breathes life upon dry bones (Ezekiel 37:9). He resurrected Jesus from the dead on the third day, after overcoming sin and death, and seated Him at His right hand (Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1). He is on the throne, and He is in control (Psalm 103:19). He is loving and good (Romans 5:8, Psalm 145:9). And He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
In a time when this fallen world offers little peace or hope, may God of Revival serve as a reminder to fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the author and perfecter of our faith who will surely complete the work He has begun. My prayer is that, in the coming days, we as His disciples will rest under the covering of our Redeemer and be subsequently moved to our knees in fervent intercession for a world so desperately in need of the love and light of Jesus.
————–
God of Revival
We see what you can do,
Oh God of wonders.
Your power has no end.
The things You’ve done before,
In greater measure,
You will do again.
There’s no prison wall You can’t break through,
No mountain You can’t move.
All things are possible.
There’s no broken body you can’t raise,
No soul that You can’t save.
All things are possible.
The darkest night,
You can light it up.
You can light it up,
God of revival.
Let hope arise.
Death is overcome.
You’ve already won,
God of revival.
You rose in victory
And now You’re seated
Forever on the throne
So why should my heart fear
What You’ve defeated
I will trust in You alone
Cause there’s no prison wall You can’t break through,
No mountain You can’t move.
All things are possible.
There’s no broken body you can’t raise,
No soul that You can’t save.
All things are possible.
The darkest night,
You can light it up.
You can light it up,
God of revival.
Let hope arise.
Death is overcome.
You’ve already won,
God of revival.
Come awaken Your people.
Come awaken Your city.
God of revival, pour it out, pour it out.
Every stronghold will crumble.
Hear the chains hit the ground.
God of revival, pour it out, pour it out.
Preparing for Sunday | October 18
We are excited to be gathering in person this Sunday! You can use the button below to register, or to find out more about the precautions we have put in place. If you are unable to join us in person, we encourage you to worship with us via our live stream.
Register to attend a worship service Watch the Live Stream
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
This Sunday, we’ll introduce a new song called “God of Revival.” In a time when this fallen world offers little peace or hope, may this song serve as a reminder to fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who will surely complete the work He has begun. We invite to you to watch this Doxologies video so that you can learn the song before Sunday!
Who You Say I Am [listen]
Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
John 8:36
Your Great Name | [listen + lyrics ]
Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff
Philippians 2:10-11
God of Revival | [listen]
Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 77:13-14
Whole Heart (Hold Me Now) [listen + lyrics]
Joel Houston, Aodhan King
Romans 5:1-2
SERMON TEXT
John 17
QUEST: Outdoor Service for October 11
Preparing for Sunday | October 11
We are excited to be gathering in person this Sunday! You can use the button below to register, or to find out more about the precautions we have put in place. If you are unable to join us in person, we encourage you to worship with us via our live stream.
Register to attend a worship service Watch the Live Stream
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Great and Mighty King | [listen]
Chris Brown, Zachary Kale, Brett Younker
Psalm 145:3
It Is Well (Through It All) [listen + lyrics]
Horatio Gates Spafford, Kristene DiMarco, Philip Paul Bliss
Amos 4:13
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Galatians 2:20
Yes I Will | [listen + lyrics]
Eddie Hoagland, Jonathan Smith, and Mia Fieldes
Psalm 63:3-4
Christ Be All Around Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jack Mooring, Leeland Mooring, David Leonard, Leslie Jordan
Ephesians 4:4-6
SERMON TEXT
John 5