Transforming Lives and Communities

Graduates, facilitators, lecturers, Bible translation consultants and others are often asked what difference our integrated training makes in the long run. The answers leave no doubt that it positively transforms lives. It has a ripple effect changing people from the inside out and, in turn, those people change their communities.

Impact of Holistic Bible Translation Training

Once people learn more about the Bible and understand it much better their confidence grows. Many of our students come from marginalised communities. When they discover the richness of their language, they start to take pride in it and grow in confidence. As they are exposed to different world views their own world view broadens and the ongoing practice of translation under guidance of experienced practitioners and specialists nurtures problem solving skills and critical thinking.

They speak out in the community and take social action. Communities are changed because people are changed from the inside out. To know how you can be involved in changing lives from the inside out through Bible translation click here.

Advancing Bible Translation

Eighty percent of all DBT graduates are still involved in the field of Bible translation. In addition, the great majority of our current students are involved in translation, mostly as trainee translators. The majority of our students work with TWFTW. Others work with our partners and other like-minded organisations, including SIL International, Bible Society and Lutheran Bible Translators.

Developing Potential

Some of our DBT graduates who have developed their potential:

Reuben was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2004.  He has since completed a BTh. at the South African Theological Seminary (SATS).

Reuben has been involved in exegetical checking of draft translations in Zambia and Tanzania, served as TWFTW's National Director in Zambia and Tanzania and later on as Regional Director for Southern Africa.  From 2015-2020 he was the Chief Operating Officer of TWFTW International and is now the Chief Development Officer for Africa.

He is a faculty member of the training team in Southern Africa and has taught a wide variety of subjects (Principles of Bible Translation, Theory of Translation, Mission and Bible Translation, Biblical Exegesis, Semantics, Christian Leadership).

Doreen, a Primary School teacher by background, graduated with the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2008.  She has worked in TWFTW's Finance department in Tanzania and now serves as Finance Director for the Southern Africa region. She is part of the training team in the Southern Africa region and regularly teaches Literacy, Writer Development and Cultural Anthropology.  

Tesfaye was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2003.  He and his colleagues translated the New Testament into his language Guji (published 2008).   In 2010 he graduated with a BA in Leadership and Development Studies from the Mekane Yesus Management and Leadership College in Addis Ababa.  In 2015 he completed a course in Non-Profit Corporate Management and was awarded a Master's in Business Administration.  He is currently pursuing an MTh in Bible Translation Consultation at the South African Theological Seminary.

He has been involved in exegetical checking of draft translations, and as Translations Programme Director has overseen the management of 15 translation projects before becoming the TWFTW's National Director for Ethiopia.  Since 2014 Tesfaye also oversees the Horn of Africa region.   

He is a faculty member of the Ethiopian training team and has taught a wide variety of subjects (Christian Leadership, Process of Bible Translation, Sociolinguistics, Theory of Translation).

Tamene was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2003 and was subsequently awarded a BTh in 2012 (Evangelical Theological College, Addis Ababa).  He and his colleagues translated the Bible into his language Maale (published 2015). 

Tamene has been involved in exegetical checking of draft translations and now serves as Project Coordinator and Scripture and Evangelism Engagement Director of Ethiopia.   

He also pursues an MTh in Bible Translation Consultation at the South African seminary which includes practical involvement as consultant-in-training in Ethiopia.

He is a faculty member of the training team for Ethiopia and has taught Principles of Bible Translation, Process of Bible Translation, Bible Translation and Mission, and Literacy.

Theodore was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2008.  He led a team of mother tongue translators and together with his colleagues translated the New Testament into his language Lughuru (published 2014).   

He has been involved in field liaison and currently serves as National Director for Tanzania and pastors a church in Morogoro.

He is part of the Tanzanian training team and has taught Principles of Bible Translation and Process of Bible Translation.

Raymond, a land surveyor by background, was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2008. He has since completed a BTh Honours at SATS (South African Theological Seminary) via distance studies while also fulfilling the role of Translation Programmes Director - overseeing the progress of the Bible translation projects in Tanzania.  He is a local consultant and pursues MTh studies at the South African Theological Seminary via distance.  He is also a pastor in a church in Morogoro. 

Raymond is part of the Tanzanian training team and has taught Principles of Bible Translation and Process of Bible Translation.

Mary, of a paramedical background,  was awarded the Diploma in Bible Translation in 2009.  She has since completed further studies in Hebrew and Greek at UNISA (University of South Africa) and in Bible Translation at the Jerusalem Center for Bible Translation.  She is now serving  as Bible Translation consultant in Southern Africa, Ethiopia and South Asia.

Opening Doors to Further Studies

Our Diploma in Bible Translation is recognised by several academic institutions.  Read more here