Elder Bi Hongzhen, a co-worker of the translation ministry that devotes to translate the Bible into the Eastern Lisu language, shares the past 21-year work during the ceremony celebrating the 10th founding anniversary of the Bible translation ministry for ethnic minorities in Kunming , on October 21.
The ministry completed the Bible translation into the native language and finalized the version in December 2013. "We're very grateful. As unschooled disadvantaged members with low education, we were unable to undertake this great and holy work. This is because we were chosen for God's love and He granted us the power of the Holy Spirit to do his holy work." Says Bi.
He recalls that he had spent 10 years from 1992 to 2013 for the ministry. During the past years, the team members were grateful, regarding the ministry as God's arrangement that guided them to learn the Bible knowledge and grow spiritual lives. The period was the days when they practiced to obey the Lord's will, commit to him and serve his church. It was also the beginning of the all-round development of Christian culture in the Eastern Lisu church.
He adds, "There were storms during the decades' Bible translation... It was God's love, mercy and the Spirit's power that moved us to know that the translating the Bible into our ethnic language was the need of the church development, believers who are hungry for God's word and pursuing spiritual lives in this era.." He mentions that the three years from 2004 to 2007 are unforgettable and worthy of appreciation. During the period, he had to support his family including his parents and one of his parents-in-law all above 80 and an aunt. What's worse, his eldest son was in the university and the youngest girl studied in the middle school. Facing such high family costs, he struggled to give up the work or insist.
"But God gave me firm faith to shoulder the Bible translation for my group. In terms of my family life or the translation, God's grace and blessings followed every day and every step. "
