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Bible Translation and IT

The Bible and IT

Around 1450, Johann Gutenberg invented the first machine-based process for mass-producing written materials. It can be argued that he became the first IT missionary. After all, he created a Technology for storing and distributing Information for the explicit purpose of distributing biblical knowledge. It was no accident in God's scheme of things that this new technology was created for Great Commission purposes (making the Bible more available).

Johann was certainly not a traditional missionary, but God used this "IT worker's" ingenuity to advance His Kingdom. The concept of the evangelist and the IT worker were now linked in the spread of the Gospel.

Gutenberg was primarily concerned with rapidly producing high-quality copies of the Latin Bible ( Learn more about Gutenberg and his work). Wycliffe is primarily concerned with the translation of Scriptures for the hundreds of millions of people who do not have a Bible in their language. We are certain, as was the case with Gutenberg, that technologists will play a major role in seeing these translations become reality.

Wycliffe's Vision for the Bibleless

We call it "Vision 2025"

By the year 2025, together with partners worldwide, our aim is to see a Bible translation programme begun in all the remaining languages that need one.  

 Vision 2025 page.

Bible Translation and IT

Today, the use of electronic computing for translation and dissemination of the Scriptures makes Gutenberg's incredible contribution seem insignificant. Well beyond simply getting the right distribution of ink on paper, computers today are involved in every tiny facet of the task from the initial education of the future translator to the physical delivery of the Scriptures in some form. The dependence of the Bible translation task upon IT is so extensive in the modern world that translation would be significantly impaired without it.

Wycliffe and IT

Wycliffe is the leader among many organizations engaged in Bible translation, but we use the greatest number of IT specialists and are known as a leader in applying computing to the translation task. We share our methods and training with many of the other organizations who share our goals. We also use computing in hundreds of ways that are not themselves directly linguistic (personnel, accounting, etc.). We have over 325 full-time IT professionals working world-wide as Wycliffe IT missionaries, and yet we need more than 244 additional full-time IT professionals to fill existing staffing needs.

Informative IT Videos

Worth IT

You can view the "Worth IT" video introduction to the role IT and its professionals play in the massive job of communicating God's redeeming love to the world's masses. Click on one of the links below.

Low-resolution version, for dial-up connections
Wycliffe US Communications department, 2004-11-11
Download "WorthIT_LowRes.wmv", Windows movie, 5MB [704 downloads]
QuickTime format
International IT Mobilization, 2007-08-27
Download "WorthIT_mpg", Document (unknown type), 30MB [1214 downloads]
Medium-resolution version, for DSL or cable connections
Wycliffe US Communications department, 2004-11-11
Download "WorthIT_MediumRes.wmv", Windows movie, 20MB [1131 downloads]
Jo Shetler

To see video highlights of Jo Shetler's presentation at a recent Check-IT-Out click on the link below.
Medium-resolution version, for DSL or cable connections
Dick Troyer, 2008-05-07
Download "Jo_Shetler_medium.wmv", Windows movie, 21MB [721 downloads]
An IT Chronicle

To see a video tour of JAARS IT Services click on one of the links below.

Click on
for Microsoft Windows version video
International IT Mobilization, 2007-08-08
Download "An_IT_Chronicle.wmv", Windows movie, 39MB [646 downloads]
Click on
for QuickTime version video
International IT Mobilizaiton, 2007-08-27
Download "An_IT_Chronicle_mpg", Document (unknown type), 55MB [1208 downloads]


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