We hope you are finding joy and peace in your life. In the midst of a few trials, we are seeking the Lord for these ourselves.
Alan’s Team Meetings
But before I talk about those trials, we are also celebrating a new beginning of sorts. Sadly, our director and project manager both retired at the end of last year—with no replacements in sight. After a lot of prayer and discussion, my team and our second-level supervisor have found a way forward. We are spreading some of the management tasks among our team, and one of our long-term members, who is gifted in leadership and vision, is stepping up to do the remaining tasks and be our director. In late January, my whole team gathered in Dallas, and we had some great meetings planning for the future and renewing our relationships. We felt the Lord clearly leading us in filling the management vacuum. Please pray as we implement these changes.
Accusations
One painful trial we are facing concerns accusations directed at Wycliffe through the Internet. Currently, a group of scholars is trying to decide the clearest and most accurate way to translate family-related terms like “the Son of God” in Muslim contexts. Unfortunately, various facts and positions have been misrepresented and exaggerated on the Internet. Verbal attacks against Wycliffe and its partners have appeared there. Wycliffe is committed to preserving the eternal deity of Jesus Christ and His relationship with the Father in every translation. Out of concern for good translation, Wycliffe has suspended publishing Scripture in certain languages while we work with others to resolve matters. We ask you to pray for agreement in accordance with God’s truth. We invite any of you who have questions about this to talk with us. (For more info, see this article on a Wycliffe website.)
Financial Report
Another issue concerns our finances. At our current level of monthly giving ($500/mon low), the savings we have from occasional gifts (which offset the shortfall) will be depleted in a few months. If this happens, Wycliffe will provide us with temporary assistance, but we will be required to spend time raising our financial support instead of doing our normal work. Another factor that may soon impact us is that about forty percent of our support comes from very faithful people in our parents’ generation. Some are reaching an age where giving is more difficult. Please pray for additional people to join our support team, and if you would like to partner with us, please let us know. We are very grateful for those who support and enable our work now.
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