At 90 years old, she had waited her entire lifetime for this moment.

The day a complete Bible, written in her own mother tongue, was finally placed in her hands. When hundreds from her community gathered to celebrate the dedication of the first-ever full Bible in their language – the culmination of more than two decades of painstaking translation work – it was truly a moment of biblical proportions.

‘We have heard many wonderful things, said another woman that day, her voice filled with emotion, ‘but now, IT IS WRITTEN!’

For the 300,000 Lambya people of northern Malawi, this milestone represented far more than the completion of a translation project. It was a living picture of Revelation 7 – a foretaste of the day when heaven will overflow with a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

But for millions across Africa, that reality still feels far away.

The Heart of the Challenge

Of all the continents, Africa is home to the largest Christian community – over 700 million believers whose faith runs deep. Yet the sobering truth is that roughly 550 million people still lack access to scripture in the language that speaks to their hearts.

When we step back and look at the global picture, the need becomes even more striking: among the 6,931 languages spoken worldwide, over 1,200 still have no Scripture at all.

Beyond translation: the bigger picture

Biblelessness is a crisis that deserves our greatest efforts as the global church – one that we should be determined to address in our lifetime. But for God’s Word to truly transform lives as it’s meant to, we need to look at the issue from a holistic perspective. Bible poverty isn’t just about lacking access or translation; there are other layers of complexity that need to be considered.  

Consider literacy, for instance. A beautifully translated Bible won’t unlock its treasures if someone cannot read it. In sub-Saharan Africa, that’s the daily reality for about one in three people. In rural communities and among minority-language speakers – especially those with rich oral traditions – that percentage is even higher.

Then there’s the practical matter of access. Think of the journey required to get a Bible to a remote village: poor roads, limited infrastructure, and shipping challenges mean that even when printed Bibles exist, they often remain scarce and prohibitively expensive.

And even when we overcome those hurdles, there’s still the matter of meaningful engagement. The ability to read the Bible does not guarantee understanding or the faithful application of its truths, especially when cultural norms risk distorting its message. Laying strong foundations of faith and generational stewardship will need to be underpinned with intentional discipleship and grounded theological training.

Closing the gaps together

The good news is that remarkable strides are being made to bridge these gaps and move toward true scriptural access for all. Organisations like illumiNations are collaborating with Bible translation agencies and resource partners around a shared, ambitious goal: ending Bible poverty by 2033. Through these alliances and others, new Bible translations are being launched at an astonishing pace – about two per week, or one every three and a half days.

Within this global movement, we find LuminAfrica, an initiative Mergon is privileged to support. LuminAfrica is a network of South African Bible translation organisations and resource partners working together to make God’s transformative Word accessible to all.

As executive head of LuminAfrica, Hans Combrink, explains:

‘LuminAfrica is part of a much bigger story, finding its place within the global effort to eradicate Bible poverty. Our focus is southern Africa – a region of 16 countries and 468 languages. According to ProgressBible, there are currently 236 translation projects underway here and at least 23 languages where work has not yet started. Identifying and addressing these gaps are essential if the gospel is to take root in every community. What inspires me most is the spirit of partnership- each organisation brings something unique and innovative to the table as part of a holistic response to this challenge.’

Take the Bible Society of South Africa (BSSA), one of LuminAfrica’s key partners. Through its BibleSA platform, over 420,000 users now engage with scripture via side-by-side translations, reading plans, and audio Bibles. The platform offers scripture in all 11 official languages, as well as audio, Braille, and app-based formats – systematically removing barriers for those who cannot easily access print. BSSA is also pioneering outreach to communities that have long been underserved by scripture resources.

Alongside this work, LuminAfrica partner Biblica Africa strengthens the effort through a strategic focus on gateway languages – translations that open doors to entire language families. They’re creating trauma-informed resources that weave Scripture with counselling principles to bring hope and healing to young people in war-torn and unstable places. They also design digital tools that make God’s Word easy to access and meaningful for people on the move or living in vulnerable situations.

Additionally, LuminAfrica works with partners like Hands with Words to serve the Deaf community. Together, they’re translating the Bible into South African Sign Language (SASL) through visual storytelling – making scripture not only linguistically accurate but deeply meaningful for a community where 75% are functionally illiterate. With nearly one million SASL users in Southern Africa, this work paves the way for inclusive worship and deeper understanding of God’s Word.

The path forward: making 2033 a reality

The work of LuminAfrica and others shows us that a few key factors, when prioritised, can change everything:

• Radical Collaboration

When churches, translation agencies, and resource partners combine their unique strengths while avoiding duplication, the impact multiplies exponentially. Time and again, partnership proves to be the key to accelerating meaningful progress.

• Digital Technology and Innovation

New tools are transforming Bible translation. Where projects once required decades, platforms like Paratext and Render now enable local translators and global consultants to collaborate seamlessly in real time. With mobile technology widely adopted across Southern Africa, digital apps and audio Bibles can reach people more quickly – even in the most remote areas.

• Local Ownership and Church-Led Translation

The most sustainable and impactful projects are often those led by local churches and community leaders. When community members are at the heart of the process – leading, shaping, and driving the initiative forward – the results are far more powerful. There’s greater community investment, translations become more culturally informed and locally relevant, and scripture takes root in ways that are both meaningful and lasting.

• Building literacy and capacity

Translation alone isn’t enough. In regions with high illiteracy, teaching people to read their own language have to go hand in hand with translation. Projects like the Wayeyi Bible Translation in Botswana show how empowering this can be – mobilising village leaders to run literacy workshops, teaching others to read, and translating scripture in their native Shiyeyi language along the way.

And through it all, one thing sustains this work: prayer. Prayer aligns our efforts with God’s heart and turns what feels impossible into something within reach.  As Mergon CEO Pieter Faure reflects, the progress is remarkable, yet the work continues: ‘Until Bible access for everyone becomes a lived reality on our continent, we as Christians have a responsibility to make God’s life-changing truth known – creatively and with every resource at our disposal.’

To discover how you can join LuminAfrica in bringing Scripture to every African community, visit https://luminafrica.bible/

*Story taken from the following Joy News article.