Wycliffe Bible Translators, with over five thousand members, is one of the largest mission, non-denominational, Bible translating ministries in the world.
In June, Mr. Bill Jancewicz, his wife, Norma Jean, and son, Benjamin, aged five, arrived at Kawawachikamach, near Schefferville, as representatives of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, to work with the Naskapi people in translating the scriptures into the Naskapi language.
The work of this missionary society began over fifty years ago, founded by Mr. William Cameron Townshend who went to Guatemala to sell Spanish Bibles and discovered many could not speak Spanish.
In response to this challenge, he settled there and began to translate the scriptures into the language of the people. This work made him aware of other cultures which did not have the scriptures in their own language so he founded a school in Arkansas called “Camp Wycliffe” to begin training volunteer translators.
“Wycliffe” comes from John Wycliffe who was one of the first translators of the scriptures into the English language.
Mr. Jancewicz said that members of the Wycliffe Bible Translators believe that the Bible is “the Word of God and every man should have it in his own language.”
Translators volunteer and spend their first two years learning the language, then the actual translation of the Old Testament commences. At the end of two years, there is a re-evaluation and the decision is made to continue the work or to leave.
The presence of the Jancewicz family in Northern Quebec is already making an impression. Mr. Jancewicz who is a mechanical illustrator and a civil servant with the United States Federal Government but who has been led to commit his life to what he believes is eternal and God’s Word is something that is eternal.
Following training in theology and nine months of training in the French language they arrived at Kawawachikamach to continue work which had begun with the efforts of two individuals, Lana Martens and Carol Chase who came in 1979 to Matimekosh, the former Naskapi village.
Volunteers who commit themselves to translation work must arrange for their own remuneration. The Jancewicz family has their financial support from three churches and receive whatever amount is donated to Wycliffe Translators in their name.
This ministry is indeed an act of faith and commitment. For further information write Wycliffe Bible Translators, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, U.S.A.