Neil and Marion Broad have been translating the Bible with the Arrernte people, an Aboriginal group in the Northern Territory. They had worked on the Gospel of Matthew with Sammee, specifically to complete the lectionary readings for the church leaders. They had wanted the Arrernte Scriptures read for the first time in the church. The reading was handed over to be read out at the Sunday service – the first public Arrernte reading since they started the project. It was to be the version of the Christmas story from Matthew’s gospel.
I wasn’t there, but when I came out to Santa Teresa the Tuesday following, many people came to tell me about the reading. I was told you could hear a pin drop, even the dogs kept quiet! One woman came to me and told me her mother had sat there listening to the reading and her hand was resting against her face as she listened. This older woman told her daughter it was the first time she had heard Scriptures read in her own language and it was the first time that she really understood what was read. Praise God for this positive response. Arrernte people have been waiting such a long time to hear God speaking their language and it is happening now!
The Arrernte people were hearing the Gospel account of the Christmas story for the first time in their own language. Oh they had heard it before in Kriol, but everyone talked and no one really paid attention. Now it was getting inside and making a difference. This was no story that they had heard a thousand times before, this was new and vibrant. Now it had cutting power!
Has the Word lost its power for you? Have you become overly familiar with it?
Source: SIL Northern Territory – Neil Broad
[Translation, power of the mother tongue, heart language, linked to 37]