Wycliffe Associates, a ministry focused on Bible translation, is determined to re-double its efforts to accomplish its mission following the death of four of its Middle East translators in an attack by suspected Islamic radicals.
In a statement to the Christian Post, president and CEO Bruce Smith condemned the act of violence but assured they would continue their work of spreading God's word to the Christians who are in need of it.
"There is no place on Earth where God's Word is more urgently needed. This is a place of terror, oppression, violence, death, and heartache. To be a Christian is to be a target. Yet the few Christians living there are pleading for Bibles to share secretly with the many, many people around them who are hungry for the truth," Smith said.
The group has not released the exact location of where the attack took place but it was reported that two of the workers were gunned down while two others were beaten to death after they lay on top of the lead translator in an effort to save his life.
The intruders also destroyed the equipment in the office and burned the books and translation materials in the facility.
"The remaining translation team has decided to re-double their efforts to translate, publish, and print God's Word for these eight language communities," Wycliffe Associates said after the attack.
As part of its efforts to address the growing threat to their workers overseas, especially in areas plagued by Christian persecution, Wycliffe will embark on a Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation (MAST) training session to help translators speed up the translation period and minimise the workers' exposure to high conflict areas. The training will be held in an undisclosed location to ensure security.
Wycliffe Associates Scriptures for New Frontiers Fund also pledged to provide computer tablets with software, other technology and equipment, shelter, meals, and basic day-to-day support, reported Fox News.
While the effort to maintain overseas operations may be costly, the group said that it will push through with the MAST to embark on expanding the translations to 500 additional languages in 2016.
"God's Word will be placed in the hands — and the hearts — of people in multiple nations, nations I can't name because the risk is so great. Our response to the terror and tragedy is to flood the area with God's Word, in the language of the local people," Smith said.
