The Power of a Symbol - Blessings in 2026!
At the beginning of 2026 - the 250th anniversary of America's birth - I want to start by saying, THANK YOU for standing with me and my work with Wycliffe all throughout 2025. I went to Africa four times last year and you prayed and gave so that I could be an effective liaison for all the projects and people that I work with in the Congos.
Kindu, DRC - thank you for praying for my trip!
My visit to Kindu City in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo in November/December went really well. As I shared in my last post, I went to meet the leadership of FOCOTBA, a Congolese organization which is starting to partner with my team, Wycliffe Global Partnerships. I arrived to spend the second week of a FOCOTBA-sponsored Oral Bible Storying Workshop with 36 participants.
FOCOTBA Director Reverend Katekesombe ("Kate" [KAH-tay] for short) thanked me many times for coming to see what was happening in Kindu and the Maniema Province. I was able to spend several hours with "Kate" and the finance director, helping them better understand how the partnership functions on our end. What a blessing to meet the team working at FOCOTBA! Besides working with these six different language communities, FOCOTBA allows several teams to use its offices for their translation sessions.
A Symbolic Gift
At the end of my visit, Rev. "Kate" gave me a small wooden figurine of a woman carrying a baby strapped to her back.
"Kate" said this symbolizes FOCOTBA's partnership with Wycliffe Global Partnerships, because we are like the "mother" carrying the language communities ("babies") who desire to have God's Word in their languages - through our provision of funds, prayer, and technical/logistical support. Let us pray for FOCOTBA and the language communities they are serving in their region of the DRC.
As well as the "mother" (Global Partnerships) carrying the "babies" (language projects", YOU have carried me as I liaise and stand with them. So many of you have been such faithful partners in this work, and I'm so grateful. An image I want to remind you of is that of Moses on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding his arm up to give Israel the victory (Exodus 17:11).
In 2 Corinthians 1:11, Paul says, "...as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." THANKS again for partnering with us in this past year and now also in the year before us!
The Moloko New Testament is being printed!
Most of you know that we worked with the Moloko people in northern Cameroon, beginning the New Testament Translation Project in 1996 and continuing until 2008. Since then the Moloko people have partnered with a Cameroonian Bible translation organization to finish the New Testament. In a recent blog I mentioned that the Moloko New Testament had been typeset in the capital, Yaounde, and now it's being printed there! We're waiting for word about that and also about the date of the Moloko New Testament dedication ceremony - probably in June/July 2026.
When we hear, we'll let you know so you can pray - AND we hope some of you would like to to travel with us to celebrate God's faithfulness to bring His Word to these dear people! We're gathering logistical and budget information now and will let you know more as we find out. In the meantime - renew your passport, save more than pennies (the round-trip airfare alone is quite expensive), and pray for this important event in the lives of the Moloko. Pray for us as we prepare for this wonderful celebration and we'll keep you posted!
[Email Alan at Alan_Starr@wycliffe.org if you MIGHT be interested in attending, as we'd like to start making a list of potential travelers.]
Thank you again for walking with us in this ministry, and may God bless and lead you in 2026.
