A plea for a new Mongolian Bible translation

We recently had a visit from some distinguished visitors. Dr. Keen and Mr. Fielder of FirstBibles International (or FBI as they like to call it with a sarcastic smile) recently came to Mongolia along with almost a score of American pastors. Along with them came two men with tremendous academic credentials: Mr. Paul Rowland, General Director of the Trinitarian Bible Society and Mr. Billy Patterson.

Mr. Patterson is a unusual man. Brought up as a missionary kid in Mexico by a father whose training was in Biblical Greek, Billy grew up speaking Spanish and English as well reading Biblical Greek. Later, he pastored a church in Mexico before turning his life towards linguistic study. Besides studying linguistic and translation principles, he also spent some time in Israel studying Biblical Hebrew. For some time, he has taught at a Bible college in India.

The purpose of their visit was to survey the Bible situation in Mongolia and give advice to us missionaries. They are agreed that a new Bible translation or perhaps a revision of a previous Bible translation is needed in Mongolia.

In the past week, I have spent hours and hours meeting with people, discussing the current situation, considering the options for a new translation or revision, and praying for God's will in all this. The way forward to me is still a little clouded. In particular there is a pressing need for Mongolians who have a high regard for the inspiration and preservation of Scripture, the academic qualifications to do a good job of translation, and the calling of God on their lives to do the work. There are foreigners who want to be involved in this project, but I remain convinced that we do need Mongols to work on this project also.

I sense, too, a period of stretching and personal growth. There are times in life when the path before us is well-defined. We are comfortable in our service for God because it has become well-known to us. Then there are other times when God places a work before us that seems beyond our capabilities. It is in those times that we look to Him and allow Him to mold us in ways that we did not foresee to accomplish His work. Perhaps I am facing one of those times. That is not to say that I am leaving Mongolia because I do not foresee that. Rather God may be planning to stretch me and give me a greater vision for Mongolia in the months ahead.

From left sitting around the table: Billy Patterson, Mickey Cofer, Trina Cofer, Roland Gay, Paul Rowland, and Jason Muller discuss Bible translation work. In the background sits Lkhama, a Mongolian friend of the Cofers, and Becky Muller.