Frontline Newsletter: "The Greatest Gift"

There was great rejoicing throughout Moruland as the people received the very first complete Bible in the Moru language. The story of how the Moru received the Bible in their own language is an inspiring example of dedication and sacrifice.

A Matter of Life and Death

Dr. Kenneth Fraser, the pioneer missionary to the Moru people, translated the Gospels and Acts into the Moru language before his death in 1935. Canon Ezra Lawiri, once a principal of the Bishop Gwynne College, completed the translation of the whole Bible into Moru just before his death in 1991. While fleeing the fighting, Cannon Ezra was fatally wounded in an attack near Rokon in 1991. As he lay dying, Canon Ezra entrusted the completed manuscripts of the Bible translation to Archdeacon (now Bishop) Bullen Dolli: "My ministry is complete!" he declared. In the words of the Apostle Paul, Canon Ezra could rejoice:

"I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the Faith."
2 Timothy 4:7

Canon Ezra’s final words were concerned with having the Bible published in the Moru language. Clearly the Word of God is a matter of life and death.

God’s Word is "eternal" (Psalm 119:89); "the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever" Isaiah 40:8.

The Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105); it is "sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). It is like a fire that burns within our heart, it is like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). "It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" Romans 1:16. It is the Truth (John 17:17) that sets us free (John 8:32). It is sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103) and more precious than gold or silver (Psalm 119:72). It is "radiant, giving light to the eyes" and "joy to the heart" Psalm 19:8.

Throughout the ages some men have so hated, or feared, the Word of God that they were willing to kill – to destroy the Bible. (To this day the Bible is forbidden by the National Islamic Front government to be transported into Southern Sudan.) And others have so loved the Word of God that they have been willing to give their lives for the Bible.

Carrying the new Moru Bibles across the Yei river bridge.

We have the Bible in English today because of the sacrifices of courageous Reformers like William Tyndale. William Tyndale was burned at the stake for the "crime" of translating the Bible into English! His last words were "Lord, open the King of England’s eyes." That final prayer was answered in an incredible way. The Queen, Anne Boleyn, obtained a copy of Tyndale’s book "Obedience of a Christian Man" and a copy of Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament into English. These she hid and read in the king’s own bedroom! Within 2 years of Tyndale’s death, King Henry VIII ordered that the Bible, in English, be placed in every church in the land! "In Our Own Tongue" As we distributed boxes of Moru Bibles in the church surrounded by bomb craters, we were reminded of the fact that 9 years ago, only a few miles away, Canon Ezra had died after handing over his life’s work – the Bible translated into Moru. There was a special sense of history being made and of the heartfelt prayers of a dying man being answered.

Moru Church leaders rejoice over the first complete Bible in their own language.

Yes, it had taken 9 years since Canon Ezra completed the translation, but initially there was no-one willing and able to finance the printing. When I first heard that the Moru Bible was translated, but not yet printed, I knew that Frontline Fellowship had to trust the Lord for the resources to finance this. It was a special privilege to have a part in helping to fulfil the lifelong dreams and dying prayers of Dr. Kenneth Fraser and Canon Ezra Lawiri. As I heard time and again, in different words, throughout Moruland: "This is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive – the Word of God in our own language!"