| Somali Bible Society (SBS)Newsletter June 2024 |
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Our Mission……is to enable and facilitate opportunities for the holistic development of the illiterate masses, impoverished families, and fatherless children. We aim to evangelize the lost and disciple the believers in Somalia and beyond. We will achieve this mission by producing, distributing, and teaching biblical and contextualized resources in partnership with local churches. |
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INTRODUCING THIS MONTH’S FEATURE WITH A PERSONAL TESTIMONY |
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 | Dr. Howie Shute Newsletter Publisher SBS Director of Development |
| The Bible Changed My LifeI grew up attending church in a mainline Christian denomination. Although I had read the Bible some during my childhood and teen years, I never really understood what I was reading. The translation of the Bible in which I was exposed was written in an archaic English language. It never really spoke to me because it was hard to understand. To make matters worse, the church my family attended did not teach the basics of the Christian faith. Without the Word of God speaking into my life, I spent the first 28 years of my life lost and without hope, estranged from the God that loved me. It was then when I was 28 years of age that a friend sent me a Bible using modern and understandable English. I had previously told this friend that I believed the Bible was a good book to pattern our lives after, but I told her that I did not believe that the Bible was the actual Word of God (as she believed). At first I had no interest in reading the Bible when it showed up in the mail, but it was not long before God drew me to His Word. Once I started reading it, I could not stop. For several months I filled a major part of the day and night reading and re-reading the Bible. Then one night (actually about 2 AM) as I was reading, I heard the voice of God so plainly. He was standing at the foot of my bed (although I could not see Him). His voice, however, was very clear when He said to me: “This is my Word.” My life was instantly changed. It has been fifty years since I heard God’s voice declare to me that the Bible is the actual Word of God. I’m a different person than I was before that time. I now have a personal relationship with God, my Father, and He has given to me peace, purpose, and the promise of Eternal Life.
This is why I am so passionate about the Somali Bible Society’s ministry to provide an understandable Somali translation of the Bible and their vigorous attempt to get the Word of God into the hands of every Somali. |
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|  | The Voice of God
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) |
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“LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH” |
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Hello *|FNAME|*,
Life in Somalia is chaotic at best. The vast majority of the population of Somalia is illiterate. According to USAID, the adult literacy rate is 40%. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS East Africa) states on their website that despite the lack of official data, their conversations with “…Somali refugees and clan leaders [would indicate] that about 80% of Somali people are not able to read nor write.” Maybe because of this, the unemployment rate is nearly 20%. Security is poor in Somalia. After years of living under the control of warlords, the country is now plagued with the tyranny of Al-Shabaab, a Sunni Islamist military and political terrorist organization. Muslims struggle with life in Somalia, Christians even more so. Finding direction in living one’s life in this failed state is more than challenging. There has never been a nation that has needed divine intervention more than Somalia. Somalis across the nation need to hear the voice of God and that will only happen as the Word of God (the Bible) is made available to the Somali population. Truly God’s Word provides the path for the redemption of the Somali people. In Psalm 119:105 the Bible says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Somali Bible Society is passionately working on putting the Word of God into the hands of every Somali.
The May issue of our newsletter celebrated families that have been changed through SBS’s ministry of literacy training. We featured three illiterate persons trained by the SBS to read and write in their native language, and how that training lifted their families to a higher standard of living. More importantly these individuals can now read the Bible and be exposed to the Word of God that transforms lives in amazing ways. The Somali Bible Society translates and produces Bibles in the contemporary language of the Somali people, teaches the poor and illiterate masses to read and write, and then puts the Word of God into their hands.
Hear the testimony of one Christian father in Southern Somalia who recently said: “My family and I never had a Bible before the SBS donated to us a tablet that is loaded with a Bible and Bible study materials. Our faith is now growing because of the assistance we received from the SBS.”
This month we are giving our subscribers a close-up look at the Somali Bible Society at work in their ministry to provide understandable, contextualized translations of the Somali Bible and to make these Bibles available to the Somali people. |
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BIBLE TRANSLATION PARTNERSHIP |
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| SBS and UBS PartnershipThe Somali Bible Society (SBS) is a member of the UK-registered United Bible Societies (UBS). The translation work is a partnership between the UBS, the SBS, and local churches. |
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The UBS provides Translation Consultancy for all Bible translations of member Bible societies including the SBS. The Translation Consultants are competent in biblical linguistics, biblical studies, anthropology and church history. They ensure that the translation is accurate, natural and clear in relation to the original Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek rendering and the receptor language which is Somali in our context. The UBS has assigned a Bible translation consultant to the SBS. |
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In addition to providing valuable consultation to the SBS, they provide translation resources, making it possible for the SBS to use the latest technology and best practices to ensure the quality and consistency of their work. The UBS also provides training to the the SBS’s Main Translator and their Chief Editor. |
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SBS AT WORK IN BIBLE TRANSLATION |
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| The SBS Translation TeamThe SBS has a team of dedicated translators, editors, reviewers, and consultants who work hard to produce accurate, clear, and natural translations of the Bible into Somali. |
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Selection CommitteeLocal churches select Christian community members to form a Selection Committee who recommends translators, checkers and proofreaders to the SBS. |
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 | Muse Bashir, Translator in Action |
| Main Bible TranslatorMuse Bashir does the vast majority of the translation work for the SBS. In this work the translation is consistently compared to three Bible translations in different languages and versions. The translation model the SBS uses is dynamic translation, which attempts to emphasize the meaning of phrases rather than each individual word. This is the same model used by the translators who produced the popular NIV version of the Bible. Bashir uses the Standard Somali dialect in all of the translation work for the Somali Bible. |
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|  | Muse Bashir on a 12-15 Year Project to translate the entire Old and New Testament |
| Old Testament Translation
The Somali Bible Society recently completed the translation of the Somali New Testament. They have now started the translation of the Old Testament. Targeted completion date for the OT translation is 2030 at an estimated cost of $500,000 USD.
Donations to this translation project (as well as to the other SBS priority projects) can be made by clicking the link provided in the “Is God Calling You to Give” section of this newsletter (below). |
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 | Translation Checkers in Action |
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| Translation CheckersAs Muse Bashir completes various sections of the translation into Somali, a committee of Translation Checkers meets and evaluates his translation work for accuracy. It is also evaluated to verify that it would be easily understood by Somali readers. |
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 | Rev. Dr. Aweis Ali, Chief Editor |
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| Editorial Team & Chief Editor
After translation, checkers complete their review and make any recommendations for translation revision. Then the Editorial Team makes editorial changes that might be necessary. Final editing is done by SBS’s Chief Editor, Rev. Dr. Aweis Ali, who is uniquely qualified to oversee the final editing of the Somali Bible. Dr. Aweis’ vast ministry experience, his theological training, and his extensive knowledge of the Somali culture has prepared him for the oversight of the translation process of the Somali Bible. |
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The Final Final Step
The final version is read to different Somali groups of Muslims and Christians. Listeners are of different genders and educational levels. Their feedback is then taken into consideration for any final editing that might be needed.
Now it is ready for printing! |
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UNVEILING OF THE SOMALI BIBLE SOCIETY TRANSLATED NEW TESTAMENT |
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 | The Somali New Testament Unveiled |
| In 2023 a limited number of soft cover Somali New Testaments were produced and released to a number of Somali individuals.
Mass production is taking place in South Korea this year so the Word of God will be available for the masses. |
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|  | Getting the Word Out!The SBS partners with local churches, ministries, and organizations to distribute and promote the Bible among Somali speakers. The SBS provides printed copies, audio recordings, digital downloads, and online platforms (such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram) for people to access and engage with the Bible. |
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Did You Know?
Most Christians in Somalia cannot procure or keep any paper printed Christian material for securty reasons. Anyone found with Christian material could be killed by radical Islamists. This is why soft copies of the Bible and Bible study materials are very popular. Christians in Somalia can download PDF formatted Bibles into their smartphones and tablets. These devices are password protected and thus safe. Because the SBS has distributed soft copy Bibles, the faith of the community of believers in five regions in Somalia is growing. SBS will start soft copy Bible distribution in more regions in Somalia in the next few months.
The SBS also produces and publishes other resources that help Somali Christians to grow in their faith and to share their faith with others. These include children’s literature, women’s ministry resources, hymns, devotionals, and more.
Wow! God is using the Somali Bible Society in tremendous and miraculous ways!
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IS GOD CALLING YOU TO SERVE? |
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| Is God Calling You? *|FNAME|*, the Somali Bible Society is currently recruiting missionaries to serve in various countries around the globe. We need missionaries in the major cities of the USA and in most world regions outside of the USA. If you, or someone you know, would like to discuss the possibility of involvement in a mission to the Somali people in some region of the world, or even somewhere in the USA, email me:
howie@somalibiblesociety.org |
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IS GOD CALLING YOU TO GIVE? |
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Changing Lives by Giving toSomali Bible Society (SBS) Projects:
*|FNAME|*, all Somali Bible Society projects are listed on the Good Samaritan Network web page. This page can be accessed by clicking the “SOMALI BIBLE SOCIETY PROJECTS” (RED) button (below/right). Once you are on that page, note the Project # to which you would like to donate and then click the “DONATE” (ORANGE) button at the top of the Good Samaritan Network web page. This will direct you to the web page of My Fathers Work where you will enter the Project # in the Comment field. You should note that Good Samaritan Ministries has already been entered in the Apply my gift to* field. (If not, make that selection). This will assure that your donation reaches the desired project. Then complete your financial details.
Note:
My Fathers Work and the Good Samaritan Network are non-profit organizations that are partners with the Somali Bible Society, and are actively raising funds for SBS Projects and routing those funds to the SBS Project of your choice. My Fathers Work will send you a tax deductible receipt for your gift to the Somali Bible Society. Gifts of any size are welcomed and appreciated. |
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ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER
You may wish to support one of the SBS Projects but do not have sufficient funds to donate as much as you would like. Consider hosting a fundraiser in your community or online to raise funds for one of our projects. Especially consider raising funds for the Good Samaritan Center which will become the artery through which all SBS ministries will flow. Whether it is a church mission project, bake sale, charity run, or virtual event, your fundraiser can make a significant difference in leading Somali Muslims to Jesus Christ!
Email howie@somalibiblesociety.org and let us know about any fundraiser that you are considering. We will be praying for you in this endeavor. |
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PRAYER REQUESTSPray for the ongoing SBS translation of the Somali Bible. Pray for the SBS ministries, including trauma healing, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training. Pray for protection and safety for Somali Christians in the midst of persecution and discrimination. Pray for courage and strength for Somali believers to stand firm in their faith despite challenges. Pray for opportunities for Somali Christians to practice their faith and share the gospel with others openly. Pray for the growth of churches and Christian communities in Somalia. Pray for wisdom and discernment for Christian leaders and pastors in Somalia. Pray for the provision of resources and support for the spiritual and physical needs of Somali Christians. Pray for the transformation of the hearts and minds of Muslims in Somalia to be open to the message of the gospel. Pray for reconciliation and peace among different Muslim sects in Somalia. Pray for the healing and restoration of those who have suffered due to their faith in Somalia. Pray for the spread of God's love and hope throughout Somalia, reaching every corner of the nation. Pray for funds for the Good Samaritan Center (Project # 102852). This ministry center will become the artery through which all SBS ministries will flow.
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PRAISE REPORTS
SBS has successfully facilitated church planting, discipleship, and leadership training in Somalia in the last four weeks. SBS has recently appointed its first Education Director to coordinate formal education and literacy training in Somalia. This leader earned a Master’s degree in education at a university in Scandinavia. The number of Somali Muslim seekers contacting SBS to learn how they could follow Jesus substantially increased in the last four weeks.
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See detail immediately below to schedule Dr. Howie for a speaking engagement. |
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AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS |
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Dr. Howie Shute is available to speak in Mission Conventions, Faith Promise Services, Local Church Missionary Meetings, Sunday Services, and Breakfast/Lunch Meetings to raise awareness of the exciting possibilities in the mission to Somalia.
If you would like to schedule Howie for a speaking engagement in your church or district assembly, email him at howie@somalibiblesociety.org or howieshute@mac.com or scan QR Code for Howie’s Contact Info. |
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