Literacy is a foundational skill which gives entrance to the Bible in a person's mother tongue, the world of books, and the Internet. Reading opens doors. And yet, of the 6.5 billion people on earth, 1 billion are non-literate.

Wycliffe field personnel work with local community members teaching people to read and write and endeavoring to establish literacy as a community value. In many language programs, literacy work goes on side by side with Bible translation.

Literacy Impacts the Whole Person 

Especially when it is literacy in the mother tongue. Literacy changes the way people think about themselves. It gives new value to their language and culture, and by implication, to their own person. Literacy also opens the door for education and growth. Readers can learn how to improve their family’s health, run a business, defend themselves from fraud, seek justice and, above all, grow closer to God by reading the Scriptures.

Literacy works best in a person's own language 

People learning to read in their mother tongue can concentrate on learning to understand symbols and how they combine into meaningful words, without being distracted by unfamiliar words in a language that is not their own. When they can read and write in their mother tongue, they can more easily learn to read and write in their national language or another widely spoken language.

Literacy opens the door to the Gospel

God works powerfully through His Word. People often become followers of Jesus simply as a result of reading the Bible for themselves.

Literacy is a key to fulfilling the Great Commission.

Jesus instructed His disciples to “go and make disciples of all the nations…teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19–20, NLT). When people can read, or know someone who can read to them, the written Word of God becomes invaluable to their spiritual growth as individuals and churches.

Literacy is a key to achieving Vision 2025

Wycliffe is committed to seeing a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by 2025. Our cherished hope is that in every language group, God will draw people to Himself and establish bodies of believers who will use the translated Scriptures for spiritual growth and outreach.

Are you interested in working in Literacy?

We would love to hear from you.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it