Recenlty I had a visit from Chris Pluger. Chris is a member of one of our sister congregations in Ohio. He studied for a number of years to become a pastor, but during the course of his studies he decided that the pastoral ministry was not the best fit for him. Over the next few years he put his pastoral studies to use teaching language classes in a Lutheran school. Still, Chris found that this calling was not what he wanted to do for the long term.
But now the Lord has led Chris and his family to a new vocation that fits him perfectly. Chris Pluger and his family are missionaries for an organization called “Lutheran Bible Translators.” The LBT exists to translate the Bible into new languages around the world.
We often take for granted the rich blessing of reading the Bible in our own native language. For many people around the world, this blessing is not yet a reality. For many, they must read the Bible in a language that is not their native tongue. Maybe you studied a foreign language in high school or college. Imagine having to read the Bible only in that foreign language. I’d bet all of us would yearn for a Bible in our own mother language.
When Chris visited me, he told me about the Nsenga people, a group of nearly two million souls who live in south-central Africa. They populate countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. As you may know already, Africa is a continent with a rapidly growing Christian population. But these two million Nsenga people must use a foreign language to read the Bible. They do not have a Bible in their own “heart language,” as Chris calls it.
Chris and his family, in partnership with LBT, are going to do something about it. They are moving to Africa this summer to begin learning the Nsenga language and culture so that Chris can begin work on a Nsenga translation of God’s Word. Chris’s background in pastoral stduies will benefit him greatly during this labor. He’s studied Greek and Hebrew, the original languages of the Bible. He’s got a background in linguistics, and his liberal arts education make him well-rounded for just such a cultural task.
Imagine the joy of the Nsenga people when this years-long endeavor is complete! They will finally be able to enjoy a blessing that you and I take for granted far too often: a Bible in their own native language!
Chris and his family need support for this mission. The LBT relies on donations to fund its efforts. If you are interested in making a gift to support the Plugers’ work, please speak to me or contact us using the website contact form. Please also consider saying a prayer for the Plugers. Ask for God’s blessing on their work, and for their safety as they grow accustomed to a new home far away.
