"Of the 270 tribes in our country we, the Vute people, are particularly blessed. For the first time ever, we have a New Testament in our own language. God will ask much of us as we have received much from him."

The challenging words of the Rev Pierre Songsare at the launching of the Vute New Testament in Cameroon, Africa, last December.

It was the last of thirty-four new translations of the New Testament to be launched in 2007.

Even more significantly, full Bibles were published for the first time in nine languages last year.

This means that 438 of the world’s estimated 6,900 languages now have the complete Bible and 1,168 have the New Testament.

“Although 95 percent of humanity now has access to the Bible in a language they can understand, many of these people are having to read the Bible in a language that is not their own,” said Mark Brown, Bible Society’s Chief Executive.

“With overwhelming evidence that Scripture speaks most powerfully to people when it is presented in their heart language, Bible Society is working ceaselessly towards the goal of giving everybody this unique access to the Scriptures.”

As evidence of this Mr Brown said that Bible Society around the world is currently engaged in 564 Bible translation projects and all of them are funded exclusively through voluntary gifts from the Christian community.

"One of those translation projects,” he added, “is the translation of the Tokelau New Testament being completed here in New Zealand. We hope to see it launched later this year."

Browse or Download the scripture translation booklet

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Photos of clergy arriving at the launch of the Vute New Testament in Cameroon.

Contact: Errol Pike, The Bible Society in New Zealand
Phone 0800 424 253 ext 9843 or