SAGU gives to Ning Bible translation

Ning Bible TranslationBy Jason Rutel

Waxahachie, TX - May 17, 2011 - Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) students gave to the Bible translation for the Ning people of Tanzania, Africa for their spring giving project.

On average, SAGU students raised $15,000 in the fall semester and $7,500 in the spring. Southwestern Missions Association (SMA) doubled the spring average raising over $15,000. SMA Executive Treasurer Miguel Guerreiro presented the check to The Seed Company’s OneVerse program, a partner of Wycliffe Bible Translators. The money will fund the completion of the Ning translation of the Book of Acts.

According to OneVerse, the Ning people presently live between the Selous Game Reserve and the Rufiji River in southeastern Tanzania. Of the 384,000 Ning speaking population, less than one percent of their population claims Christianity. In Fall 2010, Director of Missions Chad Germany asked SMA executive officers to consider Bible translation as the university’s Spring 2011 giving project. Along with being a largely unreached people group, Germany explains SMA’s reasoning for choosing the Ning project. "The project's need for the Book of Acts was of particular interest to us because the book's message is foundational to one of SAGU's core values: Pentecostal distinction,” he said.

“It’s a sacrifice because we could be focusing on ourselves,” said Sophomore Kelsie Whitfield. “But instead we chose to have faith that God would use us.” Students like Kelsie recognized the significance of Bible translation and readily joined the cause.

The Ning Language Project is 1 of OneVerse’s 17 projects and is currently 39% funded. For more information about OneVerse, please visit www.oneverse.org.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) is a private, Christian university located in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 60 associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.