On October 28, the Yemba people of Cameroon held the dedication ceremony for the New Testament in the Yemba language, now available in print for the first time to the 300,000 speakers of the language. Two amazing colleagues of mine, Nancy and Gretchen, moved into the village in 1983 to start working on the previously unwritten language. Since then, the linguistics, literacy, and translation work has continued by the Yemba translators in partnership with the local churches, authorities, and our local partner CABTAL.

Below I have added a gallery of photos of the ceremony, which is just the first of 3 New Testament Dedications that we are participating in over the next month… in languages that will soon have access to the entire New Testament written in their language for the first time, EVER! God is good!

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”[1]

Members of a Yemba literacy class wearing traditional hats for the dance that will accompany the entry of the New Testament

The warriors announce the news of what is coming

Woman announce that good news is coming for women!

A dancer rings the double bell, signifying that there is a message coming from the King, people should get ready

Women perform traditional dance and sing a new song, incuding the words “God is here!”

These young men dance the traditional dance signalling an event of great importance

A woman carrying the hidden message in a traditional bag enters, shaded by ‘peace plants’

They arrive in front of the elite to deliver the message

The Translation Consultant removes the message…

and announces the arrival of the Word of God in Yemba

Many hands prayed over the Yemba New Testament, that it would go forth and bear much fruit

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 55:10–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.