Annual Report 2023
Dear Friends
Greetings from Johannesburg!
From the
Executive Director
Reecting global change
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Cover photo: Participants at the Americas Area
Global People Coversation explore new ideas
and opportunities for further exploration.
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Becoming the Alliance
Permanent shifts
Coming together, Saul Samuel Patayaure from NBTT and Eugine
Mou MEI from CABTAL talk with one another at area meetings.
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The church is already there
This is God’s doing
The church in Ethiopia is engaged in the
translation work in their country.
Our growing funding model
Until June 2020, we worked under a funding model
where each Alliance organisation gave 0.35 percent
of their funds to the Alliance as an annual
contribution. Plus, organisations gave 1 percent of
member funds that followed the placement of their
personnel. As of June 2020, that model came to an
end. Part of the new model is to work with a tiered
funding system, where organisations (according to
their income) fall in a certain tier and pay an
annual fee. These fees comprise roughly 50 percent
of the Alliance’s income and cover our basic
operations. The remainder consists of projects we
are making available for Alliance organisations to
help fund. These are collaborative, forward-looking
areas we need to explore together as an Alliance.
As we grow into this new way of funding, the
Alliance Leadership Team and our project funding
team have approached specic organisations we
believe could completely or partially fund specic
projects. (We are in the process of creating space
on our website to make project funding needs
known to all Alliance organisations.) This reects
our value system, that each Alliance organisation
has the capacity and the opportunity to participate
in the life of the Alliance.
We have never done fundraising as an Alliance, so
this approach is new for us. We are growing into it
and learning along the way. But we are grateful for
the distance we have come thus far, and for the
generosity of Alliance organisations. We have seen
contributions come through ofcial project
requests, but then we have also seen Alliance
organisations stepping up, asking “Where is there
a need that we can contribute to?”
Kingdom opportunity
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We are witnesses
With 120 participants from 75 organisations,
the Global People Conversation
strengthened the Alliance’s competency in
missiological reection as well as providing
an opportunity for exploration of a vital
topic.
Global People
Conversation
Global People
Conversation addresses
new realities
Hannes Wiesmann
Assistant to the Executive Director
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PURPOSE, MISSION, VISION and CORE VALUES
Purpose
The Wycliffe Global Alliance exists to see individuals, communities and nations
transformed through God’s love and Word expressed in their languages and cultures. It
is a network of approximately 105 organisations working in more than 2,000 languages.
A Covenant/Statement of Commitment, signed by each Alliance organisation, sets out
the basis of our relationships.
Mission
In communion with God and within the community of his church, the Wycliffe Global
Alliance contributes to the holistic transformation of language communities worldwide.
Vision
Individuals, communities and nations transformed through God’s love and Word
expressed in their languages and cultures.
Core Values
* The Glory of God among the Nations: Living and serving to God’s glory so people of
all nations might know and glorify him.
* Christlikeness: Following Christ’s example in who we are and what we do.
* The Church as Central in God’s Mission: Believing the Church is created, called and
equipped by God to disciple the nations.
* The Word Translated: Trusting God to transform lives through his Word translated
into the languages and cultures of the world’s peoples.
* Dependence on God: Depending on God and his sufciency to equip and sustain us.
* Partnership and Service: Partnering interdependently as an expression of the unity
of believers. Serving in community through holistic ministry that facilitates
translation, access and application of God’s Word.
God’s Word in the hands of individuals transforms
lives, communities and nations.
The Journey
Concept
Rethinking
Organisational
Strategy in the Global
Context of God’s Mission
With input from more than
The Journey Concept
The Journey Concept
Dr Susan
van Wynen
Consultant for
Strategy
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Alliance
Leadership
Team
A small core team and
a diverse group of
consultants help
shape and nurture
the direction of the
Alliance, participate
in key networks and
partnerships and
provide accountability.
Dr Stephen
Coertze
Executive
Director
South Africa
Martijn de Vries
Director of
Operations
Switzerland
Hannu
Summanen
Chief Financial
Ofcer
Finland
Hannes
Wiesmann
Special Assistant
to the Executive
Director
Switzerland
Dr Bryan
Harmelink
Director for
Collaboration
United States
Dr Susan Van
Wynen
Consultant for
Strategy
United States
Simon Wan
Asia-Pacic
Area Director
(Until December 2023)
Singapore
Dr Paul Kimbi
Consultant for
Bible Translation
Programs
Cameroon
Jo Johnson
Consultant for
Prayer
Advocacy
United
Kingdom
Phil Prior
Director for
Communication
United
Kingdom
Wairimu
Irungu
Africa Area
Director
Kenya
Dr David
Cárdenas
Americas Area
Director
Columbia
Ruben Dubei
Europe Area
Director
Romania
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Board
of Directors
The Board of Directors
gives input to and
provides governance
for the Alliance. Each
Alliance organisation
has its own leadership
and board, but all
seek to work inter-
dependently and value
the Alliance community
for friendship, partner-
ship, spiritual and other
practical forms of mutual
support.
Agnes Lid
(Chair)
Norway
Marco Herrera
(Vice Chair)
Mexico
Matt Dawson
(Secretary)
United States
Hannu
Summanen
(Treasurer)
Finland
Susanna Muntz
Canada
Dr John
Chestnut
United States
Emmanuel
Keyeh
Cameroon
Rev Dr
Bambang
Widjaja
(Until March 2023)
Indonesia
Rob Lovatt
New Zealand
Su-Ling Ng
Singapore
Prof Jayne
Mutiga
Kenya
Joke Haaijer
Netherlands
Héber Negrão
Brazil
After a predictable slowdown
Global
Scripture
Access
Bible translation movement
shows big progress
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Area
Reports
Africa
Wairimu Irungu
Africa Area Director
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Attendees from around Africa attended the Area Gathering in May 2023.
From 22-26 May 2023,
Prayer Advocacy
Streams of Prayer
Streams of Prayer
Global People Conversation – Africa, August 2023
Francophone Initiative
Africa Area board chairs and directors gather at the Area Gathering.
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GILLBT marks 60th anniversary
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The work of the Americas
BIBLE TRANSLATION
Strengthening training programs.
Americas
David Cárdenas
Americas Area Director
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Dialogue Table for the Alliance organizations in Central America.
COLLABORATION
National Bible Translation
Roundtables in Latin America.
OBT Forums.
Roundtable facilitators from 12 countries gathered to hear how they can be a
model of community and collaboration.
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Collaboration with COMIBAM.
INFLUENCES
Children and Bible translation.
Prayer.
Indigenous leadership.
People.
WYCLIFFE CARIBBEAN
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Asia-Pacic
Tony Chan
Associate Director for Administration Services
One focus of the Asia-Pacic Area
ZOOM Meetings
Conferences and Meetings
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Called by Grace, Led by Grace
Staff transitions during 2023 - Asia-Pacic Area ofce
Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association
Wycliffe India
Jerusalem Seminary
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Europe
Ruben Dubei
Europe Area Director
Developing Participation Tables
Europe Area gathering
facilitate the relationship between churches and Bibleless groups in Europe and
beyond,
Participation Tables will help facilitate
collaboration among the Alliance organisations.
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Established in 2016, the Romanian Sign Language Bible translation project
consists of individuals passionate about providing the Deaf in Romania
with God’s Word. (L-R) Torok Loan, Legar Nicolae-Mihai, Bortoș Ladislau
1. Church and Bible Translation Consultation
2. Eurasia Diaspora Consultation
Eurasia sign languages consultation
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Finances
The Alliance Board of Directors approved
Revenue
Expenses
d
Fiscal Year 202
3
:
October 202
2
to September 202
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God is at work in his world.
We are thankful for all that he has done through the
the Alliance this past year.
Back cover photo:
Baphuthi children dancing, South Africa
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Net Assets
