Read on to learn about the translation work happening with the Soli people of Zambia. Of the ~7,000 languages in the world, only about 1,300 have the New Testament and only about 550 have a complete Bible. Soli is just one of The Word for the World‘s 80+ language projects and this project has almost completed its New Testament! Local, mother-tongue translators have been working for nearly three years to accomplish this amazing work which–even while in-process–brings the light of God’s truth to hurting communities in Zambia.
See….that’s the problem with many pastors. They think it is “their” flock and “their” church to do with as they please. The people–the church–belong to God and He is our shepherd. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. -Rev. Chetula Letson
There are an estimated 100,000 Soli people living in central Zambia (Zambia is in sub-saharan Africa). The Soli work mostly as farmers, raising animals and growing maize, millet, and sorghum. Family wealth is usually determined by number of cows owned by a family, and school schedules are set according to the need work a family farm. As a Bantu people of southern Africa, the people are traditionally animistic and regularly seek spiritual guidance from medicine men.
These people were introduced to Christianity by international workers who came to abolish the slave trade. The people gladly accepted some Christian ideals, but for many, animism has maintained a prevalent presence in daily life–it is not uncommon for people to both pray to God and offer sacrifices to ancestor spirits in the same rituals. Many Soli identity as Christians, and generally speaking, the people are seeking ways to serve God more and more. In our western terms, they are a reached people, but “making disciples” goes beyond evangelism.
The Soli are welcoming and gracious–full of life and a desire to see themselves and their fellow Zambians continue to grow as followers of Christ. When teaching at a training event in Lusaka, Zambia, I was able to spend hours talking with Rev. Chetulo Letson, a Soli pastor and Bible translator receiving a Diploma in Bible Translation through The Word for the World. From him, I learned that the Soli people are facing constant cultural pressure to revert to more traditional animistic worldviews and forms of worship. Additionally, globalization is making the people feel that they are losing their cultural identity. This is problematic because the Soli people want to be a source of God’s light for their brothers and sisters in Zambia. National churches and organizations are taking steps to be responsible to bring God’s Truth to their own. Pastor Letson works tirelessly with other national pastors to encourage them to live a life of worship to God alone, to pray continually, and to rely on Jesus for strength, wisdom, and transformation.
When one has a Bible in his or her own heart language, he or she is able to most clearly understand the messages within, receive clear instruction from God, and more deeply engage the scriptures by applying them to daily life. The Soli people have never had a Bible translated into their native tongue, and without it, nationals have to look elsewhere for consistent, reliable, and inspired teachings. God uses the sacred writings that we call the Bible “to make [one] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV)
Since 2013, The Word for the World has been training and equipping the Soli people to undertake the task of translating the Bible into their own language. Led by Pastor Wingstone Chifuka, Letson and other translators have nearly completed the Soli New Testament; are working on translating the Jesus film; and are soon to start the Soli Old Testament. This team understands that having an understandable and complete Bible will provide the Soli with a powerful and reliable source of Godly revelation and inspiration. Through the process of creating and providing the Bible, God is enabling the Soli people to protect their culture, empower Godly leaders, and engage in bringing the Truth to others.
For more reading and information:
I what to find out how the soli traditional leadership promoted girl’s education in the context of African indigenous worldview?