How can we share the gospel of Jesus Christ in a language that has no written word…?
Although I wanted to go to PNG (Papua New Guinea) or other places where all the action was, I was challenged wondering why we heard so little about Brazil and why so few people were going to Brazil. Then, God said to me, “What about you, John?” I replied, “Who me?! What difference could I make?! I’d be like a drop of water in the ocean…?!” To which God replied, “Yes, but you’d be one more drop!”
John Wilkinson-
God’s Word – TUPANA EHAY
Brazil faces an undeniable crisis within its indigenous populations. Many of these indigenous groups live and communicate in their native languages yet lack a written form for these languages. Translating the Bible into native languages transforms sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ into a heartfelt labor of love for missionaries. Can the absence of a written language interfere with Christian missionaries delivering God’s miracle to the Brazilian Amazon Interior?
Article By: Nathan W. Hoff
Website Original Format By: Nathan W. Hoff
Based on Missions Geographic Magazine Interview with….. Missionary & Bible Translator John Wilkinson
Written: December 20, 2024
Published Online: February 1, 2025
Introduction
Imagine having the greatest story known to humanity and you had no ability to get your friend to understand some of your words – although they may have understood most of what you were saying, they could not completely understand why you think it is the greatest story ever. Your story would not make sense – as important pieces would not have translatable meaning to the one hearing the story.
This somewhat illustrates how it is with sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people groups who do not have an established formal written language. Even though they may have a spoken language there are words or even concepts that just are not readily available in their native tongue to translate the meaning of the story you are telling.
This is much what it must be like for those who spend their lives translating the Scriptures. These decoders of languages have the greatest story that humanity has ever witnessed through Jesus Christ, but the words are not readily available.
This article will introduce the reader to the Brazilian, indigenous people known as the Sateré-Mawé. The reader will become acquainted with some key missionaries who played a pivotal role in translating the Bible for the Sateré-Mawé. Additionally, two faithful servants who were part of the missionary and translation teams are interviewed; providing personal insight to the role of God’s servants in the field.
Because of missionaries such as these some of the Sateré-Mawé people, after salvation, have been sharing the greatest story that humanity has ever witnessed. Each sharing the Gospel of Christ in their own written native language. Missions Geographic Magazine is celebrating the exciting news that:
God the Father is still sovereign in all regions and in every corner of the world! God sends His teachers and pastors to minister to the needy and His accomplishments are nothing less than spectacular…
Importance of Cultural Awareness
Missionaries are educated on the importance of cultural appreciation. They know without having a clear understanding of a people’s culture, language, rituals, and superstitions, among other considerations; missionaries will have a lower-than-expected acceptance into the tribe / people group as a trusted member.
Cultural appreciation is why translating the Bible into an unfamiliar language takes years to complete – translation encompasses years of building trust with the people often before the first word is ever translated.
John Wilkinson shares:
“It also takes many years of study to achieve the level of fluency in the language and culture necessary to build doctrinal concepts, search for spiritual terminology, and efficiently translate God’s word.”
Servants Behind the Translation
As this article unfolds you will be introduced to some of the biblical translators along with a few of their Sateré-Mawé helpers. It is nothing short of stating the obvious as you will observe the number of people God has used and is still using today to ensure His Word is properly presented to the Sateré-Mawé population.
The translation for the Sateré-Mawé is greatly due to the founder of Amazon Vida (Amazon Life), Pastor Eduardo Lessa, and missionaries Alberto and Sue Graham, in partnership with John Wilkinson with the help of his missionary spouse Sonia.
There are several Sateré-Mawé who also have contributed their help such as the late Sateré-Mawé man named Sewu who later became a respected chief, politician, and spiritual leader. Then Maxico who is Sewu’s son. Maxico and his wife Jovina were translation helpers for Al and Sue Graham and continue to help John Wilkinson in the revision of the Graham’s Bible translation. Both chief Cain (a firm believer) and later Chief Antonio (uncertain) were instrumental as firm believers and supporters. Elso, (uncertain) the son of Chief Antonio carried on his father’s support by working as a translator.
A translation of any type requires devoted laborers. However, a translation of this magnitude is simply a miracle. [Prior to this article going to publication John shared with Missions Geographic Magazine this previously unknown comment: “A long time ago I noted down inside the cover of my Bible, “Each verse translated is a miracle!”]
God has gathered faithful helpers to deliver His miracle, the Bible is known to the Sateré-Mawé as TUPANA EHAY which translated into English equates to GOD’s WORD.
Translation Team Snapshot
Our story of God’s miracle begins in the early 1950’s as the founder of Amazon Vida (Amazon Life), Pastor Eduardo Lessa, was working in the Brazilian Amazon interior with the indigenous people known as the Sateré or Sateré-Mawé. It is during the early 1960’s that Pastor Lessa and the Grahams (Alberto (Al) and Sue) would form a zealous and faithful partnership in the arena of biblical translation. This team of missionaries worked long and faithfully on translating God’s Word into the Sateré-Mawé native language.
Sue, and her husband Alberto, known to all as Al, were Christian missionaries. These pioneers in biblical translation are accredited with the early works of translating the Bible into the Sateré-Mawé native language. The Grahams were charged with a monumental undertaking since there was no written Sateré-Mawé language until their Bible translation.
Early in their lives the Grahams lived with the Sateré-Mawé people. This dedication to their cultural awareness resulted in the Grahams being adopted as family on the Sateré reservation – but their ministry was not without enemies and opposition among the Sateré people. After Pastor Lessa, and Al Graham had gone to be with the Lord, Sue, continued this important work for serval years. But there came a time when Sue had to retire and leave the Sateré Bible translations in the hands of another.
As the years passed Sue Graham was no longer healthy enough to continue the work that she and her husband Al both loved and faithfully worked. Prior to 1996, a faithful Brazilian Christan named Sonia, had worked with the Grahams in Vila Nova, Brazil. Sonia later married John Wilkinson, and together they started working in the Sateré-Mawé village of Vila Nova in 1996. As a married couple the Wilkinson’s only had sporadic contact with the Grahams. The biblical translation responsibilities were passed to John, who was assisted by his wife Sonia and others within the community.
Al died in November of 2010. After his death, in January 2011, Sue called John Wilkinson to ask if he would be willing to form a partnership with her to finish Al’s translation. John immediately agreed telling Sue, “Our work is one and the same”. Over the next few years, a number of trips were made out to Vila Nova where they would worked on completing the Bible translation, which was finished in 2016, published and presented to the Sateré people at the dedication service in Vila Nova in 2017.
On one of the last trips Sue made to the tribe she passed the responsibility on to John Wilkinson for the translation work, printing scriptures, etc.
A farewell article for Sue Graham is featured in the link below.
Farewell to Sue Graham: https://www.amazonvida.org/post/2024/farewell-to-sue-graham
Missionary Interview
Mission Geographic Magazine is pleased to present from John Wilkinson – A brief glimpse into his mission journey and Bible translation contribution.
The following is from an interview with John. It is an honor to highlight his commitment to serving God.
We are also pleased to highlight in her own words, Sonia Wilkinson’s personal missionary story and devotion to the Sateré-Mawé.
Discover the who, what, and why that led them to serve God through the Sateré-Mawé people.
Missions Geographic Magazine Interview
Missionaries John and Sonia Wilkinson
Click on the each interview question to reveal John’s/Sonia’s response:
John’s Missionary Journey
Sonia’s Missionary Journey
God’s Results – Unreached No Longer!
To date one can, travel into the depths of the Amazonian interior and witness the Sateré-Mawé people using God’s translated word known as – TUPANA EHAY!
Check out this update on the Sateré-Mawé people, some of whom are no longer LOST!
https://www.amazonvida.org/post/2024/unreached-no-longer
Colossians 3:17 teaches, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Glorify God, for great things are being done in Brazil, South America!
God Here am I Send Me!
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [c]put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who [d]bring good news of good things!”
Romans 10:11-15 NASB
Biblical translation is still a highly needed skillset throughout the 1040 Missions Window and other unreached people groups. Many of whom needs God’s Word translated in order for them to hear the greatest story ever witnessed by humanity.
Perhaps today God is telling you, “Go my child.” As John explained about his own struggle to go John Wilkinson shared, “Then, God said to me, “What about you, John?” I replied, “Who me?! What difference could I make?! I’d be like a drop of water in the ocean…?!” To which God replied, “Yes, but you’d be one more drop!“
If you would like to consider a mission such as Bible translation perhaps you would consider seeking information from a Christian missions sending agency such as ETHNOS360, SIL, WYCLIFFE, or others, please review ETHNOS360, SIL, WYCLIFFE, websites with your pastor:
https://ethnos360.org/training/ethnos360-training
