Rev. Lukas Giban, S.Th, chairman of the launch committee, along with Vice Chairman II Agus Bayage, Treasurer Martinus Matuan, and committee secretary representative Yunus Bayage, conveyed their appreciation during a media interview on Sunday (February 9, 2025).
“We, the Ngalik tribe, express our heartfelt gratitude, as the spread of the Gospel among our people began in 1963 through Rev. Edward Maxey and his colleagues, Bromeli and Beni Miler. They were the first to introduce the Gospel in the Silimo area,” said Lukas Giban.
The Ngalik Language Bible launch event, held in Dekai, Yahukimo, on Friday (February 7, 2025), was attended by Bible translators from various countries. According to Lukas Giban, the Ngalik people once lived in great limitations, but the arrival of the Gospel brought profound changes.
“After Rev. Edward Maxey brought the Gospel, he taught us about the fear of God, kindness, and love. He also initiated the process of writing the Bible in the Ngalik language. This journey has taken 60 years, and we are deeply grateful for the efforts of our predecessors who brought the Gospel to the Ngalik people,” he added.
Giban explained that, beyond spreading the Gospel, the missionaries also established schools to combat illiteracy. In the 1970s, they began translating biblical books such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. By 2000, Edward Maxey had planned the translation of the entire Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. However, due to age-related factors, he had to return to his home country, and the task was continued by the next generation of translators until its completion in 2023.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman II of the Committee, Agus Bayage, shared that the launch committee was formed on November 11, 2023. Throughout the preparation process, they held several meetings and submitted proposals to government authorities and community leaders.
“The entire Ngalik community, including representatives from four major church denominations—GKII, KINGMI, GBI, and the Catholic Church—supported this event. We also received full support from the Yahukimo and Nduga Regency Governments. We are truly grateful for all the assistance provided,” said Agus Bayage.
The launch event was attended by international guests from the United States, Canada, and Indonesia, as well as representatives from churches across Papua. Committee secretary representative Yunus Bayage emphasized that language is an integral part of a tribe’s identity.
“We are immensely grateful that this translation process, which began in the 1970s, has now reached its completion. A total of 3,000 copies of the Bible have been printed and officially distributed to various church denominations within the Ngalik tribe,” he stated.
He expressed hope that with the distribution of this Bible, the Ngalik community would read and reflect upon its teachings in their mother tongue, ensuring that the Holy Scriptures have a meaningful impact on their daily lives.
(Penulis: Olemah)
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