A shifting world and constantly changing technology mean the translation of scripture is becoming a more difficult task. Despite this, organizations around the world continue to work to address these changes and share the Bible.

Wycliffe Associates has been coming up with new ways to share the Word of God with more people in 2020 and beyond.

The organization, which prepares and distributes scripture translations around the world, is preparing to translate Bibles in over 400 languages for groups who have not previously had access to scripture, reports Mission Network News.

Conflicts around the world and growth in persecution in many areas are daily concerns for Bible translators, however.

Bruce Smith, President and CEO of Wycliffe Associates, says governments around the world, especially those that are religiously-focused, are in a season of growing tension.

Such tension has an impact on the work Wycliffe is doing, such as limiting the areas the organization is able to reach.

Work, says Smith, is generally becoming more dangerous as there are fewer groups that remain unreached.

"All of the easy access, readily available languages that need Scripture have already been reached. And the only languages that are remaining are the ones that are in the most difficult places," Smith says.

More risks means the local focus is especially important for Wycliffe, as they rely heavily on the communities they are serving who know the language and the circumstances of their regions.

Smith says Wycliffe exists to support these believers with a church-based translation strategy.

"We take our cues completely from them; we follow their lead instead of the other way around," says Smith.

Local translators with Wycliffe are equipped with a Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation (MAST) model. This invovles the launch of new translations by Wycliffe with translators collaborating on assigned portions of the Bible. Translators then review the work done.

Smith says the use of new technology, such as tablets equipped with translation abilities, help make the work they are doing more discreet. They also allow for more effective management of time.

To translate a New Testament, a period ranging from a few weeks to a few years is around the length of time expected for a finished copy to be produced, a much faster turnaround than any other time in history.

In addition, faster speeds limit risk and online translations make their work more difficult to destroy.

“The local church leaders who speak the target language are engaged in the quality control process from the very beginning of the translation ... So at the end of the translation, it’s already been woven into the fabric. It doesn’t have to be sewn in later as an afterthought,” Smith says.

Wycliffe hopes to deliver 2,700 tablets in order to reach their goal of translating 400 new languages this year.