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Wycliffe Singapore’s next Executive Director, Charles Ho, will assume the position on 1 October 2021. Ahead of taking up his new role, we caught up with him to find out what he’s been up to and what led him here. Call to service A Systems Engineer in IT, Charles was called to serve full-time in ministry late 2000 as Wycliffe Singapore’s Ministry Coordinator, right when he was looking for an IT role in ministry. Though working with computers was what Charles was comfortable with, he saw the need for a computer specialist and how heart language was instrumental for church growth and discipleship, especially in the work of Bible translation. The opportunity was also good preparation for entering the mission field, which he eventually did together with his wife Hoong Yen, in 2005. The couple received training in linguistics and theology before setting off for a country in Southeast Asia with 190 years of minority Christian presence. Charles’ passion for missions was birthed serving in various capacities in Bartley Christian Church’s Youth Fellowship and the Missions Department, where he was blessed with many opportunities to explore his spiritual gifts in IT, administration and leadership roles. On the field In the 13 years abroad, Charles’ IT expertise saw him in positions such as a computer specialist providing support to regional personnel and mobilisation coordinator with a partnering organisation in the Mekong region, where he oversaw the development of strategic plans for national involvement in 5 countries. He has also served as the interim director for another Wycliffe organisation in the field, while Hoong Yen served in literacy efforts. Engaging with locals in Bible translation as well as recruitment efforts in missions exposed Charles to the diverse demographics and leadership in national churches from different areas—from small, community, ethnic churches to large, city churches. Surveying the efforts of the national churches in that country to send out missionaries, Charles is encouraged by the growing involvement of youths in missions. They are also strategically located to reach out to neighbouring countries where people groups have similar language and writing systems. After pursuing a Masters in Global Studies during his sabbatical in the States, the couple relocated in 2014 to another Southeast Asian country. Here, Charles continued to serve as an IT consultant and Director of Strategic Initiatives of Wycliffe Global Alliance Asia-Pacific, overseeing the strategic initiatives teams in several countries. He was also involved in Scripture and community engagement among 7 unreached people groups. On his greatest challenge thus far, Charles shares about “communicating with [locals to] understand the heartbeat of God as a missionary”, working with them “as a church to send out cross-cultural workers to unreached people groups”, seeing “God as a redeemer [at] the centre of missions”. “One of my weaknesses is depending too much on self rather [than] on God. I need to trust that in all things, God is sovereign and learn to trust […] the Holy Spirit for direction and leading.” Home ground Since returning to Singapore in 2018, Charles has been serving as the Missions Director of his home church. The couple also continue to serve an unreached people group remotely. “Serving and equipping local Christians and churches towards a transformational indigenous movement has always been my heartbeat as I believe God is preparing local believers to be the missionaries and church planters [in] regions where we, the foreign missionaries, have difficult or no access.” Going forth Willing and open for God to use him in any capacity, Charles sees this upcoming role as another instance of God “[using him] for a particular purpose for a particular period of time.” “My vision for Wycliffe Singapore is to establish a strong partnership with churches so as to raise the next generation of young people for the harvest field. Through strategic partnerships, we will together explore new ways in which the Gospel can reach the last frontiers and [for] communities [to] be transformed through His Word in their heart languages,” Charles shares. From engaging the next generation through social causes to facilitating strategic collaboration, integrating Bible translation with discipleship and researching Business as Missions for creative access nations, there is much to be done and much to look forward to. Soli Deo gloria!

What was a scapegoat in the Bible? A real goat! Read Leviticus 16 for the instructions that the high priest was to follow on the Day of Atonement. The Hebrew word was translated in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate as the goat that departs, and in Tyndale’s English Bible as the (e)scape goat. This later became scapegoat in the 1611 King James Bible.

At our annual general meeting on 13 March, 11 of our members received the long service award. We chat with Felicia*, one of the awardees who has served with us for 25 years, to find out what keeps her going in missions year after year. How did you come to know about Wycliffe and why did you decide to serve with us? I became aware of Wycliffe while I was doing a Ph.D. in Chemistry in USA. I knew a couple from church who were Wycliffe members, and the husband was doing his Ph.D. in Linguistics on data from his language project. I became one of their minor supporters. After I finished my studies and returned to Singapore, I became a book editor. I found the work interesting, but I wanted to do editing in a more worthy cause. Meanwhile, my Wycliffe friends from USA were stationed in Singapore and teaching at the linguistic training school. They told me that they need technical editors. I said, "You mean, I can do exactly what I'm doing now, but for the kingdom of God?" At that point, it wasn't hard to quit my job and enrol for linguistics training. What is your most memorable experience in your 25 years of service at Wycliffe (and why)? Maybe my most memorable experience was doing field training in the Philippines, in 1997. I am a city girl, and I was dreading several things about the training—living in a village, bathing in the river, using a pit toilet, and towards the end of the training, killing a chicken! By God's grace, my team-mates and I did all that. I learned that it was possible to be stressed out and have fun at the same time! Also, it was the first time I rode in a single-engine plane (carrying up to five people). We were flying from Manila to Bagabag, in the Luzon highlands. Before getting on the plane, we and our luggage had to be weighed so that the pilot could calculate the total load. In a single-engine plane, it is incredibly noisy because of the propeller. We all wore earmuffs to block out the sound. Also, every time there was a gust of wind, you could feel it in the plane. Nevertheless, I wasn’t too worried, and we landed safely. Tell us about your greatest challenge thus far. My greatest challenge: To lead a language project. It was a cluster project with five related languages, each with several dialects. For the first year, I was following my senior colleagues around and trying to do what they did. Then they both turned 70 and had to return to USA, and the leadership fell on me. Five other people joined our team—none of them had any field experience. I felt like Joshua after Moses departed! I was way out of my depth, and I knew it. Fortunately, unlike Moses, my experienced team-mates were able to come back for one month a year to help me out. I also had fantastic team-mates who were better at everything than I was. And, somehow, we didn't crash! What keeps you going (in missions) year after year? After returning to Singapore, I did consider doing other work. English tutoring? Returning to book editing? None of it seemed as worthwhile as working with Wycliffe. And nothing is as satisfying as working intensively with the Word of God. A takeaway from your time at Wycliffe that you'd like to share with those thinking of joining us? Missions is very worthwhile as a career. Don't just think of spending one or two years on this. You won't get to do the really interesting stuff until you stay longer than that and get proper training, and also really get to know the people you work with—and let them get to know you. As Singaporeans, earning money underlies all that we do. I encourage you to defy that. Do not maximise your earning capacity. Work for God instead! Or rather, let Him work through you. Don't miss this opportunity to live in God’s big world! Considering missions but not sure where to start? Our members come from all walks of life, contributing to our ministry in many different ways. Are you or do you know someone in IT, HR, accounts, admin, working bi-vocationally etc.? We need more than Bible translators to do the job! *name changed for security reasons

What did David mean in Psalm 60:8 when he wrote “on Edom I toss my sandal”? Relief showing Tiglath Pileser, king of Assyria, with his foot on the neck of a defeated enemy, c.728 BCE. This was an expression meaning that he would subjugate Edom. In many ancient cultures, the shoe symbolised power and possession, and placing a foot or shoe on a defeated enemy represented their total defeat. For example, early in Israel’s history, after capturing five Amorite kings, Joshua told his army commanders: “Put your feet on the necks of these kings” (Joshua 10:24).

Where did the word “Easter” come from? What does it mean? Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. On the third day after Jesus was crucified, He was risen! Preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance which culminates in the Holy Week, Easter commemorates the risen Saviour, marking a new dawn for God’s people. One historical view maintains that the origin of the word relates to a crucial time in the solar calendar: the vernal equinox when light and dark constitute equal periods of the day. This time of the year ushers in spring; the season for rebirth and new life. Similarly, another view considers the week of Easter being referred to in Latin as in albis, the plural of alba (dawn). From this, eostarum (east) in Old High German was derived, before it became ēastre or eōstre in Old English and what we have today in modern English and German. As the sun rises in the east, the word recalls new beginnings. In many cultures and European languages, words for Easter are derived from “Passover” in Hebrew – for example, Pascha in Greek and Latin, which is the root for Easter in French: Pâques. You may recognise remnants of this derivation in church supplies used during Easter, such as paschal candles. The Passover is a spring observance remembering the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in Egypt (see book of Exodus), celebrated close to the vernal equinox. On Maundy Thursday, the night before Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, Jesus and His apostles celebrated the Passover with a meal, which came to be known as the Last Supper. The symbolic meaning accorded by Jesus to the bread and the cup in the Passover meal was a foreshadowing of His sacrifice on the cross for man. In other non-Indo-European languages like Hungarian, the word for Easter comes from a reference to the ending of Lent – taking meat. In Mandarin Chinese, Easter is known as Resurrection Festival; in Macedonian and Bulgarian, Great Day; while in Slavic, Great Night. Check out a map of the etymology of Easter in European languages here. What is Easter in your heart language? On this day and every day, let us remember that Jesus is alive!

If someone were to ask you about a woman of the Bible, who comes to mind? Chances are, she wouldn’t be the wise woman from Abel or the Kenite Jael. Though unnamed or lesser known, we remember these brave women, whose contributions remind us of the promise-keeping Protector above. In 2 Samuel 20, when Sheba the Benjamite started another revolt against king David, the commander of David’s army, Joab, pursued him to a city in the north: Abel Beth Maakah. Focused only on his goal, Joab built siege ramps and had his army bring down the city walls. Enter the wise woman from Abel. Over the walls, she attempted to reason with Joab to protect her city. ‘We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?’ (2 Samuel 20:19) The wise woman’s words appeared to have shown Joab what he was doing to innocents, and he agreed to withdraw as soon as Sheba was handed over. ‘Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city…’ (v22) Not only was she successfully able to negotiate with the single-minded army of the king, the wise woman was also able to urge her fellow citizens to action. Thanks to her quick thinking and brave intercession, her town was saved from unnecessary bloodshed. When the Israelites were oppressed by the Canaanites led by Sisera, their leader and prophetess Deborah proclaimed, ‘the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’ (Judges 4:9) And she wasn’t talking about herself. Jael was a Kenite from a nomadic tribe whose survival depended on neutrality. Sisera fled on foot to Jael’s tent and asked for a drink. While he rested, Jael seized the opportunity and drove a tent peg through his temple. As Deborah’s song sums it up in Judges 5: 24 “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. 25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. 26 Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. 27 At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.

by Melissa Paredes As human beings, we often have a narrow lens of understanding. We can often find ourselves to be near-sighted — we have no true concept of the big picture, like God does. But God is limitless in his understanding, and he is the God of the impossible. He takes us finite, fallible human beings and — through his power — uses us for his glory. He takes our weaknesses and infuses us with his supernatural power to accomplish his will and plan. God has called each of us to something significant, simply because he lives and dwells in us. But we can often tend to think that only people who have overcome large obstacles or accomplished big and mighty things are “heroes.” In reality, these people are ordinary human beings — just like you and me — who God used in extraordinary ways. The odds might be stacked against them, but with God’s help, mountains are moved and he turns unlikely people into heroes. Florence (Florrie) Hansen and Eunice Pike are two such people. They were the first team of single women to begin translation work with SIL*. And through their efforts, they opened the door for many single women to participate in Bible translation in the years to come. Eunice Pike (left) and Florence (Florrie) Hansen AGAINST THE ODDS Florrie and Eunice attended Camp Wycliffe, a linguistic training program, in the summer of 1936 — the third session of this new program. (Camp Wycliffe began several years before Wycliffe Bible Translators USA was even founded as an organization!) After the women completed the training program, William Cameron Townsend, Wycliffe’s founder, was excited to learn that they wanted to work on a translation project in Mexico. But his friend and counterpart, L.L. Legters, was reluctant when Cam told him this. “Think of the criticism we’d get for sending two young girls into an Indian tribe where not even male missionaries have ever gone.” But Cam disagreed, pleading their case until Legters finally conceded. “Oh, all right. Go ahead, Townsend, and do what you think best. But I don’t like it.” Legters wasn’t the only one who disagreed with sending two women into the field on their own. The decision was unprecedented for the time, and stretched people’s perceptions of what was acceptable for women — particularly single women — to do. Others also warned against sending the women, saying that the area was dangerous, or even that they were “too good looking to be [missionaries].” But when Cam passed on the warning to the women, they both looked at him in surprise. “Why, don’t you believe God can take care of us?” STEPPING OUT IN FAITH Confident that God would be with them, Florrie and Eunice moved to the mountainous Mazatec village in Oaxaca, Mexico. Eunice’s brother, Ken, escorted the two women and helped them rent a house and learn their first Mazatec words before he left them to begin their life and work in the village. They were the first SIL team of single women to ever live and work in a village on their own. And while Florrie and Eunice had complete confidence that God would take care of them, many still struggled with the decision as it stretched their perception of what was safe and appropriate for young Christian women to do. But Cam continued to encourage and support the women’s decision. “Those of us who have wondered just what place single lady missionaries might have in our project have learned from this lesson that God has heroines today,” he shared. HEROINES IN BIBLE TRANSLATION Florrie and Eunice excelled in their work in the Mazatec village. Because of their pioneering, Camp Wycliffe went from having separate men’s and women’s camps to one unified camp. And by 1940, there was no mention of gender in any publicity material. Instead, the brochures simply stated: “All persons are invited to apply who are going to pioneer fields where the language work is not yet finished.” By the fall of 1940, there were five pairs of single women working in different language communities throughout Mexico. In early 1941, 22 out of 37 linguists working in Mexico were women. And half of those 22 were single women! By the fall of 1944, two-thirds of 122 members were women, with one-third being specifically single. Wycliffe had been started by a group of men, but women were quickly finding their role in Bible translation too. Florrie and Eunice were pioneers, and — more importantly — they were unlikely heroes. They not only helped open the door for women to serve in Bible translation, but they also were successful in their translation for the Mazatec community. By 1941, Florrie and Eunice had completed the rough draft of the Mazatec New Testament — a first in the history of Mexico’s indigenous Indian languages, and just six years after they began work in the village. God’s ability to work through us is not dependent on who we are or what we’re capable of; it’s about whose we are and what he’s capable of doing through us. All we need to do is step out in faith and be willing to let God use us for his glory. And that’s exactly what Florrie and Eunice did. *One of Wycliffe’s primary partners. Reproduced with permission from https://www.wycliffe.org/blog/posts/unlikely-heroes-women-in-bible-translation

A Wycliffe Asia-Pacific Event, 6 March 2021 For the first time, several entities working in Asia came together to jointly organise an event to share the work that is being done in various projects across the region. The entities were: Yayasan Kartidaya (Indonesia), Wycliffe Malaysia, Wycliffe Philippines, Translators Association of the Philippines, Wycliffe Singapore, Wycliffe Thailand, SIL Asia and the Wycliffe Global Alliance Asia-Pacific Area. The motivation was to encourage the guests to be involved in the Bible Translation movement. Around 300 guests from the various countries participated via Zoom. A pre-recorded message from Francis Chan, well-known author and speaker, was played where he highlighted the issue of Bible poverty among many people groups, and the importance of providing a Bible in a language they could understand well. This was followed by a moving video describing the Ambonese Malay Bible translation , and the way it has changed lives. The various entities then split up, some to continue their meetings online, while some had smaller in-person meetings. The Singapore guests had met earlier in 3 homes to share dinner and “Zoom” together. After a brief introduction to various projects for all the Singapore guests, the 3 groups continued to share and interact offline. Let us pray that those who attended will be encouraged to get involved and support translation projects so that many more people groups can have the Bible in their own languages.

Celebrated annually on 8th March, the campaign theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘Choose to Challenge’. Challenges often bring change; many women in the mission field have had to overcome immense challenges to bring the Word of God to unreached people groups in their heart language. From defying social and cultural norms to dealing with harsh climates, hostile reception from the locals and lack of practical resources to support the projects, challenges awaited at every turn. Eunice Pike and Florence Hansen were the first team of single women sent by SIL in the late 1930s. Despite others’ initial reservations and concerns for their safety, the two women set off for the mountains in Mexico with confidence in God and thrived in their work with the Mazatec people. Their efforts and tenacity resulted in the end of gender-segregated camps at Camp Wycliffe. It has been estimated that female Bible translators account for over half of the projects in the Wycliffe family across the world. Rachel Saint was an early woman missionary sent out by Wycliffe to Peru. In 1955, she went to a missionary station in Ecuador, and though not her initial assignment, she began studying the Waorani language. Translating the Word for the Waorani group in Ecuador became her life’s work – her fledging interest grew into passion following the death of her brother, Nate, at the hands of the Waorani. Along with Elisabeth Elliot, wife of missionary Jim Elliot who was killed together with Nate while trying to befriend the Waorani, the two women became the first settlers among the Waorani. It was a breakthrough for missions among one of the most dangerous people groups of the time, and the Gospel of Mark was published in their heart language nine years after the tragedy. One of the killers later became a pastor in the community and subsequently baptized Nate’s children. These are but a couple stories of women in Bible translation, bringing God’s Word to remote people groups around the world. You can read more about Eunice and Florence here. Which woman in ministry are you remembering today?

Why was the passing of the smoking firepot and the blazing torch between the halved animals symbolic of the covenant God made to Abram in Genesis 15? In the ancient Near East, parties making a covenant would walk together between the pieces of slaughtered animals to signify: “Let this be done to us if we break the terms of this covenant.” This kind of covenant was often taken between a king and a vassal – the king promising protection, and the vassal promising obedience and loyalty.