News And Updates
News items are added from the top of the list so that you will always read the latest first.
20 Nov 2009
The latest edition of our "Help! International" magazine is now available. Download it in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking here.
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18 Nov 2009
Farewell to the Landins!
David & Rachel Landin have been directors of Wycliffe Associates (UK) for the past ten years but have been closely involved with the charity from the moment of its birth some twenty years ago. On 31st October 2009, they formally retired as directors, although they have every intention of continuing their work as volunteers.
David & Rachel joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in the early Seventies and went to work in Brazil, living amongst tribal people and translating the Scriptures into the local language. Following a change in attitude by the government, they had to leave Brazil but continued to work for Wycliffe. Twenty years ago, Wycliffe Associates (UK) was founded by a small group of visionaries who believed that there was scope for all sorts of people to support overseas mission from their own homes here in the UK. David & Rachel were amongst them and have been tireless supporters of this work ever since.
Ten years ago, they took on the responsibility of directing the work full-time. Using their complementary gifts of broad vision and close attention to detail, they pioneered new areas of work, nurtured and consolidated the existing services and encouraged the organic growth that has become WA-UK today. As they came to the point of handing over the baton of leadership, it was most fitting and appropriate to mark the occasion with some special events and tributes.
This took place on 7th and 8th November when people came from far and wide across the UK to mark their retirement with a valedictory service at Sussex Street Baptist Church in Rhyl, North Wales. Truly, we give thanks to God for so much that He has given us through this very special couple. As they lay down some of the burden of their lives and take things a little more easily, we pray that God will continue to bless the lives of others through them; that He will help them to adapt to a different way of life and will continue to provide so richly for them in all they do.
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22 Jul 2009
NEW! The most accessible Audio Bible ever for blind people!
The complete Bible is now available for blind people on DAISY CD – the most advanced and flexible audio format there is – and Wycliffe Associates (UK) has had a vital hand in making it happen.
The new product revolutionises Bible reading and study for people with sight loss, making it possible for any single verse in the Bible to be accessed within seconds. This mammoth project has been a truly collaborative effort. Torch Trust, a Christian charity serving blind and partially sighted people, has worked with the encouragement of publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, together with assistance from volunteers in Wycliffe Associates (UK), production support from RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and encouragement from the translators, the International Bible Society.
"Today’s New International Version of the Bible" is contained on just four DAISY CDs in a single DVD case, totalling 75 hours of audio reading. DAISY – or Digital Accessible Information System – allows a very flexible approach to searching the text. On a standard cassette or CD, it’s just not possible to hunt down and isolate a particular Bible verse, but it’s very simple using a DAISY player.
Torch Trust’s Chief Executive, Dr Gordon Temple, said, "We are so grateful to Wycliffe Associates for helping making this huge project a reality. DAISY is the perfect medium for the Bible. The Bible is not the sort of book that is read from cover to cover. Occasionally we might read a whole book of the Bible, but usually we dip into it. We look up a verse or passage and read that, then another. But that can’t be done with the usual audio Bibles that can be purchased in bookshops. That’s what makes the DAISY Bible so extraordinary. Now someone whose sight loss has denied them access to print but who cannot read braille can really read the Bible as a sighted person does: going directly to a passage or verse and finding a reference as quickly as a sighted person using a print Bible."
As well as its easy search facility, the DAISY system allows the reader to add bookmarks and also retains a memory of the place last read even after the disc is removed. Another intriguing facility is that the recording can be speeded up or slowed down – without altering the pitch of the voice.
Exclusively for the use of blind and partially sighted people, the DAISY edition of the entire Bible is available from Torch Trust or RNIB at £15.99. As well as the Bible, Torch Trust has transcribed over 250 Christian books from its lending library - the largest Christian library for blind people in the UK – into DAISY format, and about a dozen new titles are added to that every month.
Comment from a DAISY user:"DAISY has revolutionised my reading of the Bible. If you break off reading, DAISY remembers where you left off – even if, in the meantime, you play other discs on your DAISY player. For me, the main advantage with DAISY over other audio is ease of navigation. Also it’s possible to set bookmarks, which is most helpful when studying or selecting a favourite Bible passage. And the sound quality is much clearer."
For further details about the Torch Trust, see www.torchtrust.org
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9 Jul 2009
The latest edition of our "Help! International" magazine is now available. Download it in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking here.
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23 Jun 2009
The World Bibles website has recently been revised and now provides an index to over 16,000 international publications of the bible in a variety of different languages. People are moving in millions from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe to other countries in search of work or education. Many of these people are Christians. But it has been very hard for them to find Scriptures in their own first language. We have developed this site specifically to meet this need.
Visitors to the site simply type in the name of their own first language and a list appears showing bibles in many formats available in that language. The site also lists many types of media in which bibles are available. Apart from printed bibles, it also points people to sites where they can download Scripture in text format, listen to it being read aloud, watch the Jesus film in their own language on-line, or buy a cassette or audio-tape of Scripture.
We foresee this site becoming a first stopping place for people who are looking for Scripture in another language. We hope that many churches will add a link to "World Bibles" on their own websites.
Click here to go to the World Bibles website.
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6 Jun 2009
At our recent Annual General Meeting, we said farewell to Ian Hutchings who, for the past five years, has been our chair of trustees. WA-UK was twenty years old this year and Ian has presided over what will undoubtedly be seen as an important chapter in our history.
We now stand on the threshold of change. Ian's place has been taken by Paul Knight, hitherto our treasurer. This year will also see the retirement of our long-serving directors, David & Rachel Landin. Since WA's inauguration, they have served diligently and faithfully, forging links with many agencies and organisations and developing a wide range of services that we now offer to Christians operating abroad from the UK.
Their rôles will be handed over later this year to Sue Jarrett who will become our National Director and Janet Baker who will take on the rôle of Operations Director. Sue's job will be to develop and maintain our links with a host of different agencies and organisations working in many different parts of the world. Janet will concentrate on the internal workings of our own organisation, ensuring that the services we offer are delivered to the very best of our capabilities and experience.
We thank God for those who have served us so faithfully up until now and for the provision of some excellent replacements. We believe that the Lord's hand is firmly on us and believe that, under His direction, WA-UK will continue to provide significant support and encouragement to the work of Christian mission, helping to bring practical relief from suffering and the hope of good news in a world that so desperately needs it.
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5 Jun 2009
We are pleased to announce that Janet Baker has been appointed to the rôle of Operations Director of WA-UK with effect from 1st November 2009.
Her rôle will be to oversee and develop the smooth running of WA-UK as an organisation so that it is able to make the most of the many opportunities that arise in the UK to support and encourage the work of Christian mission elsewhere.
One of Janet's first jobs will be to advise and assist in the development of administrative functions within WA-UK. In due course, this may result in some changes to our contact details but we will post any updates on this site and, for the time being, you can continue to contact us by email, telephone or post using our existing office.
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2 Mar 2009
The latest edition of our "Help! International" magazine is now available. Download it in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking here.
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17 Feb 2009
We are delighted to announce that Sue Jarrett has been appointed as our new National Director and will be taking up her post on 1st June this year.
Her rôle will be to develop and build relationships with the many agencies and organisations around the world that we serve and to deal with all aspects of our external links as an organisation in the UK. She will also play a key part in implementing the strategies developed by our trustees and managing the way in which we deliver our many different services.