Project 8590

Wycliffe and SIL have been working with the Binumarien people in the Eastern Highlands of PNG since 1958! With the committed help of Des and Jenny Oatridge, the Binumarien language was recorded, a writing system was developed, and the people were taught to read and write their language. They were hungry to have the New Testament of the Bible in their language, and so they worked with the Oatridges to achieve this. The New Testament was eventually dedicated in 1983. But this small language group of around 1000 people, want more of God’s word, and so they have been working hard for many years to get the Old Testament translated too! In 2011 SIL PNG’s Mitchell Michie commenced working with the Binumarien translators on the Old Testament. In 2018 five of the Old Testament books, and a revision of the Binumarien New Testament, were published in order to make more scriptures available for distribution. In 2021 a recording of the New Testament was also distributed to the people.

Just recently, a new agreement has been set up between SIL PNG, Tyndale Bible Translators, and the Binumarien translation team to give the project a boost. It has been recognised that the dedicated Binumarien translation team really need to spend more time in Ukarumpa, for face to face advisor checking with a Tyndale Bible Translation checker. It is hoped that this new agreement, and the increased time and resources being put into the Old Testament Translation, will see it completed in the next seven years. With this new structure, however, comes a significant increase in costs associated with the project. Please consider contributing towards this wonderful project to see the entire Bible available in the Binumarien language.

Latest update (March 2025):

The translation work is running well for us.  We are very happy since we have the Bible in our vernacular.  Through the Bible translation, we have seen many changes in our community.  Here are some changes we have seen:

1)            The women in Binumarien have fellowship meetings.  They did not have this before.

2)            All of the denominations have days of combined fellowship and are worshipping God together.

3)            All of the pastors read the Binumarien Bible and study the Scriptures with their Binumarien Bible.  They say that their Binumarien Bible helps them do an outline for a sermon or Bible study.

4)            On Sundays the pastors go to neighbouring communities to preach.

5)            One man says that the Binumarien Bible helps him very much.  He says he understands the vernacular Bible a lot better than other Bibles.

Partner with us

Our partnership target by end of 2025 is $31,239

If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.