Transformed by the Word: Working together as one
Wycliffe Today Autumn 2026
by Lyn Wake
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLV)
The Apostle Paul gave us a helpful image to describe Christian community. When we are united with Jesus, we acknowledge him as the rightful head and Lord of our lives. He acknowledges every person belonging to him as a beloved member of ‘his body’ on earth. This means that none of us are meant to exist with Jesus on our own. He endows spiritual gifts to every single person to play their special part in his ongoing mission. We individually work together as one in ‘member-ship’ and ‘common-unity’ with him.
I once heard a preacher describe himself as the ‘big toe’ of the body. While the congregation chuckled, he explained how God used him to bring balance to situations, and how that often involved being in dark and smelly places! Over time, God has revealed how he has created me to be a ‘ligament’ who helps bring support, connection, and healthy boundaries to the body. This knowledge continues to empower me to participate with fresh confidence.
While we acknowledge that the body of Christ on earth is still broken and imperfect, it is also incredibly beautiful, growing exponentially throughout the earth, and blessing the nations like never before! May a fuller understanding of our part within Christ’s body help us take up our own calling with the kind of courage that possesses no fear, shame, or comparison.
For reflection: Seek God for further revelation of the kind of member you are called to be within his Body.
Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: 1 Corinthians 12
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I declare you as Lord of my life and head of your body. I desire you to give me all I need to play the special part you have ordained for me in your mission. Amen.
Why aviation, optometry, and teaching are vital to Bible translation
Wycliffe Today Autumn 2026
by Deb Fox
Robert and Loralie Handasyde live in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, with their two young children, Emily and Michael. They felt called to serve in cross-cultural missions but were not sure what that would look like until, as Loralie describes, they ‘came across an open door and walked through it!’
Robert was always interested in flying. He heard that helicopters in missions were a real need. He shares:
PNG has minimal infrastructure, so to get supplies to a remote location in the mountains can be tricky without a plane. Many places are inaccessible when flooding closes roads, so they really need help with flights.
Similarly, Loralie wanted to serve God in some way but was surprised that she could use her training and experience to become the first long-term optometrist to care for the needs of locals and others serving in Ukarumpa. She says:
We know that our roles are appreciated [here]. When I can provide glasses for people here in Ukarumpa, they don’t have to take time off work to travel and make costly trips to see an optometrist back home. It makes a difference. The trouble is, it’s often harder to explain here in Australia about why our roles are helpful and how they connect with Bible translation. Churches often want to support a pastor, church planter or Bible translator, so it takes a bit to explain why support roles are so important.
A powerful testimony of the importance of the various roles involved in Bible translation was a recent Scripture Application and Leadership Training workshop in a remote village in the highlands. Robert flew Scripture engagement leaders into the area so they could teach local language communities how to read their Bibles in the context of their culture.
Robert explains: One man who was known to locals as a ‘raskol’ [criminal] turned up to the workshop, not even knowing himself why he had walked an entire day to reach the village to attend the training. After hearing the Word of God being preached in his mother tongue, his life was transformed. He gave his life to Jesus, along with seven others. People in that area had almost nothing, not even enough to buy cups. Yet 40 people came out to purchase Bibles after the training! Working together, you see God opening doors for the gospel.
PRAY:
- that the Handasydes continue to be encouraged in their work
- wisdom for Robert as he trains new helicopter pilots
- for deeper connections with churches and more opportunities to share
- for more teachers to fill roles at the International School
- that a dentist can be found for the clinic.
Thanks for your patience...