Declaring God’s Glory Amidst Adversity
On 11 November, communities and organizations across the Wycliffe Global Alliance celebrated the World Day of Prayer for Bible Translation. As part of this global movement, Wycliffe Philippines hosted a special online gathering at 8 p.m., bringing together staff and translation teams from various regions across the Philippines.
In recent months, many areas in the Philippines have faced earthquakes, super typhoons, landslides, floods, and ongoing political challenges. Yet despite these hardships, Filipino communities continue to cling to God’s faithfulness and remain steadfast in the mission of translating His Word. Today, 79 language communities are being reached and strengthened through Scripture engagement and translation efforts.
This year’s theme—“Declaring the Glory of God Among the Nations”—gently reminds us that even in challenging seasons, we still have countless reasons to celebrate. God is faithfully making Himself known, showing His deep love, and pouring out comfort and grace on those who need it most.
The evening gathering, hosted by the Wycliffe Philippines office staff is a celebration of gratitude and hope. Everyone paused to remember and appreciate the individuals, families, churches, and partner organizations who have walked faithfully with Wycliffe Philippines through the years. Hearing Scripture and heartfelt prayers spoken in Filipino made the moment even more meaningful—simple, sincere, and close to the heart.
Translation teams from different regions joyfully shared video testimonies, celebrating how God is at work in their communities through stories of provision, perseverance, and faithfulness. Many also brought their cultures to life through traditional music, dance, and original songs composed to honor the Lord. Although recent earthquakes and super typhoons made in-person gatherings impossible, these heartfelt prerecorded videos were shared during the online event, and their joyful praises fostered a warm sense of unity, bringing everyone together in worship despite the distance.
Those who participated included:
The Isinay Oral Bible Translation (OBT) team from Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya
The Sama Samalnon OBT team from Samal, Davao
The Bago OBT team from Tabuk City, Kalinga
The Southern Kalanguya OBT team from Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
The Palawano Quezon OBT team from Quezon, Palawan
The Suquijudnon OBT team from Siquijor
The Ibalatok Finaratuk OBT team from Kalinga
The Umajamnon OBT team from Bukidnon
The Palanan Agta Written Bible Translation (WBT) team from Palanan Isabela
The Casiguran Dumagat WBT team from Aurora
The Ata Tribe OBT team from Davao City
Wycliffe Philippines CEO, Edith Sola shared a heartfelt message, reminding everyone that the gathering was a moment to pause and thank the Lord for His goodness. She warmly expressed her gratitude to everyone who joined and spoke openly about the challenges both the country and Wycliffe Philippines are facing, encouraging everyone to trust God through these difficult times.
“Storms—both the real ones and the storms of life that come in many forms—can shake us to our very core, filling us with fear and trembling. But thankfully, we know how to pray, and I am grateful you are here, because we can bring all our fears, our trauma, and the hurts of life to God. As Christians, when life’s storms come, we bow before Him, kneel in His presence, and fix our eyes on Him. In His hands, we will stand firm and will not be shaken.” she shared
CEO Edith reminded us that keeping our eyes on Jesus brings true comfort, even in life’s storms. God uses these challenges to shape us, build our strength, and teach us resilience. Through them, we learn to love and empathize with others because we know what it means to endure. She encouraged everyone to turn to God first in every crisis, finding peace, stability, and renewed faith. As Psalm 16:8 says:
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
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