Kalanguya Smmit Testimony
Written by: Sarah Aniban, Wycliffe Philippines Translation Consultant
The Word of God and Bible Translation ministries are catalysts for willing hearts and hands to become channels of blessing to those who are open to God’s Word.
The Kalanguya people were first reached by American and Australian missionaries more than 60 years ago. One of these missionaries, who was also a linguist, took on the task of translating the New Testament into their language, completing it in 1983. By God’s grace, the entire Bible was finished in 2019. Today, the Kalanguya Christian community has grown into 36 local churches, experiencing firsthand the power of reading God’s Word in their heart language. They recognize how blessed they are to have the whole Bible in their mother tongue, which has been guiding their spiritual growth.
First Generation Kalanguya Christians.
In June 2024, when a member of their community shared about the situation of a Bible Translation Team in Casiguran, one of the Kalanguya churches immediately took the opportunity to help by building a translation office for the Casiguran Dumagat, located six to seven hours away from their province. This church took the lead, and soon, more churches joined in—some providing financial support, while others sent volunteer workers. These volunteers came from all walks of life, including businesspeople, carpenters, government employees, farmers, and Bible Translators who are members of Wycliffe Philippines. They partnered with a couple serving as New Tribes missionaries in the area. During the fundraising for the translation office, a pastor from the Tribal Christian Ministries of the Kalanguya churches challenged his congregation, saying, “We now read God’s Word in our own language because somebody did it for us. Shouldn’t we also be a channel of blessing so that others can have the Word of God in their own language?” Encouraged by this, the entire network of Kalanguya churches began supporting the cross-cultural ministry, leading to even more volunteer workers and supporters joining the project.
The Kalanguya Team and community volunteers pose in front of the Casiguran Dumagat translation office.
As this first project neared completion, one of the support raisers met another translation team from the southern part of the country during a translation workshop. A simple “Kumusta?” turned into another opportunity for the Kalanguya Christians to be a blessing—this time, to the Ata Tribe of Mindanao. After six months of prayer and fundraising, the Kalanguya volunteer workers, known as the Kalanguya Summit Team, raised enough funds to cover the cost of materials, airfare, land travel, and food expenses—most of which came from Kalanguya church supporters. This effort also opened the door for Bible Translators in Mindanao to join the building project.
Bible translation for the Casiguran Dumagat is now taking place in their new translation office.
January 26, 2025 marked the official start of construction. Kalanguya believers, joined by friends from diverse backgrounds, rallied. They pooled resources, purchased building materials, and volunteered their time. Their hands worked tirelessly, shaping walls and laying foundations. Sundays, reserved for worship, became a sacred pause—a reminder that this project was more than cement and pillars.
Kalanguya believers, alongside friends from various backgrounds, came together to build walls and lay foundations for the Ata Tribe translation office.
With the dedication of volunteers and the grace of God, the Ata Tribe translation office comes to life.
In the field, we have experienced the truth that God renews our strength every morning. Each day begins with group devotions at 5 a.m., and after dinner, we hold Bible studies with the communities we serve. These gatherings have been a source of encouragement, as we listen to the testimonies of both the volunteer workers and the recipients of the building projects. Growing together in our love for the Lord, we meditate on His Word day and night.
Though much work remains, the Ata Tribe translation office is no longer just a dream—it has become a reality.
Now, we continue to pray for more opportunities to serve—whether by building a missionary’s house or another Bible Translation office. The Kalanguya Summit Team recently returned to Casiguran to help build a Bible translator’s house and complete additional work on the translation office there. We trust that God will continue to lead us in being a channel of blessing to others.
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