Mark in the Making: Behind every Recording is a Community
When people listen to a finished oral Bible translation passage, they hear voices telling the passage in a language they understand. What they don’t hear are the many other voices behind that recording.
For the *Jaya Oral Bible Translation (OBT) team, every recording of the Gospel of Mark represents far more than hours spent in front of a microphone. It is the fruit of a community working together—translators, back translators, language helpers, church leaders, consultants, technical support staff, the Jaya communities, and Wycliffe office staff as well as prayer partners—all united by one desire: that the Jaya people can hear God’s Word in a way that speaks naturally to their hearts.
Behind every recording of the Gospel of Mark in Jaya is a collaborative process that begins long before the final recording light turns on. The translation team listen carefully to each passage, discuss its meaning, ask questions, and retell the story until they are confident it is both faithful to Scripture and natural in the Jaya language. Consultants help to safeguard biblical accuracy. Members of the Joaoyoao community also contribute by listening to the stories and providing feedback on clarity, naturalness, and cultural understanding, helping ensure that God’s Word speaks clearly in the language of everyday life. Dedicated personnel from Wycliffe are also responsible for raising and managing project funds, as well as mobilizing churches and individual Christians to support the project.
As the team translates Mark, each passage deepens their understanding of Jesus. Story by story, the Gospel is taking shape in Jaya, so more families, churches, and villages can one day hear the life-changing message of Jesus in their heart language.
Progress
The team has now completed draft translations for the first ten chapters. They have also carried out two rounds of community checking to ensure the translation is both accurate and natural.
To prepare for the final audio recordings, the team built a simple recording studio using mattresses and blankets to reduce background noise and create a suitable recording environment.
Challenges
One of the greatest challenges is finding natural Jaya expressions for certain biblical phrases. For example, the translators have struggled to translate the phrase “grind his teeth.” Even after consulting members of the Jaya community, no one has been able to identify an equivalent expression that clearly conveys the same meaning. The team is still working on a few possible and acceptable options. This is just one of many similar challenges they encounter throughout the translation process.
Vision
We hope to see another team established that will focus on Scripture Engagement, equipping the Jaya community to use the Jaya Oral Bible for evangelism and discipleship. Our prayer is that God’s Word will not only be translated but also actively shared, lived out, and passed on within the community.
*The names of people and *Jaya have been been changed to protect the people and the community.
A simple recording booth.
The translators helped to set up a metal frame for the studio
Journey of our translators
The Jaya Oral Bible Translation project began in January 2026 with four translators. Although one team member left at the end of April due to personal reasons, the remaining translators continue to faithfully press on. Each one has a unique story of sacrifice, perseverance, and God’s work in their lives.
Ezra is the youngest member of the team. This is his very first job since becoming an adult, and it has also been the first time he has lived away from home for such a long period. Leaving behind the comfort of his family has not been easy, yet he continues to learn, grow, and faithfully contribute to making God’s Word available in his own language.
Rikah has also made significant sacrifices. This is the longest she has ever lived away from home for work. During this time, she has faced family hardships, including illnesses, a souoiocoiodoe,o a road accident, and the loss of loved ones. She has also endured hurtful rumours spread by neighbours about her work. Yet through it all, Rikah has remained steadfast. She is determined not to let these trials distract her from the work God has called her to do.
Liza, Ezra’s older sister, left a stable job to join the project. Although she could have earned a higher salary elsewhere, she believes God was calling her to be part of this ministry. One unexpected blessing has been her renewed opportunity to worship regularly. Her previous job required her to work on Sundays, making church attendance almost impossible. Since joining the project, she has been able to attend church services consistently, strengthening her walk with God.
Translators recording a draft translation in a makeshift recording studio.