Dear Prayer Partners,

I’ve come to realize that I first got involved with Wycliffe the old-fashioned way. You might even say the “boring” way.

It’s not that there is anything wrong with attending a conference, hearing a Wycliffe missionary speak, talking with Wycliffe at a booth in the conference hall, and deciding to sign up and see where God leads. That worked for my wife and me and we don’t have any regrets. It was great and it still works today. But in retrospect, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as Wycliffe’s “Race to 2025.”

Imagine trading the conference and booth experi-ence for learning about Wycliffe by competing in a two-day, extreme sport adventure race. During the race, participants get a small taste of language survey work when they find a hidden village and try their hand at solving linguistic puzzles in another language. In the evening, they are inspired as they hear first-hand from Wycliffe missionaries at the event. And prior to coming, each team has helped raise aware-ness and funds for the benefit of a specific Bible translation project. It is physically exhausting and mentally challenging.

The Race to 2025 is not what one normally imagines as the typical way people find out about Wycliffe. It isn’t the standard way to learn about the difference Bible translation makes in people’s lives when God’s Word is given to them in a language and form they understand. It’s not how most people first get involved and make a decision to join Wycliffe. But young, adventurous adults who get involved, love it. They feel connected, and it works.

Keep reading. I think that as you learn more about the Race to 2025, you will understand just how effec-tive this event can be. Thank you as well for praying for the requests we have collected for this issue. And finally, as you read what some past participants have said about the race, perhaps you will be inspired to share this issue of the “Intercessor” with someone

Race to 2025 Mountain trekking. River rafting. Rappelling. These are just a few of the adventure sports through which people are engaging with Bible translation. Starting in 2012, Wycliffe launched Race to 2025 events — two-day outdoor adventures — to effectively capture the hearts and imagination of young adults who crave extreme adventure. Inspired by the intense language survey trips that Wycliffe linguists take in remote regions worldwide, each race includes linguistic chal-lenges as well as a remote “hidden village” encounter. The races are held at a variety of camps in places such as Michigan, Montana, Tennessee and Washington, and are effectively connecting young adventurers with Jesus’ extreme challenge to his Church — to make disciples of all nations. It’s also proven an exciting way to call attention to Wycliffe’s commitment to see a Bible translation program in progress in every lan-guage still needing one by the year 2025.

you know who would really love to enter such a race themselves. Let them know it is a bit more exciting than simply talking with Wycliffe at a conference. My guess is they will love it.

Todd Nelson Vice President for Prayer Ministries Wycliffe Bible Translators USA

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Intercessor JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

Craving Adventure, Discovering Translation

Running with Purpose During a Race to 2025 event, teams of four compete against one another in physical challenges and simulated missionary life scenarios — including basic linguistics training. “Participants should come prepared for a physi-cally demanding race course,” said Kris Russel, the director of Wycliffe’s programs team. “They will also be challenged mentally and spiritually.”

• Races take place over a weekend. The racers start on a Saturday morning and usually finish up by late after-noon. Then they begin again on the following day and hope to cross the finish line by 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Along with the physical activities, teams participate at various check points in a variety of chal-lenges. These may include team building exercises or linguistic challenges, and range from 10 to 30 minutes to complete. Ask God to bless these outdoor events with beautiful weather that’s ideal for the types of chal-lenges featured in the race. Pray for participants to enjoy each part of the race, and that they would fully engage in the exercises.

• The number of teams (four members per team) that can participate varies, based on the location of the race, but there are generally six to eight teams per race. Teams must be co-ed, with the requirement that at least one team member is of an opposite gender. Pray for people to encourage their friends and family to form teams. And pray for courage for individuals to sign up regardless of whether they know any of the participants or not (Race to 2025 welcomes individuals and finds a spot for them on a team).

• Typically the age of the racers ranges from 18 to 35, but there have been some as old as 60. Race partici-pants need no technical training as each camp provides basic orientation and the necessary instruction for all events. Even though it often appeals to a young audi-ence, pray that Race to 2025 will attract a diverse group of people. Pray that no matter what age a participant is, the race will leave a lasting and spiritual impression on them.

• Each night of the race, Wycliffe missionaries engage the hearts and minds of the participants with stories of serving God by helping to unlock the fascinating world of language and linguistics. They share their firsthand experiences of how God’s Word in the heart language changes lives. Pray that throughout the race weekends, Wycliffe staff members will build strong relationships

with the racers and help them better understand the mission and vision of Bible translation.

• Every Race to 2025 event is unique because of the vari-ous locations and camps where the races are held. Each camp designs a race course making the best use of its activities and natural environment. Pray for wisdom in the design of the race courses. Pray too, for safety during the extreme activities that include mountain trekking, mountain biking, rappelling, river rafting, canoe and kayak paddling, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during winter races.

• Pray that each Race to 2025 event will excite partici-pants about and engage them in the global Bible translation movement. Along with being challenged to get directly involved in the work of Bible transla-tion and be advocates for the world’s Bibleless people groups, pray that many participants will go on to reg-ister for Wycliffe recruitment follow-up programs such as TOTAL It Up, GET Global and Discovery trips, or even attend another Race to 2025 event. Praise God that many have already done so! A sig-nificant number of racers are using scholarships won at the race to begin or continue linguistics studies at Canada Institute of Linguistics or University of North Dakota SIL.

• Praise God that since it began, 206 young adults have participated in Race to 2025 events, representing approximately 20 colleges!

• Pray that those who have expressed a real interest in being in the race will follow through and sign up. Pray that God would truly impact their lives for His glory. Pray for safety in travel and also during the event.

The Fun in Funding Wycliffe estimates that up to 1,500 people are impacted by each race as participants promote their involvement in it with home churches, family and friends. Prior to the race weekend, participating teams of four commit to fundraising goals of $2,000 ($500 per racer).

• Praise God that Race to 2025 participants have raised well over $80,000! The funds have supported translation projects in Africa and especially aided the work of sign language Bible translation in the countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.

• The $2,000 fundraising mark is only a goal. If a team does not raise the full amount they can still compete in the race. Pray for race teams to achieve these donation marks in order to benefit translation projects in Africa.

• Pray for boldness for racers promoting their involvement in Race to 2025 events. Pray for opportunities for them to speak and share about the race and the impact of Scripture in the heart language.

• Ask God to bless them with partners to cheer them on and also join in the opportunity to support the overall mission and vision of Bible translation.

Ready, Set…Organize There are many moving parts to a Race to 2025 event, and to keep everything running smoothly it takes a lot of work from a group of dedicated staff members.

• Each event requires approximately six to eight Wycliffe staff members as well as eight to 10 camp staff. Pray for event coordinators to find appropriate camps in a variety of locations that have all the necessary components to ensure races will be successful. Pray for good connections and healthy relationships with host camp personnel.

• Promoting Race to 2025 events is often a challenge, but is essential to getting the number of participants needed for each race. Pray for wisdom as Wycliffe personnel seek creative ways to increase exposure of these races to key audiences. Ask God to bless them with more opportunities to encourage potential racers to join in the events. Pray especially for sufficient numbers of people to sign up.

• Pray for staff to effectively build relationships with race participants.

• Pray for sufficient funding for upcoming races.

• Ask God to protect race staff and participants, keeping them safe during every challenge. Pray for good weather during the races.

Going the Extra Mile “It’s been exciting to see the enthusiasm and commit-ment of the participants of these races,” said Kris Russel, director of Wycliffe’s programs team. “Not only to the actual running of the race, but also to the challenge of raising funds for Bible translation projects. It’s also been good to see how many have gone on to further involve-ment with Wycliffe.”

• One of this year’s racers, Anna, a native Ukrainian speaker, attended the first Race to 2025 in Montana in 2012. She came not to compete, but to take part in a monolingual demonstration. Anna was so impressed with what she saw at the race that she decided to attend Wycliffe’s TOTAL It Up!* course. She then went on to recruit a team of four to participate in the Race to 2025 in Washington, in the spring of 2013. Since then, Anna has helped recruit several more teams for race events. One of the prizes given during a Race to 2025 is a $2,000 scholarship toward tuition to attend Canada’s Linguis-tics School (CanIL). Anna’s team has won this prize at two separate races! With her winnings Anna attended CanIL last summer. Praise God for using these races to create interest in linguistics and Bible translation.

• Renee participated in a Race to 2025 event and earned a cash prize as a top fundraiser. She then decided to attend a TOTAL It Up! course. There she confirmed her interest in linguistics and signed up for an intern-ship through Wycliffe’s Discovery program to go to Indonesia for three months. She is now preparing to go back overseas to work in Bible storying. Praise God for leading race participants to seek further training and experiences with Wycliffe and its partners.

• Sarah, Staci and Katie participated in the Race to 2025 held in Montana this past fall and are now members with Wycliffe. Stacie is already in Tanzania, Sarah just arrived in Nepal, and Katie is building a partnership team so she can serve in Papua New Guinea. Praise God for these new members of the worldwide Bible translation team!

*TOTAL It Up! —Taste Of Translation And Linguistics is a 5-day course taught by experienced translators that introduces students to a wide range of technical disciplines involved in linguistics and Bible translation.

 

Ask God to use each Race to 2025 event to accomplish these goals: • To increase awareness of Wycliffe and the global Bible

translation movement.

• To engage young adults and excite them about missions.

• To recruit young adults, especially young men, for Wycliffe.

• To promote the opportunities in language related minis-tries, like language survey, translation, and literacy.

• To raise funds for overseas Bible translation projects.

• To maintain good partnerships between Wycliffe and the camps hosting the event.

® Wycliffe Bible Translators 1-800-WYCLIFFE P.O. Box 628200 (1-800-992-5433) Orlando, FL 32862-8200 www.wycliffe.org

Did you know that there are more than 300 Bible translation projects in need of prayer support to cross the finish line? Choosing to spend time in prayer for the language projects presented in “The Finish Line” is hard work as well as heart work.

Please visit wycliffe.org/finishline where you can sign up to receive a monthly prayer guide by email. Each month you will receive a selection of projects to pray for. You can also download the complete lists of all Finish Line projects by area of the world, which can be easily printed and used in your prayer times.

Additionally, you can reach us at 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433 ext. 3870) or by email at prayer_usa@wycliffe.org to request a printed copy by mail.

The 2015 edition of ‘The Finish Line’ is here!

What RACE to 2025 participants are saying… “I was very encouraged through this small taste of what I will actually be doing on the field. Many of my fears about the future began to melt away.” — Sarah

“What an incredible weekend of pushing our limits and growing us in so many ways.” — Marion

“The Race inspired me to persevere in times of trial and keep pushing on in the eternal race.” — David

“I loved how many verses came to mind as we were doing the race…so many parallels can be drawn between the [race] challenges and Scripture.” — Elizabeth