A ceremony to dedicate GILLBT’s 14th complete mother tongue Bible; the Vagla Bible -“KƆRAAWIIZI HƆŊ came off on Saturday April 21,2018 at Tuna in the Northern region of Ghana.
Under the theme, “The Living Word of God Among The Vaglas”, the ceremony had in attendance the people of Tuna led by the Tuna Vaglikoori and his elders, Chiefs from other nearby villages, the clergy including Rt. Rev. Bishop Peter Paul Ankyere of Damango Diocese who performed the dedication rites. The rest were the District Chief Executive of Sawla-Tuna- Kalba, GILLBT Ag. Executive Director, a team from Christ Church UK- a major donor for the Vagla translation project, a team from Wycliffe Togo, staff of GILLBT and other dignitaries.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Peter Paul Ankyere of Damango Diocese dedicated the Vagla Bible
Ushering the Bible with songs of praise
In a speech read on behalf of the Tuna Vaglikoori, he commended GILLBT and our donors for bringing the word of God to all language groups in Ghana, especially to the Vagla people. He added, the significance of translation serves as a means through which God communicates directly with his children. He acknowledged the numerous benefits the translation of the Bible into their mother tongue shall bring to his community and for which he is grateful. To his people, this is not only a religious act but one that has a cultural, social, economic, political and spiritual implication.
Tuna Vaglikoori
GILLBT Ag. Executive director, Rev. Thomas Sayibu Imoro, speaking at the ceremony expressed the joy GILLBT shares with the Vaglas as they join the elite group of 620 languages to have the complete Bible in their mother tongue out of 6,913 languages across the world. He acknowledged the sacrifice of various translators over the years it took to complete the work. However, he added,” the completion of the Vagla Bible is not the end of the project but the beginning of our effort to fulfilling the great commission and challenged the community and the clergy to collaborate and promote the effective use of the Bibles for the transformation of lives in the community”.
Rev Thomas Sayibu Imoro – Ag Executive Director
Rt. Rev. Bishop Peter Paul Ankyere – Bishop of Damango Diocese after the dedication rites, declared the Vagla Bible ready for use and explained how the Vagla Bible will help Vaglas become apostles of God. “This is the gift of God, with this translation, they (Vaglas) can hear the word of God, listen to God speaking, understand and live in the principles of God for this is what will help them become apostles of God”.
Pat Herbert served as Translation Consultant for the translation of the complete Vagla Bible
Representatives of the Christ Church UK-one of the major donors for the Vagla Bible translation project were at the dedication
