Brian Bell Foundation officially handed over K12,000 worth of white goods to the PNG Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) on Friday 22nd October 2021.
The goods were handed over by Brian Bell’s Business Development Manager Corporate Services, Bill Doa Neill.
PNGBTA Executive Director Tony Kotauga received the donation on behalf of the organization.
The white goods will be used in PNGBTA’s Townsend Hall at its headquarters at Makora Road North Waigani.
The donation by Brian Bell will go towards equipping the hall for it to be used by the ministry and also help the ministry raise funds by putting the venue out for hire. Funds raised will go towards funding language projects in the communities.
Mr Bill Doa Neill said the foundation was set up about four or five years ago and has been contributing towards improving lives of people in communities.
“What you’re doing here at the PNGBTA is in line with the education side of things,” Doa Neill said.
“You’re going out there into the rural communities and preaching the good news of education through the Bible and the literature you have.”
Mr. Doa Neill said they were happy to support that work and were looking forward to continue the partnership.
Mr. Tony Kotauga said PNGBTA works with 66 languages and that was about 66 communities and cultures. He said PNGBTA has published 21 New Testament translations so far.
“We have a literacy program that goes with the translation work. We do not only translate the Bible; we help them to read it as well. So, literacy comes with it,” Kotauga said.
“But before translation takes place, we have to develop the language. Development of language helps us to restore our cultures and languages. And we are probably the only national organization that is going out to develop languages and save the languages of the country with partners such as SIL.”
Mr. Kotauga said developing languages was a huge task and one organization cannot do it alone so it values the partnership it is developing with the foundation because the support will contribute to work in the field.
He said the donation will be used in equipping the hall which will be used to raise funds to support the work of PNGBTA and its language programs.
PNGBTA is an indigenous Bible translation organization in PNG. It recruits, trains and supports locals to translate the word of God from English to their native tongue. PNGBTA works alongside the church to form the translation communities and equip mother tongue speakers to use the scriptures. Its’ field centers are established in Port Moresby, Alotau, Madang, Ukarumpa and Manus. PNGBTA serves with partner organizations such as Summer Institute of Linguistics, Bible Society, Pioneer Bible Translators, New Tribes Mission and Wycliffe Bible Translation.