The Blank Book - frequently asked questions.


 

Click on any of the questions below. We pray that your sponsorship for Vision 2025 will be a meaningful long-term experience for you. We know that it will have a meaningful impact on a people group as they see God's word in their heart language!

What is The Blank Book?

Does all my gift go to the field?
How quickly does a funded Blank Book get published?
How will I receive news about The Blank Book I helped fill?
How do you ensure accurate translation?
If I decide to give regularly, how are the monies allocated?
What happens if the project is discontinued?
What is the cost of translating a New Testament?

How is the cost of filling The Blank Book calculated?

What is The Blank Book?

The Blank Book exists to enable you to connect with Bibleless people groups around the world. The Blank Book is a way to help you help others by supporting the translation of a book of the Bible into their language.

With your partnership and working with God’s people around the world, we seek to translate the Bible into every language that needs it. Various partners coordinate the work of local Bible translators, provide linguistic training and manage the projects until they are completed. Through The Blank Book, you help provide the funds to translate a specific book of the Bible through the work of local men and women committed to the translation of the Bible in their language.
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Does all my gift go to the field?

In line with other agencies we need to cover our operational costs and a percentage of funds raised are used for this purpose. Some of these funds are invested to generate future income and a small percentage is used for administration. In total, the amount deducted is 20% which compares favourably with other agencies. (Charityfacts.org research indicates actual charity spend on fundraising of 15% to 25% while NCVO research shows an additional average management and admin cost of 8%).

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How quickly does a funded Blank Book get published?
A Bible translation project involves many different activities. These include among other things, deciding on the alphabet for the language and how it works, establishing literacy programmes andfinding the right words for key biblical terms (e.g. forgiveness) as well as translation itself. Each year, the project workers plan ahead to identify which book, or books, of the Bible they will start to translate.  

We look for these new starts and through The Blank Book seek complete funding for some ofthese books. Each book will need to be drafted and then go through a number of checks with consultants and local speakers. Drafting and checking will take some time - even years. This will vary according to context e.g. some translations are adaptions from related languages and can be completed relatively quickly.

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How will I receive news about The Blank Book I helped fill?
As we receive project reports on what is happening in the field we will keep you updated via email.  We will also let you know when the book you have helped fill has been fully funded.

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How do you ensure accurate translation?
We are focused on producing a clear and accurate translation of the Bible in every language that needs it. This is accomplished through a rigorous process of translation training, exegetical research and consultation, and testing the drafted text in the local language for clarity before it is published. Bible translations completed meet all of the requirements established by international Bible Societies.

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If I decide to give regularly, how are the monies allocated?
We will apply new gifts to The Blank Book originally chosen if it is not yet completely funded. If that option is not still available, we will apply the funds to a currently offered Blank Book that needs filling and inform you of that allocation.

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What happens if the project is discontinued?
This is a rare event and is mainly due to war or conflict situations. If a translation project is interrupted due to circumstances beyond our control and cannot continue, any remaining funds will be allocated towards other similar translation projects.
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What is the cost of translating a New Testament?
The cost of translating a New Testament varies significantly.

Factors involved are:

-availability of a translation in a related language i.e. ease of adaptation

-advances in computer tools

-advances in knowledge e.g. linguistic theory

-education needed

-remoteness of the people group e.g. aviation costs may be involved

-essential activities alongside translation e.g. literacy programmes

-support levels for workers in the area they are working in

- etc.

So we have the costs of infrastructure, tools, training, support costs of people from the worldwide church (who may well have come from many nations), as well as workers in the community itself.

These costs are met from various sources e.g. churches who directly support their members to be involved in the various tasks, funds from donors towards project costs, etc.

The total cost of a New Testament when all costs are accounted for could vary from a few hundred thousand US dollars to maybe two million US dollars.

The costs associated with The Blank Book are those associated with the support and equipping of national workers and therefore do not reflect the overall cost of translation as additional costs are being met by churches and other funds eg gifts from donors who wish to support scholarship programs.

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How is the cost of filling The Blank Book calculated?
The total costs associated with the support and equipping of national workers within a project are estimated for the complete translation of the New Testament and, in certain contexts, selected books of the Old Testament. The overall costs are then divided by the total number of Bible verses involved and this factor used to calculate the cost of each of the books included in the project plan.  

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