by Bill Foute, Nigeria
7 February 2006
Three languages—Boko, Bisa, and Bokobaru—are not tongue twisters, but God's marvelous work. God has used Dr. Ross Jones to help three related language groups say for the first time, "I never knew God spoke our language."

Along the western border of Nigeria reside the Bokobaru and Bisa people. They are related to the Boko people of Benin Republic. Ross, an Australian SIMer, worked for 35 years to bring God's Word to the Boko people along with the good news that God loves them and has provided a way for them to be forgiven. After completing the Bible for the Boko people, Ross began making trips from Australia to Nigeria to bring God's Word to their relatives on the Nigerian side of the border.

These two people groups are almost totally Muslim. The area has churches, but they are made up almost entirely of other tribes. No church exists among the Bokobaru and Bisa.

The Easter weekend marked an historic and spiritual milestone for them. Thanks to Ross's dedication and God's provision, they now have the Bible, a dictionary, literacy primers, and the history of their area in their heart language. I was privileged to attend the dedication of these books at the Emir's palace. We were thankful to see God's Word appreciated even by Muslims who gave speeches. The local government pledged to use the primers in the primary schools right away.

We live in a day where smaller language groups are dying out. Thirty thousand to 150,000 people speak these three languages. Hausa, the trade language spoken around us, is threatening to take over. Ross has given these people hope that their languages will survive. But more than that, they can talk to God in the language of their heart, and they can know the joy of being forgiven.

This is a key time to pray for these people groups. May the God who loves them and speaks their language send people to bring them into His family!