Every Language, Every Heart: Translation as God’s Mission

Translation Day reminds us that God’s Word has always been intended for every language and culture, and that translation continues to play a vital role in sharing the Gospel. Discover how translated Scripture is fueling discipleship and outreach in Tatarstan through the story of Anna and her husband.

On September 30, Christians around the world observe Translation Day. For the church, this is more than recognizing a skill—it is celebrating God’s mission. From the Old Testament in Hebrew and Aramaic to the New Testament in Greek, God revealed Himself in human languages. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit enabled believers to declare “the wonders of God” in many tongues at once (Acts 2:1–11). Translation has always been central to the Gospel because God’s Word was meant to be heard clearly in every language and culture.

This truth is reflected in the story of Anna*, whose life was transformed by Scripture in her search for God. Raised in an atheist family in the Soviet Union, she first encountered the Gospel as a teenager. At 14, she read it for the first time, and at 16 her brother led her to Christ. As she grew in faith, she longed for fellowship with real believers. “I read about all the wonderful people in my books, and I couldn’t meet them. I couldn’t see them around me,” she explained. That longing eventually drew her into the church, where she found the answer: “I wanted to be with God and with God’s people.” From that early encounter, God began shaping a calling that continues today.

Today, Anna* partners with TWR’s Women of Hope ministry, leading a prayer community of 150 women on the digital messaging platform, Telegram, who share requests, pray, and fast together each week. She also built on her earlier experience as an Exegetical Checker with the Institute of Bible Translation, where she ensured that Old Testament texts translated into Tatar reflected the meaning of the Hebrew original. Later, God opened new doors. “This was God’s leading,” she said of her journey into ministry. That same sense of calling guides her current work with women. In Tatarstan, she now creates devotionals and leads online Bible studies for women aged 20–30. Since January 2025, she has published short-form video devotionals on Telegram and Instagram, despite restrictions, and in June launched an online Bible study group where six women joined the very first session. One participant wrote: “Step by step, with love and wisdom, you’ve explained the Bible… Everything becomes clear, integrates into life, and life changes.”

Her husband, Matthew*, pastors a local church and is preparing to use Discipleship Essentials—a TWR Canada discipleship tool that has been translated into Russian—to train and equip leaders. Together, their ministry shows how translation fuels both outreach and discipleship among the unreached Tatar and Bashkir people.

On this Translation Day, I invite you to pray: 

Pray for Anna* and Matthew* as they disciple and lead in Tatarstan.

•         Pray for translators and churches working to make God’s Word accessible in heart languages around the world.
•         Pray for the Tatar and Bashkir people to hear and respond to the Gospel.
•         Pray for the ongoing work of TWR Canada—for those who give and intercede, for our partnerships with workers like Anna* and Matthew*, and for wisdom and strength as we continue translating biblical resources into many languages and using media to reach people globally.

When every language receives God’s Word, every heart can respond to Christ (Revelation 7:9–10).

Thank you to each of you who stand with us in prayer and financial support. As President and CEO of TWR Canada, I am deeply grateful for your partnership. On this Translation Day, I also want to affirm the mission of TWR Canada—to reach the world for Christ through media so that lasting fruit is produced. Your prayers and gifts make this mission possible, enabling us to work with partners like Anna* and Matthew* to translate and share God’s Word in heart languages. 

Together, we carry forward the calling to bring the hope of Christ to every language and every heart.

Brent Campbell

President & CEO, TWR Canada

*Names changed for security reasons