Four Wycliffe Bible translators have been killed and several others injured by terrorists in the Middle East, said a report by Wycliffe Associates.
Wycliffe said that the militants raided the translators' office. They shot two of them, and brutally wounded the other two, who laid on the lead translator to protect him. The two died of their injuries later. The militants had run out of their cartilage, so beat the others instead of firing at them.
The militants ransacked the office, burned books, and destroyed the Print On Demand (POD) equipment.
They could not, however, destroy the "computer hard drives containing translation work for eight language projects."
Many other people in the staff were injured by the militants, who were admitted to a hospital.
An online plea has been raised to ask for prayers for the families of the slain, the survivors who are in hospital, and for donations to move out to a new and safe location, where the work of translation could be carried out without obstacles.
The surviving team will continue to translate and publish the Scripture in eight languages until new translators are recruited, Wycliffe said.
Mae Greenleaf of Wycliffe has invited prayers for the wounded translators, for new translators to be raised, and for the militants too.
"Will you pray with me for the injured translators? Pray for others to step up and take on the translation task. Please ask the Lord to mend the hearts and wounds of the translation team who have gone through this horrible ordeal. Pray that God will strengthen their minds, their hearts, and their bodies to be able to continue the translation of the gospel for their people," said Greenleaf.
Pray with me for the killers too. Pray for these whose hearts are so hard. Pray the Lord will open their eyes to what they have done. Please ask the Lord to meet them, each one, right where they are. Pray that He will show Himself merciful, that they will know His forgiveness, His love, and His peace."
