A historic event took place when the Vietnam Bible Institute launched the New Testament (NT) in the Cham language on 4 March 2024. This event is a significant step forward for the Eastern Cham Tribe in Vietnam, as they now have access to scripture in their mother tongue.

The Bible Institute of Vietnam launched the New Testament in the Cham language on 4 March 2024.

The Cham NT translation project spanned seven years, beginning in 2015 and completing in December 2021, culminating in the recent publication of the New Testament in Cham. Despite facing a variety of challenges, including funding constraints and the complexities inherent in translation work, the translation team continues to endeavour to complete this important ministry.

The Eastern Cham people, an ethnic minority group living in the eastern part of Central Vietnam, have long known the gospel. Although many Cham people are accustomed to speaking the Cham language, they do not have a written version of the Gospel. They cannot fully understand the Gospel, as many of them have difficulty understanding Vietnamese. This translation project aims to bridge the gap by providing the Bible in a language that the Eastern Cham minority can understand and relate to, facilitating evangelism efforts and enabling Cham Christians to deepen their faith horizons.

The importance of this translation effort is emphasised by the rich culture and religion of the Cham community. The Cham people originated from the Champa Kingdom in Central Vietnam. Over the centuries, they have preserved their language and traditions, despite outside cultural influences that have begun to erode the original traditions. Most of the Cham people are Muslims. However, many also follow Hinduism or its variants, including Brahmanism. Some missionaries claim that this diverse religious landscape, coupled with a strong belief in ancestor worship and animism, makes the process of introducing the Gospel of Christ to the Cham community not easy.

Despite these challenges, the launch of the Cham New Testament represents a ray of hope for the Eastern Cham people. As stated by Mrs Cam Tien (Esther) Ly, Translation Officer of the Vietnam Bible Society, "We rejoice greatly at the publication of the New Testament in the East Cham language which also serves as a powerful evangelistic tool for the East Cham community. We believe this is the time for the church to grow, when Cham Christians are empowered to read and study the Bible in their own mother tongue."

While the completion of the New Testament marks a significant achievement, the work is far from over. Efforts to translate the Old Testament were temporarily halted. However, the successful completion of the New Testament is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of all those involved in this noble project.

 

The launch of the Cham New Testament represents more than just a translation endeavour. It symbolises empowering the community to connect with their faith in a deep and meaningful way. The people of East Cham now have a holy book in their own language. We certainly hope this will encourage spiritual growth, strengthen cultural identity, and pave the way to a brighter future. A Bible for all. 

Bible for all.