A New Beginning—Burama’s Renewal
By PNW Staff July 23, 2025
Deep in the heart of Duccie, a remote village nestled in northwest Ghana, 39-year-old farmer Burama stands silently among his crops—his posture firm, his eyes steady, his spirit transformed. The soil beneath his feet hasn’t changed. The rhythm of village life continues. But Burama is not the same man he was a year ago. And all because of one verse—spoken in a language in which he never dreamed Scripture would be available. “I’ve been a Christian for a long time,” he says, wiping sweat from his brow. “But until I heard God’s Word in Chakali, I didn’t really believe I could change.” “I have called myself a Christian for years but didn’t have a relationship with Christ—I didn’t know what that meant,” he says. “I clung to some habits from my old life and didn’t understand it was possible to change fully.”
“I Thought It Was a Joke” Burama remembers the day he first heard rumors of a Bible translation team coming to Duccie. The idea that someone would bring the Bible in Chakali—not just written but spoken—seemed unbelievable to him. "When they said people would come to share the Bible in Chakali, I thought it was a joke,” he admits with a half-smile. “How could such a thing be possible?” To many in the village, Christianity had always arrived through outside voices—preached in English or other dominant tongues, interpreted through translators, or adapted for the masses. But nothing had ever felt truly personal until the Spoken Worldwide Oral Bible Translation (OBT) team arrived. Soon, the unfamiliar rhythms of foreign speech gave way to the rich tones of Chakali. Scripture didn’t just sound different—it sounded right. It sounded like home.
One Verse That Changed Everything For Burama, the transformation didn’t come from a long sermon or theological argument. It came from one verse—just a few words that reached into his heart and took root. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” Burama had probably heard this verse before, along with many other verses and teachings. “But when I heard this verse in Chakali, it was as if God was speaking directly to me. It felt like God was saying, Burama, you can start over. You are new. In that moment, something shifted inside him. These words weren’t just spoken—they were felt. They brought clarity, conviction, and a renewed commitment to live differently. For years, he had considered himself a believer, but the habits of his former life had quietly persisted—burdens he thought he’d carry forever. But this verse freed him. “The old me is truly gone,” he declares. “I no longer walk in the ways I used to. These words have washed me clean, and I now live as a new man.”
When God’s Word Speaks the Language of the Heart Burama’s story is a vivid reminder that true transformation happens when God’s Word is delivered in the language of the heart. Spoken Worldwide’s Oral Bible Translation initiative brings Scripture to oral learners—people who don’t read or prefer spoken communication—by working directly with local translators. The result is not just an accurate translation, but a culturally meaningful encounter with Scripture. In places like Duccie, where printed Bibles are scarce and illiteracy rates are high, oral Scripture becomes a lifeline. Verses once distant become deeply personal. Communities gather to listen, reflect, and discuss. And lives begin to change—one story, one voice, one verse at a time. More Than a Translation—A New Way of Life The impact of these translations goes far beyond individual transformation. In Duccie, new habits are forming. Listening groups are meeting regularly. Families are praying together in Chakali. Young people are beginning to see the Bible not as a foreign book, but as a source of wisdom rooted in their own culture. Your Voice Can Help Bring God’s Word to Life There are still hundreds of languages—just like Chakali—where people have never heard the Bible in the way they understand best. For many, that means a life without access to the gospel’s full truth and power. But you can help change that. For just $25, you can help provide an audio device loaded with Scripture, capable of reaching up to 100 people in remote, oral communities. That’s 100 chances for someone like Burama to hear Truth in a language that hits home. Be a Part of the Story Burama’s life is proof that God speaks most powerfully when He speaks in the language of the heart. Through your support, you can help deliver Scripture to villages, families, and individuals who are waiting to hear—for the first time—that they are new in Christ. Partner with Spoken Worldwide today. Deliver truth where written words can’t go.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
