Three major Bible ministries and leading Christian philanthropists recently announced the launch of Every Tribe Every Nation (ETEN), a ministry alliance that will open Bible access for more than 6 billion people.

ETEN’s venture, named The Digital Bible Library, makes available hundreds of Scripture translations. More than 1,000 additional language translations will be ready for digital deployment in the next year and will reach more than 2,000 in the next five years. 

Mart Green, founder of Mardel Christian and Education, a 35-store retail chain, cast the vision for ETEN. Green’s global travels revealed the need for Bible translation and engagement, and highlighted the opportunity to leverage today's technology to meet the need. Recognizing the scope of the challenge, he called on the leading Bible ministries to join in a collaborative effort to provide God's Word in everyone's heart language in an accessible format. 

"God put the issue of ‘Bible poverty’ on my heart in a significant way, and He opened many doors to make this ministry alliance a reality," said Green. "Prior to the formation of Every Tribe Every Nation, Bible ministries were often working in silos. While they were making important progress in their individual efforts, it was clear that an opportunity existed for greater collaboration to more rapidly advance their individual efforts. The goal of Every Tribe Every Nation is to mobilize the necessary leadership and financial resources across our alliance partners so that by 2033, every tribe and every nation in the world has access to God's Word in their heart language." 

Biblica, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA and American Bible Society formed ETEN to bring Bible ministry into a new digital age. The centerpiece of ETEN's effort is the mobilization of The Digital Bible Library, operated by the United Bible Societies. Through The Digital Bible Library, Scripture texts are standardized, digitized, centralized and accredited. By drawing texts into one location, The Digital Bible Library will make Scriptures readily accessible to Christian organizations, ministries and missionaries. The Digital Bible Library will provide licensees the ability to access content from their mobile devices in a variety of formats, including audio, video, apps, websites and print on demand. 

"Every Tribe Every Nation is committed to leading the effort to quickly and efficiently add more Scripture texts to The Digital Bible Library so that ministries around the world can access the Bible for their kingdom work," said Doug Lockhart, president and CEO of Biblica. "This library is the key to unleashing ministry opportunities from South America to Asia. Because of the rapid expansion of the web, social networks and mobile technology, more opportunities for spreading God's Word arise every month. We must work quickly to take advantage of these new 'roads' into places where people desperately need more than just food and water. They need to hear the Words of Life."

For more information on the alliance or the Digital Bible Library, visit www.everytribeeverynation.org.

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