Witchdoctors and the Word: a story of tribal transformation
Bon’og Poligon was a pagan witchdoctor in the Philippines. Missionaries asked him to help them translate the New Testament into the Ayangan-Ifugao language. (When there are no believers in a tribe, you have to take who you can get!)
As a pagan priest, Bon’og had many “powers”. He could call on a familiar spirit to indwell his body and help him heal people in his village who were sick. He could jump over the side of one of the world-famous rice terraces – now known as the 8th ancient wonder of the world – and land without hurting himself despite the 30+ foot drop.
One day Bon’og was helping the missionary translate Acts 13:4-12 where the Apostle Paul strikes Elymas, another pagan priest, with blindness. Bon’og was floored that Paul had more power than any other pagan priest he had ever heard of, including himself.
He decided then and there that he would renounce his paganism and come to Jesus Christ – and he became the first believer in the tribe of 50,000 that World Team missionaries Trevor and Norma Douglas have been working with for the past 28 years.
Eventually, Bon’og became president of the tribal church association. He spent the last 15 years of his life writing the rough draft for our Old Testament. Sadly, he died seven years ago from a severe asthma attack, not having seen his dream of a whole Bible completed. However, he is now with his Lord; maybe even jumping off 1,000 foot heavenly cliffs!
Today, there are over 100 churches and several thousand believers from this people group. For the first time in history, the Old Testament has been translated into the Ayangan-Ifugao language – and is ready for typesetting and printing in a full Bible translation along with New Testament revisions and informative footnotes.
We praise God for the steadfast commitment of the many missionaries, Filipino church leaders, and donors who have supported this work over many decades. And we trust God for the funds needed to print the first complete Ayangan-Ifugao Bible.
We’re depending on the generosity of many to meet our publication goals. While we have funds to meet about 1/3 of our budget, an additional $94,000 is needed. The needs could be met with:
10 gifts of $5,000+
15 gifts of $1,000+
20 gifts of $500+
100 gifts of $100+
250 gifts of $35+
This kind of translation work is vital to the growth and multiplication of healthy churches for generations to come. Would you or your church help us finish the work that Bon’og and so many others have given to for years?
You can give now and designate your gift for Ifugao Bible Printing or email us to request additional information. Pray for receptive hearts among the people for when they receive a copy of God’s Word in their own heart language.