Why This Church in Alabama Supports Bible Translation
Shae looked around her office. “I bet there are 25 copies of the Bible, in multiple versions, with commentaries—and that’s just in this room.” She wasn’t counting her phone, how many are in her home, or the two in her car.
At Rivertree Church in Huntsville, Alabama, Shae serves as missions director. For years, the congregation has supported Bible translation work in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country where over 700 languages are spoken. For most of those language groups, access to Scripture is scarce or nonexistent—a reality unimaginable for the average Western Christian.
A door opened in October 2025 for Shae and her assistant Amber to see that reality up-close, to travel to Indonesia and meet Bible translators in their homeland, where every single copy of Scripture is treasured.
“It was sweeter than I could have ever imagined it being,” Shae said. They watched a live translation session where locals and visitors from other nations were present. Shae called it “the worldwide body of Christ” and “a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like.”
Amber grew up in missions and remembers how she once thought about Bible translation. “As a kid, I was like, ‘This sounds like the hardest thing ever,’” she said. The idea of an American missionary leaving home, becoming fluent in a new language, and then translating the whole Bible for a people—it seemed impossible.
In Indonesia, though, Amber saw local translators making God’s Word accessible for their own people. She explained that Bible translation doesn’t make cross-cultural missions irrelevant; it makes it sustainable. “Sharing the gospel is huge—but we’re commanded to make disciples.”
Translated Scripture lays a foundation that new believers can begin building biblical community on top of. Seed Company’s goal isn’t to translate a book. That’s not why Rivertree Church supports Bible translation either. “We don’t want it to ever become a paper or book that they’re treasuring,” Shae said, “but the Person that this book is about.”
Shae and Amber’s journey, and the stories they were able to share with their church when they returned, reminded them how precious the English Bible is—and even more, how precious knowing Jesus is.
“Christ is the focus,” Shae said, “no matter if it’s your first copy or your 100th copy.”
Wondering how your church can partner with Seed Company to get all Scripture to all people? Contact info@tsco.org or support Bible translators monthly through Canopy and receive regular updates on how your generosity is changing lives.
