In 2014, Bible Societies around the world accomplished a remarkable feat, empowering more than one billion people to access Scripture for the first time. According to the United Bible Society’s 2014 Global Scripture Access Report, Bible Societies helped complete translations in 51 languages spoken by more than 1.3 billion people—including 1.2 billion Chinese speakers and 146 million speakers of other languages.

Some of these translations were launched in countries facing significant challenges. In Nigeria, where militant Islamic group Boko Haram carried out more deadly attacks than ever before, the Bible Society launched four new Bible translations. One of them, the Bura Bible, was completed and launched in December, despite a Boko Haram bomb attack on the Bura Bible translation office in September. All of these were first-time translations, potentially giving 2.1 million Nigerians access to the full Bible in their heart language for the first time.

Liberia, too, faced enormous difficulties last year, losing more people to Ebola than any other affected country. But despite the difficulties, the Bible Society of Liberia launched two complete, first-time Bible translations. The Bible in Kpelle and Southern Kisi, spoken by nearly one million people, arrived at a time when people needed God’s Word in their language more than ever before. Southern Kisi speakers, most of whom live in Foyah District in Lofa County, the worst affected area of Liberia, delayed their celebrations until January 2015, when the situation had stabilized.

“That day they forgot about Ebola and came out in great numbers to march in celebration of the first Bible in their language,” notes Paul Stevens, who leads the Bible Society of Liberia.

According to United Bible Societies, the full Bible is now available in 542 languages spoken by 4.9 billion people, while the New Testament is available in 1,324 languages spoken by 673 million people. An additional 1,020 languages have access to shorter portions of Scripture, while 4,015 languages spoken by 460 million people still do not have access to Scripture at all.

These Scripture texts are made available digitally to the public through partners such as BibleSearch and YouVersion. With the addition of Scriptures in around 200 languages in 2014, these resources contain just over 1,000 Scriptures in 816 languages.

Will you join American Bible Society in praising God for his extraordinary provision? The Lord has worked through Bible Societies across the globe to make an eternal difference in the lives of billions worldwide, working to create a world where no one is separated from his love. Psalm 95:2-3 reads, “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise. For the Lord is a mighty God,a mighty king over all the gods.”

United Bible Societies, of which American Bible Society is a part, is an alliance of Bible Societies operating in more than 200 countries and territories. Together, they are the world’s biggest translator, publisher and distributor of the Bible. Bible Societies are also active in areas such as HIV/AIDS prevention, trauma healing and literacy, working with all Christian Churches and many international non-governmental organizations. For more information visit http://www.unitedbiblesocieties.org/