A Bible Movement in Every Language
Earlier this year, I shared a vision with you—a deep conviction that God is calling us to End Bible Poverty Now in our generation, across the nations of Africa. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and partnership as we’ve taken our first steps into this calling.
Today, I’m writing to clarify and build upon that vision. In this first half of 2025, God has sharpened the vision, and clarified the calling upon our team and what our role will be in that. What was once a bold dream is now becoming a clear, Spirit-led strategy, and is now starting to bear fruit!
Vision Africa 2033
We’re now running with a bold, continent-wide strategy called Vision Africa 2033—and here’s what we’re contending for:
• Grassroots prayer movements through PrayOMT—locally-led groups adopting languages, interceding weekly, and joining global monthly Zoom prayer calls.
• 6 OMT Hubs planted across Africa—training and launching translation teams. Nigeria has already started building a movement of translation with an OMT Hub, and South Africa is not far behind—we’re about to launch our first OMT translation and establish the OMT Hub in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
• 12,000 new OMT Bible translations by 2033, focused on Africa’s oral-first, Bibleless languages. We believe every language in Africa will worship God in their mother tongue—on earth as it is in heaven.
This expanded vision for Africa not only redefines the task for our mission, but brings the full scope of the Great Commission into clear view. Let me share a little bit on how we got here.
From South Africa to Egypt
In April, I joined our Project 54 team in Egypt to help multiply leaders of the God’s Story Oral DTS for North Africa and the Middle East. I expected a simple two-week training—a chance to learn and support—but God had more creative intentions.
What began as a short visit turned into a three-week assignment from heaven. I stayed an extra week to help new leaders begin translating the 35 God Stories into their mother tongues—orally. God moved powerfully in our time together. These leaders in Egypt dedicated themselves to translating the Word for their students, their communities, and their nation.
Doors opened for us to serve languages in closed nations, where professing Christians can be killed for their faith, and in war-torn places where many have had to flee. God is choosing to use everyday believers to translate His Word—as if their search for refuge has led them beside the still waters of Psalm 23, where they can engage with God and His Word in safety.
Since our trip, we’ve received testimonies of the God Stories being translated into more than four languages from these unreached places. One translation multiplying into four new translations in a matter of months! These are seeds of movement, and they are growing.
As these school leaders now walk their students through the God’s Story DTS, please pray for their protection and for a mighty move of God in the nation of Egypt. May the Lord release movements of discipleship and translation across the nations.
Revelation from the Road
What happened in Egypt was more than a breakthrough—it was a prophetic signpost. As oral translations began in mother tongues, we saw clearly: translation is not just a support tool—it’s how the Kingdom advances.
Soon after returning, we gathered for training with Rej Mack—and it was there that God gave me a deeper revelation of ekklesia. Jesus isn’t building a static church service—He is establishing His Kingdom everywhere.
And He’s given us the Book of Luke–Acts as our blueprint. In it, we see how Gospel-saturated movements of ordinary people who obey Jesus, multiply disciples, and bring transformation to entire regions are born and sustained by the Word.
Nepal & the Word-Shaped Commission
In Nepal, our understanding of the Great Commission was transformed.
To disciple every nation and every people group, we realized that it must be measured at the most granular level. The late YWAM founder, Loren Cunningham said that the greatest vision he could imagine was to see every language on earth reached with the Gospel in their mother tongue…
To finish the task Jesus gave us, we must get the Word of God into every language on earth—not just in writing, but orally, in the living speech of every tribe and tongue.
That’s why we’ve agreed to join the global initiative of Every Language—a vision to end Bible poverty through oral Bible translation in every mother tongue. This is not just about literacy. It’s about access, identity, and transformation—and about finishing what Jesus started nearly 2000 years ago.
…As Loren Cunningham said:
“The Bible is the foundation for transformation. Until everyone has it in their own language, the Great Commission cannot be completed.”
Join the Vision: Pray. Partner. Go.
Thank you for journeying with me through this update. I know this is BIG—but I believe this isn’t just a good idea… this is a God idea, and the mandate of the Church.
I want to personally invite you to join this movement through prayer, partnership, and presence.
PRAY
Visit www.PrayOMT.com to commit to weekly intercession for a mother tongue language.
PARTNER
We’re looking for individuals, churches, and teams to walk with us—to adopt languages, support hubs, and stand with us long-term.
JOIN US LIVE
I’ll be hosting a short Google Meet info session for anyone interested in hearing more. If you want to learn how you can pray, partner, or mobilize others, this is a great space to connect.
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM PST | 6:00 PM Johannesburg time
Link to join: https://calendar.app.google/RpVd8XMmgvo15CCp7
Let’s finish the race Jesus gave us—together.
With love,
Matthew Forrest Akre
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Vision Africa 2033 | Fire & Fragrance | Every Language
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