NEWS RELEASE

Tom Bogle with TE team members David Olson (L) and Ben Wagner (R)

Waxhaw, N.C., August 31, 2005—Tom Bogle has a friendly smile, close-cropped hair and easy speaking manner that belie the fact that he is self-described “computer geek.” A visit to his software development lair at JAARS in Waxhaw, North Carolina reveals him to be the very animated leader of a team of eleven programmers who develop translation software to speed Bible translation for the more than 300 million people in the world who don't yet have a single verse of Scripture in their language.

Bogle says, “I lead a great team of software developers in developing SIL Field Works, an integrated software program for Bible translators.” Currently, Bogle's team is working hard to finish The Field Works Translation Editor (TE), a significant part of the SIL Field Works package. (SIL is a sister organization to JAARS specializing in language development). TE is a highly specialized word processor, with integrated tools that allows translators and literacy workers to do their job better and quicker.

Team leader Bogle says, “It doesn't help you learn the language, but it can handle complex scripts—virtually every script in the world except for vertical scripts—and we hope to handle them soon.”

In addition, TE will bring together all the different kinds of data the translator works with. For example, if a translator clicks on a word in TE, it will take him to the same word in the lexicon or to an item in an anthropology notes section.

“Beta” versions of TE were successfully tested, and included the test Bogle made himself in Asia. JAARS plans to release TE to Wycliffe translators working in 1,376 language groups worldwide in the fall. However, Bogle points out, “Even after version 1.0 comes out there will still be improvements in subsequent versions-to make everyone thoroughly happy.”

In the past, Translators with Wycliffe Bible Translators and other missions did not have all the advantages of sophisticated software and computers. Neal Brinneman is a Wycliffe translator who now serves at JAARS training Bible translators in the use of translation-related software.

Brinneman says, “I worked in Togo, West Africa from 1971 until 1993 and didn't get my first computer until 1981. Using a computer I then could type and easily edit the New Testament text and a dictionary. I was able to use DOS programs which allowed me to do text analysis, create word lists, and concordances and much more. However, when it came to creating some of the special characters I needed for the language I worked in, I was on my own.”

Brinneman points out that the development of Translation Editor utilizes an encoding system called “Unicode,” as does other recently developed software. He says, “With this type of encoding system the program can write in any language and the software can interact better with other software than our present software can.”

Bogle grew up knowing about mission work and was fascinated with the idea of being a missionary. He was aware of Wycliffe Bible Translators, but he did not know of its sister organization, JAARS, or that his developing love for information technology had a place in missions.

Bogle says, “I thought a missionary served in church planting, evangelism, relief and development, or as a missionary doctor or pilot. I didn't know I could be a computer geek for God.”

He goes on to say, “I went to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana to study computer science and physics and thought maybe I'd work for NASA.” But a few weeks into college, while praying with others, he again felt a call to his childhood dream of being a missionary.

He considered dropping out of Rose-Hulman to attend Bible college. But then, he went to a friend's church where he heard a speaker from Wycliffe Bible Translators who handed him a half-sheet with a list of Wycliffe's urgent personnel needs. At the top of that list was computer technology.

He realized then that he could do something he was good at, and at the same time serve God.

In 1989, while still in college, he took a short-term mission trip to Honduras to help construct a Bible school building. While there, he met his future wife Lily, and at the same time his calling to missions was confirmed.

After graduating from college in 1991, Bogle worked in Chicago as a computer programmer until joining Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1996.

When asked about living the life of a faith missionary dependent on God to supply his family's financial needs through friends and churches, Bogle responds, “I learned that the ‘American dream’ was not going to deliver on its promise of instant happiness. I came from a single-income loving family and had never tried to live like a rich man. A perfect God, a loving family, a great church, a fabulous job, and a little ice cream are all it takes to make me happy!”

Bogle says more programmers are needed for the Bible translation task. He says, “I need over a dozen on my own team.”

More information on Field Works and Translation Editor as well as opportunities to serve in information technology fields in Wycliffe can be found in the “Technology” section of the JAARS web site: www.jaars.org.

Office Phone: 704-843-6048, Cell phone: 704-608-3033.
E-mail: arthur_lightbody@sil.org