Audrey Boone

Hello, my name is Audrey Boone. I’m twenty-four years old and I’m preparing to go overseas as a Vernacular Media Specialist.

I was about eight years old when I first heard a Wycliffe missionary speak at church. I was so excited that I went around telling everyone, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a Wycliffe missionary and translate the Bible into other languages!” Most people dismissed my comments; however, my parents encouraged me.

Even though I had wanted to be a missionary all my childhood, during college I decided it was not practical. According to the world’s standard, I was supposed to specialize in a field and find a successful job. God is faithful and He directed me to a very missions-minded college. Around that time, He also began laying media on my heart. I wanted to be able to produce media that would glorify God. When I graduated college, God provided me with a job in radio.

I enjoyed working in radio, but the Lord kept reminding me of that call He gave me as a child—to serve Him overseas as a missionary. In May 2006, I decided to be obedient and follow Him wherever He would send me. As I was considering different missions organizations, I spoke to my pastor and he said, “With everything you’ve told me, I think Wycliffe would be a good fit for you. Have you ever heard of them?”

Have I ever heard of them? Ha ha … of course, I had. After researching Wycliffe on the Internet and praying a lot, I decided to pursue application to become a member.

On the Wycliffe website, I learned about Spectrum. It’s a partnership between Wycliffe and Operation Mobilization (OM), designed so that over the course of two years you learn a spectrum, or broad scope, of missions. I will be serving one year in OM’s ships ministry on the Logos Hope, helping outfit it and then traveling with it.

During the second year in Spectrum, each participant does specialized field work or gets field training in linguistics or another area with Wycliffe. I have received my training as a Vernacular Media (VM) Specialist so I can serve in Niger, Africa.

I am excited about serving the Lord as a VM Specialist. Seventy percent of the world’s population passes along information chiefly through oral means. Many people cannot read or have little interest in learning how to read. Even if they can read, many cannot read well.

Wycliffe’s Vision 2025 is a commitment to begin a translation of the Bible into every heart language that needs it by 2025. As a VM Specialist I will be working with translators to make the Word available in a format that speaks directly to people’s hearts, whether through dubbings of the JESUS or Luke video, radio programs, cassette tapes, drama, music, dance, or other ways.

Although I will not actually be translating the Bible into other languages as I proclaimed as a child, the Lord is faithful in allowing me to help make His Word available to the oral communicators of the earth.

To read about Spectrum, go to: http://www.wycliffe.org/Serve/MediumTermOpportunities/Spectrum.aspx.

—February 2008