Founder

Why doesn’t God speak our language?

Several Cakchiquel Indians posed this question to William Cameron Townsend—and in doing so, struck a chord that would change Townsend’s life.

The 21-year-old had traveled from California to Guatemala in the spring of 1917, intending to sell Spanish New Testaments. Yet he soon learned that roughly 60% of Guatemalans spoke Indian languages, like Cakchiquel, instead of Spanish.

Townsend was deeply moved by the difficulties Guatemalan Indians had reading Spanish and the alienation they felt without literature in their own language. He soon abandoned Bible sales and took his wife to live among the Cakchiquel people. While living with them, Townsend founded schools, launched literacy campaigns, and helped set up a medical clinic, irrigation dams—even a coffee cooperative.

And within 10 years, he learned and analyzed their language, created an alphabet and collaborated with talented Indian co-translators to produce the Cakchiquel New Testament.

During those years at the translation desk, Townsend’s vision for worldwide Bible translation took root. He became convinced that every person deserved God’s Word in his or her own language, and dedicated his life to making that a reality.

After completing the Cakchiquel New Testament, Townsend founded three organizations: SIL International, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and JAARS, each of which fulfills a unique role in worldwide Bible translation.

For the remainder of his life, Townsend was a passionate champion of translation and literacy work. He inspired thousands of people to join the task—which would become the most extensive Bible translation movement in history.

For more information, read the third edition of Uncle Cam by James and Marti Hefley, which can be ordered through our gift shop at 1-704-843-6104.