Just Get Them Saved, Never Mind Translating the Bible.
A Brazilian pastor shook his head in bewilderment when I mentioned that my wife and I were engaged in a Bible translation ministry with an indigenous group.
“Your ministry will take fifteen to twenty years?” he said. “I have led many people to accept God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus. I quote a few key Bible passages and then lead them in a prayer of salvation. So why are you spending decades to translating the New Testament and more, when you could evangelize Canela people with just a few key passages?”
He was called away at that point, so I had no chance to answer this well-meaning brother. My explanation would have stretched his thoughts into new areas of understanding.

Huge Cultural Differences
He did not realize how different his situation was from ours. For many generations, Brazilian people have lived in towns and cities where evangelical churches are well known.
Moreover, Brazilians have had a Bible in their language for nearly four hundred years. Canela people, on the other hand, have no Christian history, no churches in their villages, no pastors to teach them, and no Bible in their language.
We could indeed evangelize with just a few passages and a prepared prayer. But then what? When Satan attacked these young believers, how could they defend themselves? Without a Bible in their language, how could they respond to his temptations?

How Jesus Met Temptation
Matthew tells the story of Jesus who was hungry after fasting out in the wilderness. That’s when Satan came three times to tempt Him to prove he was the Son of God.
“If you are the Son of God,” the Devil said, “tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus replied, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
At the second temptation, Jesus replied, “It is written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
At the third, Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ”
As Jesus quoted the written Word of God, it became a Sword to attack Satan, and finally drive him away.

Paul’s Powerful Metaphors
Years later, the apostle Paul advised believers, “Take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Eph. 6:17). And in Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is described as “alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Our Effective Action
Canela believers, even wearing the helmet of salvation, could not defend themselves against Satan and drive him away without the Sword of the Spirit.
Jo and I were giving them the Word of God—in their hands, in their hearts, and in their mouths.