The new Android Wolof Bible app

Last week was the Wolof Consultation, a yearly event where those working among the Wolof get together to talk over how things are going, to exchange ideas, and to encourage each other. I was able to present several things, including the newly published Wolofal (Wolof language written in Arabic script) Genesis and Psalms.

But I was equally excited to be able to share the brand-new Wolof Bible apps – one for use on Android devices, the other for use online with any web browser. SIL has released an app builder tool which makes it very easy to share scripture digitally. The Android app that I made with their tool was quite easy to put together and has the potential to reach a wide audience. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can check it out on the Google Play Store right now by clicking here or by clicking on the screenshot at the right.

The new Wolof Bible Web app

We also released an online version of the Wolof Bible app that is readable in a web browser, again made possible through SIL’s app builder tool. You can check it out by clicking here or on the image to the left.

These apps are free online, so they make God’s word accessible all over the globe in an easy-to-carry and convenient way. It’s also an advantage for those living in environments that are hostile to the Christian faith who might be wary of owning a paper Bible.

And – there’s even more good news! – the Wolof Bible translation team gave me permission to include many books in the apps which have been approved for publication but never before published in any form. Appearing for the first time in these apps are the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, & Jonah! These books join the previously available complete books of Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament.

How many times have we wanted to share a scripture or Bible story in Wolof only to find that part of the Bible has not yet been translated? How many times have we seen, or done (!), spur-of-the moment Bible translations during a sermon being translated from French to Wolof? What a blessing to have so many more books at our fingertips! Praise the Lord for this technology and pray that these Wolof Bible apps will have a wide readership and bring hope to new readers of the Book.