2024 Midsummer Update
This month, fifty-three years ago, Dr. R.C. Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries . I thought this would be a fitting occasion to share a brief update on the worldwide gospel outreach supporters have fueled so far in 2024 through their visionary support of this fellowship of truth.
Our global outreach team recently shared an update with me, and I hope you will be encouraged to see the progress made as the ministry builds toward sustained ministry in the world’s most-spoken languages. Distributing trusted teaching and translating Ligonier’s substantial library of discipleship resources will require decades of determined, prayerful work. But these efforts are urgently requested by global church leaders.
We are thankful for the Lord's blessing that allows us to serve the church throughout the world.
Overall, the International Outreach team stewarded the translation of 7.8 million words last year (an increase of 10% over the previous year) and oversaw 9,000 minutes (about 6.5 days) of video/audio content dubbed into multiple spoken languages. In all, we directed projects in 39 languages. Now, teaching from Dr. Sproul and other Ligonier authors is available in 56 languages, with additional languages forthcoming.
Top 20 Language Progress
We’re making steady progress in our pursuit of initiating sustained daily or weekly ministry in the top 20 languages of the world by the end of 2025. Following the recent release of the Ligonier Statement on Christology in Filipino and Marathi, we have now published content in all 20 languages.
Bengali
In May, we launched our Bengali online outreach (bn.Ligonier.org) to support Ligonier’s desire to build the world’s most extensive library of teaching resources faithful to the historic Christian faith. This means we now have active ministry in 15 of the top 20 languages, 75% of our 2025 goal. And we know that people are reading what we share—our current social media audience has quickly grown to 1.6 million souls overall.
Turkish
In December, we launched our Turkish outreach, actively producing and distributing content through our website (tr.Ligonier.org) and social media channels. We pray that this pioneering outreach will strengthen and sustain the young churches in Türkiye (Turkey), which face tremendous pressure from the country’s Islamic grip.
Tamil and Vietnamese
Translation and editorial teams for Tamil and Vietnamese are being assembled to deploy into active service. Lord willing, we will announce these new dedicated language outreaches in 2024.
The Reformation Study Bible Around the World
Recent studies estimate that 90% of the 5 million pastors worldwide have no formal education. The Reformation Study Bible, with its 1.2 million words of detailed notes and careful explanation, is a foundational tool for discipleship and preaching preparation. In addition to the editions currently available in five languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Korean), several more translations are underway in major world languages.
French Edition
Printing of the French edition of the Reformation Study Bible began mid-May, with two celebration events scheduled for Paris, France (October 26), and Montreal, Quebec (November 22), later this year. Plans are coming together to distribute thousands of copies to pastors in Europe, Quebec, and especially in French-speaking Africa, where 26 countries extensively use French. Some demographic forecasts indicate there could be as many as 700 million French-speaking Africans by 2050.
Arabic Edition
Translation for the second phase (of six) began in earnest this past February. We continue to pray for our team of translators and editors, who are working under challenging conditions economically and spiritually due to Islam’s grasp over much of the Middle East. Nevertheless, God’s faithfulness remains as steady progress is being made with the opportunity to provide study Bibles to serve 400 million Arabic-speaking people in the coming years.
Condensed Edition in Spanish
Expanding our reach into Latin America, translation of the Condensed Edition will provide a more portable option for Spanish speakers using the Nueva Biblia de las Ame?ricas (NBLA) translation. This updated Bible translation will soon replace the La Biblia de las Ame?ricas (LBLA) edition that is currently available. Lord willing, more than 15,000 copies of this new edition will be available by October.
Study Bibles for Africa
Ligonier’s Study Bibles for Africa project has already distributed more than 74,000 copies of the Reformation Study Bible to pastors, missionaries, and seminary students in more than 15 countries. Our goal is to send 100,000 copies by 2028. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors, we have accelerated printing and distribution well ahead of our 2028 goal.
We regularly receive testimonials from those who receive the Bibles, expressing the profound impact on their spiritual walk with the Lord:
“Thank you so much for the study Bible. I am looking forward to an exciting journey of personal Bible study that will enrich and empower my spiritual growth and that will eventually extend to those that I minister to. I am deeply eager to cultivate my personal fellowship with God through consistent Bible study, and I believe that this study Bible will be a powerful tool that God has placed in my hands. Thank you, and God bless you.” —Martin M., Kenya
“The way the authors handle theological and other topics is wonderful. They also cover creeds, hermeneutics, and interpretation. Every topic a pastor needs to understand has been covered. Every pastor, preacher, or elder needs a copy of the Reformation Study Bible.” —Jones T., Ghana
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Study Bibles in India
Distribution has been completed of 4,000 Reformation Study Bibles. The Bibles have been given to pastors and seminary students throughout India with much joy and delight. It is our firm desire to send additional Bible shipments to India, especially while the door remains open amid increasing government hostility to Christianity. Plans are now in motion to send another container with 4,000 copies to India before the end of July.
Here are examples of testimonials sent to Ligonier by attendees at a pastors’ conference in India:
“I was overjoyed when I received the Reformation Study Bible at AIPC. Ligonier has been very gracious in gifting this study Bible. It is a great resource for every student of God’s Word. It is filled with God-centered and Christ-exalting interpretive notes.”
“First of all, I am thankful to God for the Reformation Study Bible that I have received freely. It is a great help for me in studying the Bible and understanding the Word of God as it provides verse-by-verse commentary. What I most love about this study Bible is the Christ-connection in every book of the Bible. Indeed, it’s a great resource in my library, and I am massively blessed by it.”
Demand continues to grow. Since 2023, we have received requests for more than 20,000 study Bibles for pastors, students, and lay leaders from multiple missions and training organizations.
Study Bibles in the Philippines
More than 200 Reformation Study Bibles were gifted to participants of pastor training events in the Philippines earlier in 2024.
The ministry has already received many thankful responses:
“These Reformation Study Bibles are a great resource and truly a help. The cost of Bibles in the country, decent ones with sound commentary such as these, are not generally affordable. Thank you for your grace and goodness in providing us these Bibles. Serving Christ with you until He comes for us.” —Pastor Ray C., Philippines
“It is with great delight to express my deepest praise and gratitude for the unsurpassed mercy and grace of our great God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, He has ordained and blessed you with the obedience to heed His call of advancing the gospel of Christ by providing essential resources to help the faithful and truthful equipping of many of God’s saints across the world—of which we have recently become one of the blessed recipients! I personally wish to thank you for sending to local church leaders in the Philippines copies of the Reformation Study Bible. It is our prayer and desire that through these study Bibles, pastors and other church leaders in our country will grow deeper both in understanding and affection for God and His Word and, in turn will continue to rightfully reform and be rightfully equipped to care for God’s flock.” —Pastor Ian I., Philippines
Current Translation Efforts
Multi-year projects are underway with trusted partners to translate the Reformation Study Bible into Arabic, Russian, and Polish. Ligonier is also receiving interest in study Bible translations for other minor Eastern European languages.
Expanding Global Outreach
Spanish Outreach
This fall, we look forward to the first Ligonier conference in the Dominican Republic. We are prayerfully planning to serve more than one thousand Spanish-speaking attendees from all parts of Central and South America.
Our outreach, including the Spanish website (es.Ligonier.org) and weekly radio broadcast Renovando Tu Mente, contributes to ongoing reformation in Latin America. Total engagement with Renovando Tu Mente was 4.8 million in 2023 (an 18% increase over 2022). We are preparing to publish the condensed edition of the Spanish Reformation Study Bible later this year. Our online learning platform, Conexio?n Ligonier, continues incorporating new video teaching series covering various biblical and theological topics.
Ligonier’s Church Partnership Program has enabled the distribution of 3,200 copies of the Spanish Reformation Study Bible to pastors and seminary students in Bolivia, Peru?, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Cuba in 2024.
Portuguese Outreach
Earlier this year, 477 copies of Portuguese study Bibles were sent to pastors throughout Brazil. We continue to pray for the millions of people impacted by the flooding in Rio Grande do Sul in Southern Brazil that began in April. More than 600 thousand have been displaced. Our hope is to send hundreds of study Bibles to pastors in that region in the coming months.
Arabic and Farsi Outreaches
Alongside Ligonier’s new online outreach in Turkish, longstanding partnerships enable us to share teaching in the Middle East in video, print, and digital formats. Teaching series by Dr. Sproul and other gifted teachers are broadcast in Arabic and Farsi on satellite TV across the region. Recently, No Other Gospel and Learning to Love the Psalms were dubbed into Farsi. Both series are available on Ligonier’s Farsi website (fa.Ligonier.org).
In February, Dr. Sproul's The Holiness of God was published in Arabic for the first time and is now being distributed in Egypt. Dr. Sproul’s expositional commentary on the gospel of Mark is being made freely available in Lebanon in print and online, and the Arabic edition of Surprised by Suffering is now available in audiobook format on Ligonier social channels. Three additional Crucial Questions titles by Dr. Sproul have been released online and in print in Arabic.
Other Outreach Updates