In the central part of Borneo Island, in downtown Palangkaraya, for 5 days, March 17-22, 2025, the Ot Danum translation team,  met to examine the Ot Danum Old Testament translation manuscript. More than twenty-five years ago the New Testament translation was completed and after its publication the Ot Danum-speaking people of God welcomed it. The Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI) then began the translation of the Old Testament at the request of the church and people of God there.

Gathering in Palangkaraya

The translation teams came from various cities on the island of Kalimantan and gathered together at the Evangelical Christian Church (GKE) Palangkaraya. LAI Translation Supervisor, Dr. Lady Mandalika provided guidance and accompanied the translation team for almost a week to check the draft translations of the Books of Ruth, Obadiah and Jonah.

One of the leaders of the Ot Danum community in Central Kalimantan province, Bertho K. Kondrat, traveled about ten hours from Puruk Cahu to join the rest of the translation team in Palangkaraya for this important event. Although this was the first proofreading session for the Old Testament project, the translation team intends to rotate the location of the proofreading sessions around the island to make it easier for everyone to attend on at least some occasions. In addition, holding these vetting sessions in different communities makes all communities of the Ot Danum people feel connected and involved in the project.

In yesterday's meeting, the team read through the completed Books and discussed possible improvements to their draft Ot Danum translation. The team's week-long discussions ensured that the texts were of the highest possible quality, before the texts would later seek the opinions of outside experts and Ot Danum-speaking people of God.

Motivated to Finish the Ot Danum Bible

Dr. Lady Mandalika was impressed with the spirit and enthusiasm of each team member. She said, "They really long to have a complete Bible. That is why we are working on this Old Testament. Why are they so committed to this work? Because they feel God working in their community and bringing change to the lives of the Ot Danum people."

The translation and dissemination of the Bible has had a tremendous impact on the Ot Danum people. The perception of the Ot Danum people in the past was that they were poor, uneducated and uncultured. However, the community considers the presence of the church to have supported the lives of God's people in Ot Danum, introducing them to education and literacy. This has had a profound impact in uplifting their society.

Bible Translation in Indonesia

There are 703 regional languages across the 17,000 islands that make up the country of Indonesia. Of those 703 languages, 43 have complete Bibles (including Indonesian translations), 133 have New Testaments, and 208 have at least partial Bibles. LAI has translated 38 Bibles into local languages, 5 publications into Indonesian, 115 New Testament publications into 107 local languages, and 340 part publications into 79 local languages.

Currently, 296 Bible translation projects are underway across Indonesia. However, there are hundreds of languages in Indonesia that still do not have Scripture. Ot Danum is one of the 133 languages that currently has a NT and will join the 43 complete Bibles once completed. Ot Danum is also among the 70 languages on the island of Borneo.

The Ot Danum Community

The Ot Danum tribe is one of the Dayak ethnic groups (hence the name Dayak Ot Danum). An estimated 96,000 people speak Ot Danum, making it one of the important Dayak language groups in Kalimantan. The Ot Danum are spread across four provinces, each with a different dialect; however, each can understand the other. Traditionally, this community's religious beliefs include a form of ancestor worship, with many stories and mythologies.

The translation of the Bible into Ot Danum is not only a matter of theology, but also an effort of cultural preservation. When the mother tongue is used in worship and Bible readings, people will come to appreciate and love their own language.

With the Bible in Ot Danum language, the Word of God becomes more alive and real in their daily lives. They can understand the love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the hope of salvation in a language that is familiar to their ears and hearts. The Word of God in Ot Danum becomes the bridge that connects God and His people. It is the most tangible form of mission; God speaks in their own language. As such, the faith of the Ot Danum people not only grows, but is also rooted in their own culture and language.