The Trinitarian Bible Society’s (TBS’) work translating, publishing, and distributing Bibles and evangelical texts spans continents. The countries of Nepal and Myanmar, and the state of Karnataka in South India are just some of the places TBS is working to translate God’s Word into people’s heart languages.
Nepal
“The need is very great in Nepal,” says TBS. More than 120 languages are spoken in the country, and many are without their own translation of the Bible.
One of these languages is Desauri, spoken by the Tharu people in the Terai region of Nepal and in neighbouring regions of India. There are about 450,000 Desauri speakers in Nepal and a further 500,000 in India. It is written using the Devanagari script.
Nepal
The Desauri Gospel of John was published in 2024. Now, TBS’ translation team is working through the Pauline epistles and hopes to finish drafting the New Testament this year, anticipating publication next year.
Demonstrating the impact of God’s Word in a person’s heart language, the voices of 1,300 Desauri Tharu people rose in their remote villages of Western Nepal on 25 December 2025 as John’s Gospel was read aloud. According to TBS, for many listening that morning it was the first time they had ever heard the Word of God in Desauri Tharu: “The familiar cadence of their own language carried the unfamiliar message of the gospel, and many listened with gripped attention, amazed that such words existed in their tongue.”
This second distribution effort, following the first in 2024, saw village leaders – both Christian and non-Christian – holding the newly printed books “with expressions of wonder,” as described by TBS. The translation team’s commitment arose from a singular conviction, said TBS: “That the Desauri Tharu people needed to encounter Christ in the Scriptures just as clearly as any English or Nepali speaker.”
Alongside the 300-or-so Christians were about 1,000 non-believers. “Many may have come for the promised meal but left with something far more nourishing,” said TBS.
Also in Nepal, progress has been made on TBS’ Sunuwar New Testament translation project, through the completion of the Sunuwar Gospel according to John in November 2025. According to TBS, there are 34,560 Sunuwar speakers in Nepal. Having been published on TBS’ Online Bible App, preparations are now underway for the printing of 2,000 copies of the Sunuwar translation of John’s Gospel.
Nepal Bible distribution
Recently, 16 English Bibles, 50 Nepali Bibles and 100 English Golden Thoughts Calendars were also delivered to Nepal, as part of TBS’ Bible and evangelical text distribution efforts. Golden Thoughts Calendars have twelve pages (one for each month), and each month has a list of verses – one for each day. TBS’ Nepal partner shared: “We believe these books will bring glory to God and be a great blessing to many.”
Myanmar
Meanwhile, in Myanmar, TBS’ workers have said they are “thankful” because the translation of the Bible into Khawngtu Chin has been approved as a full project. This follows the publication approval of the Gospel according to John.
As it currently stands, churchgoers in Chin State, Myanmar, hear readings and preaching from the Burmese Bible – TBS has emphasised that while understood, the language “does not speak to their hearts as their mother tongue does.”
“Lord willing, the Gospel according to John will be published in the coming months, which marks a significant milestone in bringing God’s Word to this community of 5,000 speakers,” writes TBS. “By God’s grace, work continues on the translation of the New Testament, despite limited resources.”
Karnataka, South India
Elsewhere, in the state of Karnataka, South India, TBS is working to produce the New Testament in the language of Kannada – which is spoken by over 58 million people in southern India. Despite this number, many Kannada-speaking believers reportedly lack access to a faithful translation of Scripture.
In its Kannada Gospel translation project, TBS has outlined its aim as to use “accurate biblical scholarship while remaining faithful to the Greek Received Text.”
TBS published its first Kannada Bible in 1987, a reprint in 1991, and then in 2021 a revision commenced to bring the Bible up to TBS’ textual and translational standards. Currently, John’s Gospel has been typeset and is being reviewed by the team, with hopes to publish in spring 2026. Furthermore, TBS reports that Matthew’s Gospel has been completed, Luke is almost finished, and work on Mark has begun. Additionally, a Kannada version of the article The Lord Gave the Word is being prepared to “help believers understand the textual foundations of Scripture and strengthen their confidence in God’s Word.”
Details of how to support TBS in its work can be found online: www.tbsbibles.org.
Furthermore, the Society is hosting an “Open Day” on Saturday 7 March 2026, to provide a chance to learn more about TBS’ work, with opportunity to talk to team members. “As we commemorate the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s New Testament, come and discover how TBS continues this rich heritage of Bible translation and distribution,” writes TBS. “The day is designed for the whole family, with engaging Bible activities for children and presentations for everyone.” Spaces can be reserved online: www.tbsbibles.org/events
