Eastern University recently announced a new partnership with Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, the largest Bible translation organization in the world. Through this partnership, Wycliffe employees and missionaries, as well as their spouses and dependents, will qualify for a 20 percent discount on tuition.
Wycliffe has been helping people around the world translate the Bible into their own languages for over 70 years. In addition to Bible translation, Wycliffe also helps with language development, literacy and other spiritual and physical needs. Established in 1917 by missionary William Cameron Townsend, Wycliffe published its first Bible translation in 1952. In 2000, Wycliffe celebrated the publication of its 500th Bible translation. Wycliffe translators still have an estimated 1,800 languages in need of a Bible translation. With this in mind, they plan to have a translation project begun in every one of these languages by 2025.
Mumia Parham, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at Eastern University, comments that Eastern is “excited to extend our tuition discount program to Wycliffe,” stating that Eastern is “dedicated to preparing our graduates for thoughtful and productive lives of Christian faith, leadership and service.” Parham hopes that through this partnership Eastern can make an “impact globally as we watch God’s ultimate plans unfold.”
Aileen Agoncillo, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Wycliffe, also comments on the partnership. Wycliffe recognizes that Eastern is “not simply an institution for academics,” but is rather “a place committed to the formation of people to have an impact on society, the Church and the world.” Thus, Wycliffe is “grateful to partner with Eastern University to allow our global workforce an opportunity to continue their formation, so they too will have a deepened impact among the communities we serve.”
Eastern University currently manages more than 122 partnerships with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits across the greater Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh areas. The Eastern-Wycliffe partnership includes three undergraduate programs, 10 graduate programs and the doctorate in ministry. This partnership is set to run through Jan. 31, 2018.
Sources: eastern.edu, wycliffe.org
Josh Steen 
Savana Dodd 
Daniel Finegan