Ron and Lynn Dennis served over 48 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators, first in Honduras in a New Testament project with the Tolpan people, and then in administrative and consultant roles in Guatemala, helping teams finish a number of Scripture translations there. When they moved back to the US, Ron transitioned to work in the International Finance office, while Lynn took on the role of regional director for several countries in South America. During all those years, they were often in difficult circumstances, but God was faithful every step of the way. One of their lifetime Scriptures is Zechariah 4:6-7: “…Not by might nor by power, but my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ” Drawing on their contacts and years of experience with minority language groups and national translation ministries, they continue supporting minority language groups and national efforts in Bible translation in their retirement.
The Tolpan have tended to go through extreme food shortages for part of most years, and one of Ron and Lynn’s roles today is organizing food distribution among them, as needed. They maintain regular contact with the Tolpan community now through the marvel of technology! Some of the Tolpan have cell phones, and they can send and receive messages through Facebook and WhatsApp. They encourage the Tolpan Christians in their walk with the LORD and try to visit them at least once a year. They have developed a close relationship with a vibrant Bible translation movement in Venezuela, and they do what they can to encourage the missionaries and local translators there and to help raise financial resources for the work there. The work in Venezuela is done in that same spirit of Zechariah 4:6-7: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty…” Minority language groups there are hearing the Word of God clearly for the first time and there the welcome mat is out to hear more. Like Nehemiah in the Old Testament they keep working. Like Nehemiah [Neh. 2:20] they say, “The God of heaven will give us success.”