Mission leader to retrace William Tyndale’s steps 500 years after Bible translation

FORT WORTH, Texas – Five hundred years after William Tyndale translated the New Testament into English, the leader of one of the world’s largest Bible publishing and delivery ministries is traveling to England to honor the martyr’s work.

Dirk Smith, President of EEM, will retrace Tyndale’s steps and film a mini-documentary series delving into his life and legacy. He will view one of only three surviving copies of Tyndale’s 1526 New Testament at St Paul’s Cathedral before visiting other key sites, including the docks where Tyndale smuggled Bibles into England and the public square where they were burned by church leaders.

Tyndale fought to make the Bible accessible to ordinary people, a mission Dirk says EEM is continuing today.

“Tyndale believed ordinary people should be able to read Scripture for themselves, and he paid the ultimate price for that conviction,” he said.

“Walking in his footsteps will be surreal and standing next to a 500-year-old Bible – double the age of America – will be quite the experience. We want to bring awareness to the heroics of William Tyndale and hopefully inspire others to help spread the Word of God to those who need it.”

While in the United Kingdom, Smith will also meet with senior clergy, ministry leaders and Christian politicians as EEM explores opportunities for future partnerships in the UK.

EEM provides more than two million Bibles every year in more than 30 languages and 35 countries including Ukraine and Iran.

This year, their annual Hope Campaign will highlight Tyndale’s story and seeks to raise funds necessary to deliver 1.1 million Bibles.

“Five hundred years later, millions still lack access to a Bible in their own language,” Smith said.

“Tyndale’s story reminds us that God’s Word is worth sharing, whatever the cost. His translation became the foundation for much of the King James Version and helped shape the English language itself. We honor him and are privileged to continue his mission.”

Visit www.eem.org for information.

About EEM

EEM was established in 1961 to provide Bibles throughout the former communist bloc countries in Eastern Europe. Last year – through a vast network of partner churches and organizations – they distributed more two million Bibles in 37 countries and in 33 languages across Europe and Central Asia. Learn more at www.eem.org