There’s a lovely Indonesian phrase, gotong royong, that echoes the spirit of community and collaboration. It speaks of neighbours helping neighbours, of shared burden and coordinated efforts. It’s not charity; it’s the ingrained ethos of mutual support and service – a recognition that the strength of the individual lies in the strength of the collective. Gotong royong epitomizes what illumiNations is all about: a collective impact alliance of Bible translation and resource partners working to see all people gain access to God’s Word in a language they can clearly understand.

The Book of Mark, often regarded as the grittiest and most action-oriented of the four Gospels, presents Jesus not as a regal Messiah awaiting His throne, but as a tireless servant, constantly on the move, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, proclaiming a kingdom built on humility and love. His authority wasn’t wielded from on high; it was through His actions, His willingness to go out and meet people, wherever.

The path towards making God’s Word accessible to all people by 2033 is rarely smooth, with frequent encounters of resistance from the very communities we seek to serve. The reasons for such resistance are complex and deeply rooted in this vast archipelago of Indonesia where people are scattered over 17,000 islands, each community with its own distinctive heritage and customs. Cultural beliefs, nurtured over generations, often clash when Gospel is first shared.

That, is a reminder that the act of translation is not merely a linguistic exercise, it’s an inherently human one, requiring empathy, patience, and a genuine respect for the existing social fabric.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 NLT

And this, is Jesus demonstrating the spirit of gotong royong,