Population: ≈ 45,000 people
Region: North-West Siberia (Russia)
Religion: Shamanism, Orthodox Christianity, Evangelical churches
Language family: Samoyedic branch of Uralic languages
Published biblical texts: Stories of Jesus + audio (2003 + audio CD, 2011); Luke (2004); Gospel of Mark + audio CD (2010); Gospel of John + audio CD (2014), Gospel of Matthew (2018); Gospel Parables (2020); Jonah with parallel Russian text (2021)
The Nenets are the most numerous of the Samoyed peoples. They live in North-West Siberia and the Arctic Ocean islands. The Nenets live in a country of tundra, forest, permafrost, rivers and swamps. The climate is harsh. It snows up to 260 days a year. In winter it can get down to -50°C. Christianity came to the Nenets in the 18th century, but they still retained many animistic beliefs. Today, some Nenets are Orthodox or Evangelical Christians. They live in Salekhard and other Nenets villages in the tundra.
Bible translation: The IBT Nenets Bible translation team is working in Salekhard on the Yamal Peninsula. The books of the New Testament and the Old Testament are translated in parallel. Exegetical checker and coordinator EunSub Song has lived in the area for over 20 years and is the driving force behind the project. She learned the Nenets language, passed a Russian language exam and got a long-term residence permit. This was thanks to Archbishop Nikolai of Salekhard and Novo-Urengoy, who invited EunSub to join the Diocese. EunSub takes part in the education work at the Chum Chapel during the annual holiday of the indigenous peoples of the North – Reindeer Herder's Day. She gives out Nenets publications from the IBT and talks to readers. They said the texts are easy to read and understand.
Currently, work on some Epistles (1-3 John and 1-2 Timothy, Titus) and the Book of Ruth is in progress. All four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles in the Nenets language have been submitted to the IBT publishing department and will be published in one edition in 2025.
Your donation of 20 USD will help us to print and deliver to the readers 5 copies of the Four Gospels and Acts in the Nenets language.
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