As a couple, Todd and Dezi have always felt a call to missions and to people of other cultures. It wasn’t until learning more about this opportunity with Wycliffe that they began to see this vision become a specific calling and reality.

God Prepares Us

Todd and Dezi have prepared for missions work in different ways. Todd has served on church staffs for more than a decade, led a ministry for international college students, finished a PhD in biblical interpretation, and has taught for seminaries and universities. Todd loves the Scriptures, especially studying them in the original languages and using linguistics to better understand them.

Dezi has helped lead worship with her musical gifts, participated in women’s discipleship, practiced hospitality, served as a chaperone with the African Children’s Choir, and traveled to Swaziland with a short term mission team. Dezi and Todd both share the same passion for discipleship, starting first in their home, and extending to their local church and the nations.

Connecting with Wycliffe

In early 2018, Todd was communicating with several former and current Bible translators for an academic project. These interactions led Todd and Dezi to consider whether Todd’s academic gifts might best serve the kingdom in the area of Bible translation. We found Wycliffe online and began to research.

Our first conversations with Wycliffe confirmed that Todd’s academic passions could be used to advance the work of Bible translation. We learned of needs for instructors at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) in Dallas, TX. There, Todd could teach Bible and linguistics courses to prepare students for international service, especially the work of Bible translation.

Invited to Teach at GIAL

Through a visit to campus, encouraging discussions with the administration, confirmation from our Wycliffe supervisors, and affirmation from our closest friends and mentors, we believe the Lord clearly confirmed that he was calling us to train Bible translators at GIAL.

We are overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness to provide a ministry where Todd and Dezi can express their passion for the nations, teach and minister to GIAL students, and contribute to making disciples of all nations.

You Can Invest in Bible Translators

Do you share our desire to see the Bible translated into every language that needs one? We invite you to consider partnering with us in our Wycliffe ministry through prayer, financial giving, and encouragement. We cannot train Bible translators without people who are willing to engage in this mission with us. Paul highlights our need to work together in 1 Corinthians 12:14 and 12:20: “For the body does not consist of one member but of many…As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” While God has called Todd and Dezi to teach and minister to GIAL students, you, too, can be part of getting Bible translators trained for the work.

To partner with us through prayer and encouragement, subscribe to our newsletter and ask us to add you to our Facebook prayer page.

Your financial partnership enables Bible translators to be trained through our Wycliffe ministry. GIAL is committed to keep the cost of tuition down so that Bible translation missionaries can get to their field assignments without huge school loan debt. To that end, GIAL asks its faculty to bring their own financial support so that the cost of salaries isn’t added into the tuition as a burden for the Bible translation students.

Wycliffe has determined a budget for this ministry and we must have financial partnership for 100% of the budget before we can be cleared to move to Dallas to begin teaching. We invite you to prayerfully consider committing to monthly, quarterly, or annual financial partnership with our Wycliffe ministry so that you, too, can be part of getting Bible translators trained for the work.

How to Partner with our Wycliffe Ministry

To give/partner online: Give through our Personal Missionary Page. Recurring giving option is available, and giving through the bank account option will avoid credit card fees.

To give/partner by check: Make checks payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators and include a separate note stating: “Preference for Todd and Dezi Scacewater’s Wycliffe ministry 272065”
Mail to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
PO Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-82200

All gifts are tax-deductible.

To become a prayer partner, ask us to add you to our private Facebook group, and subscribe to our monthly e-mail update.