St Mary’s Mission Partner Jo Clifford, who works with Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International, joined the most recent St Mary’s Evening on Zoom and talked through what has been a busy year so far, travelling to conferences across three continents and culminating in a new role.
At the start of 2025 Jo looked ahead to the year and knew that both travel and a new role would be involved. Reading the Bible at the time, God provided for Jo a verse from the Psalms, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1) And with that verse echoing in her mind Jo has seen how trusting the Lord to be the builder whilst labouring for him this year, has meant that his plans have been worked out.
Jo has travelled extensively, giving a talk in Malaysia to the Forum of Bible Agencies International conference in March; attending the SIL Global ‘ICON25’ conference in South Africa; and attending the EMDC conference in Holland with 440 other delegates as they discussed how best to use AI in media and mission work. Amongst these travels, Jo did have a holiday in Holland with her housemate and also visited family in Britain over Easter.
Throughout Jo has remembered Psalm 127:1. She has found rest amongst the travelling, and also having been promoted at the start of May to a new role as Global Scripture Access Services Director for Wycliffe and SIL Global, with responsibility for media, scripture engagement, anthropology and ethno-music and the arts. These domains collectively ensure that the best, most appropriate media, language, words and cultural materials are used to share the gospel and glorify God.
Jo specifically asked for prayers in the following areas.
Give thanks for:
- Safe travels in the last few months
- Rest in the midst of busyness
- Time to be at home for the next few months (no planned travel until October)
Please pray for:
- A good learning time in the new role
- For God’s wisdom, love and joy as she works day by day.