Goga New Testament & Literacy

• Location: Myanmar
• Bible Completion Target Date: N/A

The Goga people, who are also known as the Kokak, reside in ten villages in the Sagaing region of northwest Myanmar. Although they are a small population of about 2,000 people, an estimated 70% of the population profess Christianity, with 60% claiming to be evangelical. Of the remaining population, 15% follow Buddhism, and 15% adhere to ethnic religions.

A Burmese evangelist brought the gospel to the Goga people in 1938. Presently, the Goga Baptist churches use the Judson Burmese Bible and translate the text into Goga while they are preaching and teaching. However, the Goga people desire to have a Bible in their own language.

In 2015, a Burmese pastor connected the Goga believers with Bibles International. Later that same year, the chairman of the Goga Literature Committee contacted Bibles International and Bibles International Myanmar Society with a request: "We want to develop our own written system in our language." Since the Goga had no written language but still desired a Bible of their own, Bibles International adopted the Goga Literacy project in 2016.

Literacy workshops began in 2017, as language representatives worked diligently with BI literacy consultants. In just two weeks, they produced a primer draft, and additional workshops followed. In 2019, the literacy team produced a language teaching primer. One committee member creatively set the alphabet to a traditional Goga tune to help teach the people. The Goga completed their first Old Testament Storybook in 2025, setting the stage for beginning New Testament translation.

In 2025, nine years after the first face-to-face meeting with the Goga, they were ready to focus on Bible translation, and Bibles International adopted the Goga New Testament project. Team training was held in 2026, and Bible translation has begun.