Charles and Rebecca Kowak
Charles and Rebecca Kowak
Charles Kowak, 49, began formal training in Bible Translation in July 1993, but he and his family have been involved in Christian service for a long time. Even before Charles was born, his grandfather, Sinyohan, was the first Lindrou man to bring the Gospel into the Lindrou language area of Manus Island. His grandfather also brought the first Evangelical Missionaries into his home area and helped them to get started there.
For much of Charles' life, he has been involved in education. He himself attended Mission Schools from 1960 to 1966. Following the desire of his father, he decided to become a Community School teacher. So, in 1966 Charles went to Teacher's College and it was while at a camp at Teacher's College that he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life. Back on Manus, his first teaching assignment was in Nihon Village, which was also Rebecca’s home village.
During the next few years the Lord brought Charles and Rebecca through a number of experiences which He used to strengthen their faith. Although he was teaching Community School during the week, Charles learned to effectively minister God's word as a lay preacher on weekends from Missionary Rev. Hans Knauer. In 1968 Charles and Rebecca were married and the following year they volunteered to go to the Sepik to teach school and assist the South Seas Evangelical Mission. While in the Sepik they had their first child, a baby girl. When the baby was three months old, however, the Lord took her life back to be with Him. Through that sadness the Lord drew Charles and Rebecca closer to Him and strengthened their faith with His promise: "Fear not for I will be with you always."
Charles also works closely with Lindrou literacy teacher Bernard Laban and others who are using the Lindrou Scriptures in their literacy programs.
In 1999 Charles completed the first draft of the Lindrou New Testament. He will then worked at revising it and checking it with his advisor Bill Martin. They finished all the revision work and typeset it in March-April 2001. The New Testaments were printed in Korea. The dedication of the Lindrou New Testament occurred on July 27, 2002. Charles says, "I must help to translate the Bible into my own Lindrou language. I also want to teach Lindrou young people to read the Bible in Lindrou. I believe that God has planned all this and I am patiently waiting on him to bring it all about." Charles is planning on translating the Lindrou Old Testament.
Bill and Charles
Charles in traditional dress at the dedication of the Lindrou
New Testament - July 27, 2002