October 6 is a special day for me.

First, it is my birthday.

Second, the first week of October usually marks the transition from summer to fall in Michigan (where I grew up). The air cools, the colors of the leaves change, the apples are picked. It is a fun season.

But there’s another reason why October 6 is special, and this one pertains to my biggest passion and the work of this ministry. October 6, 1536 is the death-date of William Tyndale.

William Tyndale lived from 1494–1536 and was part of the English Reformation. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge where he became very proficient in ancient Greek. Tyndale coupled his linguistic skills with his pastoral heart to do something that was unlawful according to the Roman Catholic Church: he translated the New Testament into the common English vernacular so the average English speaker could read and understand it. This act ultimately led to his death. Viewed by Rome as a heretic, and by Protestants as a martyr, William Tyndale built upon the ideas of Wycliff and Luther to spark the English Reformation. Today, the University of Cambridge publishes many works in biblical studies through Tyndale House Publishing.

I first read about Tyndale in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, and I was surprised to see he died on the same day I was born. Since then, I’ve always found that interesting because Tyndale and I share a common interest. Tyndale’s life’s work was to eliminate biblical illiteracy. His translation of the New Testament allowed the common person to read the Scriptures in their native English vernacular.

We obviously have an abundance of English translations of the entire Bible today, but I can’t help but notice that biblical illiteracy continues. People have access to the message of the Bible, but they struggle to understand its meaning.

I want to pick up where Tyndale left off. I want to help those who will never attend Bible college or seminary better understand the message of the Bible. Life with God is both intellectual and experiential, and we grow in both of those through Scripture. Tyndale wanted everyone to experience the life with God that is found in the Bible. So do I, and I find it very interesting that the two of us have a similar vision and October 6 in common.

Happy Bibleing!