Serving the world’s language communities since 1934.
SIL Global is a community of local organizations that partner with minority language communities to help them use their languages to know God, learn freely, and live with dignity.
Many people around the world face hardship and discrimination because of the languages they speak or sign. We walk alongside 1,572 language communities in 119 countries to help turn those barriers of exclusion into bridges for flourishing.
Our Vision & Mission
A century-long calling, still alive today.
VISION
We long to see people flourishing in community using the languages they value most.
MISSION
Inspired by God’s love, we advocate, build capacity, and work with local communities to apply language expertise that advances meaningful development, education, and engagement with Scripture.
Our Leadership
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Meet Our
Executive DirectorDr. Johnstone Ndunde became SIL Global’s Executive Director in May 2025, bringing 20 years of leadership in Bible translation, literacy, and language development across Africa, with a strong focus on collaboration, education, and flourishing language communities.
Dr. Johnstone Ndunde
Executive Director
Dr. Johnstone Ndunde became SIL Global’s Executive Director in May 2025. He brings 20 years of experience in leadership, Bible translation, literacy, and language development across Africa, having served with SIL Global and before that Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL) in Kenya. His work has been rooted in advancing educational and spiritual opportunities within African language communities so individuals and communities can flourish
In previous roles, Dr. Ndunde guided programs developing initiatives and instructional materials in schools and adult education in a number of countries in Africa. As Director of Strategy and then Area Director for SIL Anglo-Lusophone Africa, he fostered collaboration with key partners and church communities, expanded regional and global funding capabilities, and implemented initiatives to develop emerging leaders.
Dr. Ndunde holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Governance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, an MA in Educational Studies from Africa International University, and a B.Ed. in Commerce and Economics from the University of Nairobi. Fluent in English and Kiswahili, and a native speaker of Lunyole and a number of Luhyia languages, he brings valuable cultural insight and linguistic skills to his work.
Dr. Ndunde lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with his wife, Esther.
Meet More Leaders
See the profiles of our leadership staff.
Our History
People & Language. For over 90 years.
In 1917, a young American named Cameron Townsend traveled through Guatemala selling Spanish Bibles. He soon realized that the indigenous people couldn’t use his Bibles – they didn’t speak Spanish. He also saw that they were oppressed in ways that affected all parts of their lives: their faith, language, social standing, and economic health.
Townsend founded the Summer Institute of Linguistics in 1934 as a summer training program for linguists to work with local people like those in Guatemala. Today we are SIL Global, a multicultural community of local organizations working, with over 1,500 language communities throughout the world.
Our Partners & Alliances
We count it a privilege to work with organizations such as these:
