For thousands of people gathered at the Lilongwe Assembly Site of Jehovah’s Witnesses and many more watching from congregations across Malawi and neighbouring countries, June 14, 2026, will be remembered as a day when God's Word came closer to home.

Tears of joy, warm applause and heartfelt expressions of gratitude filled the atmosphere as Jehovah’s Witnesses announced the release of the full New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Chiyao, christened as Malemba Gaswela, along with the release of The Good News According to Matthew in the Lambya and Kyangonde languages.

For many attendees, the occasion was more than the launch of new publications, it was the fulfillment of a long-held desire to read and hear Bible teachings in the language of their childhood and daily life.

The highlight of the special program was the release of the complete Translation of the Holy Scriptures Bible in Chiyao by Gage Fleegle of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Available in print, digital and audio formats, the Bible will serve millions of Chiyao speakers in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

The event also brought special encouragement to smaller language communities in northern Malawi. Speakers of Lambya and Kyangonde, languages used by approximately 100,000 and 150,000 people respectively, received the Gospel of Matthew in their mother tongue, a milestone many never expected to witness.

For Jehovah’s Witnesses, the impact of the translations extends beyond personal Bible reading.

“These releases will greatly strengthen our preaching work because people naturally respond more warmly when they hear Bible truths in the language closest to their hearts,” said Given Chichitike, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi’s Central Region.

“When individuals read the Scriptures in their mother tongue, the message becomes more personal, more meaningful and easier to understand. These Bibles will help us reach the hearts of people in our communities and draw attention to the comfort and hope found in God’s Word.”

The releases form part of a global translation effort by Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose New World Translation Bible is now available, in full or in part, in more than 339 languages.