Church-Centric Vision for Bible Translation in Latin America

Project Name: Church-Centric Vision for Bible Translation in Latin America

Implementing Organization: Wycliffe Global Alliance

Contact Persons: 
Doug Baughman, Deputy Director, Wycliffe Global Alliance Americas
Matthew Bore, Alliance Project Funding Manager

email: info@wycliffe.net

Start date: January 2025

End date: December 2027

Participants in a breakout group discussion during the August 2024 LTMG course in Bogotá, Colombia prepare to return to the main hall. Photo: Gwen Davies

Summary

For more than a decade, involvement of Latin American churches in missions and Bible translation has increased significantly. There has been a desire to see churches take a greater leadership role in missions. Key Latin American church leaders have expressed the desire to take a radically expanded role in Bible translation training. This proposal extends the reach of a previous project that has helped to incorporate training about Bible translation into seminaries throughout Latin America, and that also provided an inspiring vehicle for communicating to church leaders the importance of Bible translation in the mission of God. The core instrument for this expansion has been the course developed by Alliance Director for Collaboration Bryan Harmelink, Language and Translation in the Mission of God (LTMG). This current project has a church-centric vision for expanding engagement of Latin American churches, pastors and denominational leaders in Bible translation through specific events conducted at the request of church leaders. It also reaches beyond Latin America to present the course in other areas.

Background Information

A project titled Bible Translation Training Embedded in Latin America was implemented between FY22 and FY24. Training was done in various locations in Latin America with the aim of increasing the number of churches, pastors and workers becoming engaged in Bible translation movements. The goal was to create a more robust information flow to better position training centres to mobilise Bible translation involvement, accurately present current Bible translation models and adjust training programs to fully prepare future workers to serve in Bible translation movements. Consequently, Latin American training centres and seminaries would be better equipped to work together, learn from each other, standardise training and share staff as needed.

During the implementation of the project Bible Translation Training Embedded in Latin America in the past three years, we learned that the course developed by Bryan Harmelink, Language and Translation in the Mission of God (LTMG), significantly impacted leaders, pastors and churches.This course not only provided an effective way to incorporate Bible translation training into training centres in Latin America, but it also proved an inspiring vehicle for communicating to church leaders the importance of Bible translation in the mission of God.

This current proposal therefore has a church-centric vision for 2025-27 that flows from the lessons learned and results of the project Bible Translation Training Embedded in Latin America. (FY22-FY24). 

Here are results of the past three years:

• 43 organisations plan to use the new Bible translation materials.
• 14 organisations are already using the new Bible translation materials in their training centres.
• 102 centres of training, organizations and churches have been exposed to the new Bible translation training model.
• 182 leaders from 74 organisations have completed the four-day Bible Translation Training course.
• Centres of training are now working together in new ways:

Examples:

• Seven organisations worked together to give a five-part online Bible translation course.
• In the materials development Workshop #1, there were 19 leaders from 16 organisations working together to develop Bible translation materials.

We have learned that it takes time for a centre of training to include new courses in their curriculum. Therefore, the renewal of the project is key to seeing more training centres embedding Bible translation courses as a part of their curricula

The Problem

• The church worldwide has more than enough capacity to meet global translation needs (initial engagement, Scripture engagement, periodic revisions of translation, ongoing long-term needs, etc.).
• However, the vast majority of churches and denominations in Latin America have little or no knowledge of how language and translation fits into the mission of God. There is also little or no knowledge of the relevance of Bible translation to the local church or denominations.
• We believe that the church is central to God’s mission. Therefore, a church-centric vision is needed to address this issue.

The Proposed Solution

Beyond reaching those in key centres of church training and seminaries, the LTMG course material now will also be used to engage church and denominational leaders in specific events conducted at the request of church leaders. Therefore, the vision has grown from thinking only of training centres to thinking of being responsive to the church as a whole in holding events at locations that serve them best.

Because of this project, we expect to see more churches and denominations participating in Bible translation. More pastors and church leaders will become more aware of the need for Bible Translation and will take the initiative to resource and initiate Bible translation projects.

We are already seeing this happen. For example, the Assembly of God (AOG) in Brazil recently requested the four-day LTMG training course in a region there. The AOG leaders promoted and hosted the regional event at one of their churches, and the response of the pastors and leaders attending was encouraging and enthusiastic.

Why do these events consistently have a positive impact? Here are two reasons:

1. The LTMG course comes from a biblical and theological framework that connects well with pastors and church leaders, and professors and students at theological seminaries. In order words, the course speaks the language of pastors and the church. 
2. The LTMG course does not tell people what to think. Rather it is built around six biblical reflections where participants discover for themselves how God feels about language and translation. The result is that more people want to engage in Bible translation, not because of Wycliffe or any other mission agency, but because they realise it is important to God. As a result, they want to be involved.

As the church is motivated to engage in Bible translation, what are the next steps?

• One Alliance role is to assist organisations and churches in identifying specific ways they want to engage in Bible translation  movements. The desired end result is that language communities that need Bible translation are impacted positively by the availability of new people and resources.
• 30 Alliance organisations (AOs) in Latin America are ready and willing to assist the church in connecting to language projects.
• National Bible translation roundtables (Mesas) provide a venue where translation needs are identified, so that churches wishing to take action will be well informed of the needs within their contexts.
• One goal of national Bible translation roundtables (Mesas) is to maintain accurate information of translation needs and to encourage collaboration in meeting those needs. Thus, participating in roundtables is an effective way for churches to engage with Bible translation projects and partner with language communities.
• Friendship with organisational leaders is a key value in this project, as it is throughout the Alliance. Where friendship exists, “the sky is the limit.” We have yet to see what God will do when the worldwide church is fully engaged in Bible translation. This project offers a way to work toward this vision in and from the Latin American context.
• The Alliance believes that the macro can have a major impact on the micro. We often focus effectively on the micro level of the language community in Bible translation, but engage less with denominations and churches at a national level. However, if we can change the way denominations or organisations think at this macro level, the benefits at the language community level can expand.
• In summary: This project offers a way to engage robust structures and options that can assist churches and organisations to engage more effectively with language communities in Bible translation.

Project goals

The overall goal for this project is to see churches in Latin America effectively involved in Bible Translation movements and having a global impact.

This project seeks to achieve the following specific goals:

1. Respond to an increasing number of churches (indigenous, denominations, etc.) that desire to expand their involvement in Bible translation (through the involvement of AOs, partners, national roundtables, etc.).

Goal 1a. Denominations and church networks include Bible translation as one of their missional purposes/activities.

Goal 1b: Indigenous networks of churches increase their involvement in Bible translation.

1. Increase the number of seminaries and training centres that include this course in their curricula. 

Goal 2: Four additional training centres, to bring the total from 14 to 18.

1. Develop a robust number of course facilitators/presenters so requests for training can be met through facilitators located locally in their countries. 

Goal 3: Increase the number of experienced course facilitators from 14 to 36.

1. Continue to develop materials for children to reach the goal of having a finished product that can easily be incorporated in churches and denominations.

Goal 4: LTMG materials adapted for children being used in multiple churches (indigenous, national denominations, etc.).

Project activities

Goal 1:

• AOs and partners foster and strengthen relationships with pastors, churches and denominations through annual events with church leaders focused on Bible translation-related topics.  
• Present the LTMG material at all 14 national Bible translation roundtables in Latin America so all AOs and partners in each country are aware of the material and can benefit from it.

Goal 2:

• Promote the use of LTMG materials in seminaries and training centres through the existing contacts and relationships that AOs and partners have already developed in the past three years as well as establishing new contacts.
• AOs, partners and trained facilitators communicate with church leaders and denominations about the availability of having the four-day or one-day LTMG course.
• AOs, partners and trained facilitators respond to the desire of churches and denominations to hold LTMG events in their contexts/regions.
• Conduct LTMG events to impact pastors and leaders, and create opportunities for facilitators to gain experience in presenting the LTMG course.

Goal 3:

• Train facilitators (from AOs and partners) through an annual event where experiences can be shared and further competencies developed.
• Train facilitators through opportunities to participate and present LTMG material at events.

Goal 4:

• Encourage the use of Bible translation materials for children (based on LTMG) in churches (indigenous churches, denominations). Print materials for children where needed, to guarantee availability in areas of minimal technology, indigenous areas, etc.
• Hold regular meetings of a facilitating team to guide the initiative.

Goal 5:

• Share lessons learned with other areas of the world.
• Americas Area facilitators will hold two LTMG events per year in another area of the world (Eurasia, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean).

Resources

The following Alliance staff will be involved in the planning and implementing this project. For a list of other participating AO and partner organisation staff, contact Matthew Bore, Alliance Project Funding Manager at info@wycliffe.net.

1. Bryan Harmelink, Alliance Director for Collaboration
2. David Cardenas, Director, Wycliffe Global Alliance Americas
3. Doug Baughman, Deputy Director, Wycliffe Global Alliance Americas

Risks and Alternatives

The potential risks are related to travel visas for selected participants. Based on a review of visa requirements for expected participants, the planning team identified venues in countries where visa requirements are less stringent.

Sustainability of this initiative

• Strategy: Churches and denominations embed up-to-date Bible translation training and strategies as part of their annual planning and budgeting cycle, so that the costs for training activities are covered.
• Strategy: Bible translation courses are given in centres of training and seminaries by professors within the training centre (or denomination), so the courses can continue without the need of outside funding or personnel.
• Strategy: Bible translation training events are promoted and hosted by churches/denominations. This normally implies that the costs of the event are covered by the church. Note: Initially funding will be provided for event facilitators until a sufficient number of trainers are developed. 
• Strategy: Committed AOs and partners (who have been an integral part of the design and implementation of the project) will assure the sustainability of this church-centric vision.

Budget 

Total need (in USD):                           $225,300
Travel costs: Events with churches and pastors, partner meetings, facilitator trainings 
Printing of children’s LTMG materials
Project administrative costs

Contributions thus far:                       $65,000

Balance needed:                              $160,300

For more information, including budget details, contact us at info@wycliffe.net.