Soon after arriving from the U.S., Bret* joined his local team to host five translation teams and a group of experienced coaches. They gathered for one purpose—to rediscover why they translate Scripture.
Over the course of several days, they wrestled with big questions: What happens when God’s Word truly takes root in a community? How can translation become more than a project—how can it become a movement of discipleship?
Each team began to see a new vision unfold, in which Scripture isn’t simply produced but is lived out—transforming hearts, multiplying disciples, and lighting the way for lost people. What stood out most wasn’t the methods or the strategies, but the spirit in the room. Teams encouraged one another across cultural, linguistic, and experiential divides. Mutual respect, humility, and genuine affection filled the venue.
One of Bret’s colleagues reflected, “This week, I had the privilege of sitting among ordinary yet extraordinary people—disciples of Jesus who are quietly shaping the future of God’s Word among the unreached.”
Others also had profound responses to the workshop:
Anik* — Quiet Strength
Anik comes from one of the world’s regions most resistant to the gospel. Outwardly, she looks like any devout Muslim woman. Inwardly, she is a courageous follower of Isa (Jesus). Soft-spoken and reserved, Anik carries a quiet strength that commands respect. During the workshop, she listened closely, processing each idea with care. At one point she raised her hand, smiled, and said gently, “Wait… stop… slow down.”
Her words carried wisdom. Translation, she reminded the group, isn’t about speed—it’s about reflection. Deep thought takes time, and true understanding grows slowly.
Her insight echoed through the room. To walk alongside local believers, we as outsiders must make space for their pace. The translation belongs to them. Our role is not to push—but to encourage, pray, and cheer them on as they carry God’s Word forward.
Andi* — A Burden for His People
Andi, from the island of Madura in Indonesia, is a believer, a husband, and a father. His eyes light up when he speaks of his wife and little daughter.
Throughout the workshop, his furrowed brow showed deep concentration. “This is tiring,” he admitted with a laugh, “but it’s worth it—for my people.”
Every word of Scripture he translated seemed to reach deeper into his heart. When he read aloud in his own language, his voice trembled and his eyes filled with tears. The Word of God had come alive—fresh and powerful—in the language of his people.
For Andi, this wasn’t merely a translation project. It was worship. It was mission. It was love in action.
Luke* — Humility in Leadership
Luke was one of the American facilitators. Raised in a family of Bible translators and deeply trained in missiology, Luke could easily have taken center stage. But he didn’t.
He led with gentleness—asking questions, waiting for responses, and listening more than speaking. He modeled Christlike humility, serving rather than instructing, empowering rather than directing. His presence reminded everyone that the best leaders are learners first, and that true partnership is rooted in mutual respect.
The Fruit — A Family in the Gospel
As the workshop drew to a close, participants shared what they were taking home. Their reflections were simple but heartfelt, “We learned so much from each other, we’re family now.”
What began as a workshop became something more—a spiritual family forming around God’s Word. Not a top-down effort, but a Spirit-led partnership. Not a project owned by outsiders, but a movement birthed from within.
Together, they caught a glimpse of what sustainable, multiplying ministry looks like: humble hearts, shared vision, and the living Word taking root in the languages and lives of those who will carry it forward.
*pseudonym
