Language and Communication

Language Issues Marketing and Distribution

Diglot New Testaments – Pros and cons

Arguments against a diglot version focus on matters of cost, production time, and difficulty, and bulkiness versus ease of handling. Arguments for the diglot are mostly in the area of factors which will promote the use of the publication. The…

RichardFebruary 16, 2009

Bible Study Discipleship Literacy

Literacy for Life: a Tool for the Church?

The pastor will find that not only can his congregation read the Scriptures in their own language, but they will show a greater depth of understanding God’s Word and show growth in their Christian lives. Community literacy projects have been…

RichardFebruary 14, 2009

Advocacy Bible Translation Language Issues Marketing and Distribution

The use and lack of use of translated Scriptures

Common factors emerge that affect Scripture use: level of literacy, prestige of the language, and attitude of church leaders. A wide variety of reasons account for published Scriptures not being used. They include a lack of literacy, a language that…

RichardFebruary 2, 2009

Bible Storytelling Bible Translation

Chronological Storying – a case history

Chronological Storying... needs to be underpinned by a solid, reliable translation in the target language. To reach an isolated community, Chronological Storying can be an effective tool. However, storytellers need to be aware of the translation principles and key terms…

RichardJanuary 20, 2009

Literacy

How literacy can harm Scripture Use

Traveling to different countries in Africa, I’ve noticed one important link between Scripture use and literacy, and that is how literacy can harm Scripture use! It is clear that it is right and proper to have an emphasis on teaching…

RichardJanuary 15, 2009

Bible Translation

Choosing Relevant Scriptures

We should give specific attention to certain themes and portions of the Bible that are particularly appealing 'door openers' to some audiences. Different people, in different circumstances, will be able to identify more with certain characters and passages of the…

RichardJanuary 14, 2009

Culture Discipleship Women

Tharaka Female Circumcision

When the Bible remains silent about certain cultural features, the Church... should assist the Christians to think through their traditions by digging deeper. In the Tharaka society of Kenya, female circumcision has held a prominent place. In recent years Christian…

RichardJanuary 14, 2009

Literacy

Making Readers Literate

Making readers literate, that is what transition literacy is all about. L1–L2 transition literacy introduces the isolated minority language speaker to a world of information and ideas outside his own culture; L2–L1 literacy restores to the L2 reader his cultural…

RichardJanuary 9, 2009

Culture

Worldview Scripture Use Workshop

The changes necessary for worldview transformation can only be undertaken in culturally appropriate ways if the Christian community itself is in charge of the change process. This article reports on a Worldview Scripture Use Workshop held in the Philippines which…

RichardDecember 22, 2008

Culture Evangelism Music and Worship

The concept of limited good and the spread of the gospel

...to ensure the Mazatecs understood a bit of doctrine, we needed to put it in a hymn. The concept of “limited good” means there is only so much good (including knowledge and love) to go around, so someone’s advantage implies…

RichardDecember 14, 2008