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Translation News OCTOBER 2022

BMBrian Migliazza · Oct 7, 2022, 1:20 PM · Last modified: Sep 28, 2026, 11:39 AM
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 International Translation Services (ITS) works in collaboration with colleagues in SIL and other agencies to creatively steward and advance the translation practices, tools, methods, and training necessary to enable a supportive environment for individuals and communities to flourish and engage with Scripture.
We value: Interconnectedness. Capacity Building. Diversity. Innovation.

October 2022

  • Engaged but Unreached? - Greg Dekker
  • New Consultants
    • Miclo Loubeta - Africa
    • Kees Jan Bos - Asia
  • Translation Training and Development Updates - Phil King 
  • Audio Project Manager - Nathan Payne 
  • SC CiT Residency Program - Brian Kelly
  • Online Training in Mentoring - Eszter Ernst-Kurdi 
  • Photo Companion to the Bible - General Epistles  
  • Great Commission Fellowship - Phil King 
  • List of SIL CBC Administrators
  • Katy Barnwell CT Article - Jordan Monson 
  • New JAARS President - Steve Russell 

Useful Links
SIL Translation Services

  • International Leadership Team
  • Area Translation Coordinators

Engaged but Unreached?
Greg Dekker

This was a bit confusing to me: “Unreached” does not necessarily mean “unengaged”. And “engaged” does not necessarily mean “reached”. However, “reached” does, generally, mean “engaged”. You might be thinking, “Huh?” I was too.

This week I had the privilege of attending the Missio Nexus conference, Counting the Cost. Tom Latsko of Frontiers who facilitates Vision 5:9, an alliance of organizations focused on ministry to Muslims which is asking the question, “What must be done to reach all Muslim peoples?” challenged the conference in plenary session with these words, “Leave the work uncompleted in order to begin the un-begun!” With these words, Tom, along with like-minded partners, is challenging the Church to engage the last unreached peoples by Dec 31, 2025.

Tom pointed out that, from their research, “there may be as many as 1700 unengaged, unreached peoples (sometimes referred to as UUPGs) in the world today. 600 Tribal, 500 Hindu, 400 Muslim, 100 Buddhist, and 100 Non-Religious.” He stated that “They cannot be reached until they are first engaged.” So, what does he mean?

“Engaged” means that some entity within the Global Church has chosen to address the needs of the people group. That is, they have taken steps to address their need to hear the Good News about Jesus by giving witness to who Jesus is, have followed up with those who have believed, and are participating in discipleship activities with local believers.

“Reached” means there is a local church forming and growing. People are meeting together to grow in their faith, and the Word of God is being proclaimed by them to others.

In an earlier session, I asked Daniel Hoskins, the Director of Fruitful Practice Research in Vision 5:9, a research arm of Vision 5:9, what role translated Scripture plays in their efforts to reach the unreached and unengaged, particularly those who are of Muslim faith. He said that having translated Scripture available to be used when sharing Christ with unreached and unengaged Muslims has been identified as a “fruitful practice” in a survey of fruitful practices among those who are focusing on outreach to Muslim Unreached Peoples (MUPGs.)

During this conversation I was thinking about SIL’s Global Plan, how we intend to enter 400 new language engagements by 2025 (SIL Global Plan, 1.1). Let’s make every effort to strategically focus our new engagements on unreached, and unengaged people groups. God is doing a great work among Muslims like never before in history. Let us, as SIL and partners, do our part to work with the global Church to provide translated scriptures for fruitful practices among MUPGs and other UUPGs. The partners in Vision 5:9 intend to reach the entire Muslim world for Christ by 2025. An audacious goal. Let’s do our part by focusing our new engagements to assist them in this faith goal. 

New Consultants
Miclo Loubeta  & Kees Jan Bos

Miclo Loubeta - Africa
Congratulations to Miclo Loubeta (ATALTRAB Chad). Michael Jemphrey (SIL Francophone Africa Domain Team Leader for Translation) announced that the SIL Accreditation Committee for Translation Consultants in Africa has reviewed his dossier and accepted the recommendation that Miclo be declared a translation consultant. He was mentored by Judith Heath (SIL Chad).

Miclo completed his MA in Old Testament at the Faculté de Théologie Evangélique Shalom (FATES). Since 2011 he has been serving in Bible translation with the Association Tchadienne d'Alphabétisation, de Linguistique et de Traduction (ATALTRAB). He worked as an exegete-translator for the entire New Testament in Mongo, a language spoken in the southern part of Chad.

Kees Jan Bos - Asia
Congratulations to Kees Jan Bos (Wycliffe Netherlands) who works with SIL MSEA, on completing all the requirements for certification as an entity-level Translation Consultant, including completion of the Asia TCDW 2020 and the Israel Consultant Study Course with JCBT. Amber Jasa (MSEA Translation Coordinator) has approved his consultant application and Angie Foo and her Asia Bible Translation Coordination Team have verified that he is a qualified Translation Consultant who is now able to work independently with translation teams.

Kees Jan and his wife, Mirjam, began translation work in 2010 and in 2020 they completed the New Testament (including OT portions) with a minority people group in Cambodia. He was mentored by Rundell Maree, who along with his wife, Judi, did the bulk of consultant checking for their translation team. Kees Jan appreciated learning so much from them, both technically and on a personal level, and in particular how they radiated trust. Kees Jan has a PhD in Biochemistry (University of Aberdeen, UK) and did postdoctoral research for three years in Manchester (UK).  

Translation Training and Development Updates 
Phil King  

Here's an update on various initiatives connected to Translation Training and Development:

  • Bible Translation Training and Development Community of Practice: The next session will be on 17th November at 0730 and 1630 UTC, with an opportunity to hear from Teryl Gonzalez about best (and worst!) practices in cohort training. Cohort training is becoming more common in the Bible translation movement. But what practices lead to excellent outcomes? What fails and why? Teryl will share results from current research discussing practices leading toward good and poor outcomes in cohort mentoring. She will offer recommendations for mentors and trainers who may be exploring the advantages and disadvantages of cohort training, or seeking to improve their skills or avoid pitfalls in group mentoring. Look out for registration details when they appear on the 'Communities' page of EMDC online.
  • CBC-linked Resources Website. I have continued to work on the website of resources to support CiTs and their mentors as they use the new Competency-Based Certification tool. It is now live here but still very much under construction. Please bear with me. Now it needs links to further excellent resources! Please have a look at the site and let me know what I have missed, either by email or through the contact options in the site. This site is a partner to the much more fully-developed consultant competencies website with resources to support the development of general consultant competencies. 
  • Digital Training Library. The Digital Training Library initiative from Biblica and Fuller is continuing to grow, with progress on the certificate on orality (in partnership with the Center for Oral Scriptures) and the certificates on biblical languages (in partnership with Biblingo), as well as increasing numbers of people applying for the Foundations of Bible Translation certificate. In the last round, 147 scholarships were given to people from 14 organisations across 12 countries. A new initiative is to explore options to collaborate more intentionally with global seminaries that already have a translation curriculum. If you are part of SIL and want to try out any of the certificates, then please get in touch with me in the first instance to work with you on the logistics. It would be great to see more people piloting these courses and exploring if they could be used more widely in your context,
  • 'Quality in Translation'.  Around 70 concept papers have been submitted for the Exploratory Symposium on 'Quality in Translation'. As a result, we are planning to extend the symposium, to run from 1200-1700 UTC on 7-10 December, on EMDC online.  The symposium will involve brief presentations of each concept, followed by discussions of the key topics that emerge, and lead towards a Working Symposium (in 2023) where these are refined further. Look out for registration details on EMDC online.

Audio Project Manager  
Nathan Payne  

The SIL Oral Translation Services is pleased to announce a new major release of Audio Project Manager, the next generation of SIL Transcriber. We will be hosting an EMDC course on October 20 where people can learn about it. See below to register and get further information.
 

Introducing Audio Project Manager - WEST

Introducing Audio Project Manager - EAST

SC CiT Residency Program 
Brian Kelly  

Seed Company (SC) announced a new Translation CiT Residency training program. These CiTs will be put together into cohorts, with an intentional training program for three years which will focus on hands-on mentored experience as a translation consultant, along with the opportunity to participate in accompanying academic training. Each CiT will have their own growth plan and work with at least two different mentor consultants who will ensure that they acquire all competencies necessary for recognition as a Translation Consultant. More information about the program can be found here, or contact Brian Kelly and Mary Roberts. 
 

Here is the candidate profile:

  • Has the vision for mentoring the next generation of Quality Assurance colleagues and being involved in disciplined innovation within the field of Bible translation
  • Is humble and dependent upon the Holy Spirit
  • Is conversant in a modern language in addition to English
  • Has previous positive cross-cultural experience
  • Is able to work with people who hold a wide range of Christian viewpoints
  • Takes initiative, is a team player and is a problem solver
  • Knows at least one of the biblical languages to a level from which they are able to interact directly with the original text and use technical commentaries, software, and other resources for exegesis of the biblical text
  • Has an M.Div. and/or an M.A. in Biblical studies, linguistics, theology or a related field

Online Training in Mentoring 
Eszter Ernst-Kurdi  

The Robust Mentoring initiative offers three different ways to engage with others and learn together to be skillful and inspiring mentors. These three online courses will help strengthen your mentoring competencies. More information can be seen on the Mentoring Matters website under Mentor Training.

(1) How to assess your mentee’s competencies (nanocourse). This is a short, stand-alone online course focusing on how to set appropriate assignments for your mentees, how to assess their competencies and how to communicate that assessment in a way that is sensitive to intercultural dynamics. Click here to sign up and choose this nanocourse from the Browse for Training menu heading. If you need assistance, email the Training Hub. Special offer: You can take it for FREE, if you sign up before the 1st November 2022.

  • Length: 4 hours
  • Mode: Self-paced online course (you can work on it in your own time)
  • Language: English
  • Prerequisite: None

(2) Introduction to Mentoring. This is an introductory online course not just for mentors but also for mentees and even managers who wish to support the professional development of their staff. Dates and sign up here.

  • Length: 18-20 hours over 6 weeks
  • Mode: Synchronous (a 90-minute zoom session per week + prework and homework)
  • Syllabus here
  • Language: English, French
  • Prerequisite: None

(3) Practical Mentoring. This course aims to help participants develop their mentoring competencies through practical activities that can be directly applied in a mentoring relationship. Participants can choose from a selection of 12 modules depending on their interest. To complete the course, one has to take 5 modules. Sign up here.

  • Length: 4 hours per module
  • Mode: Self-paced online course (you can work on it in your own time) + a friendly, one-on-one zoom chat with a facilitator after each module to help you consolidate your learning
  • Syllabus here
  • Language: English (coming soon in French)
  • Prerequisite: Introduction to Mentoring

Photo Companion to the Bible 
General Epistles  

Todd Bolen (Photographer for BiblePlaces.com and Professor of Biblical Studies at The Master's University) announces new photos for the General Epistles which you can purchase: 

If you want to get a closer look before you buy, download one or more of these free PowerPoints:

Currently, The Photo Companion to the Bible includes 10 volumes of the Old Testament and 18 volumes of the New Testament. For more details on pricing and options, look at his BibblePlaces.com website and his September newsletter.

Great Commission Fellowship 
Phil King  

As part of the Translation Consultant Think Tank, we've been looking at different platforms to facilitate collaboration and sharing across organisations. One highlight has been discovering the Great Commission Fellowship (GCF). 

The Great Commission Fellowship is a new initiative that offers a team space for everyone. It is a place where people can interact between agencies and ministries and organizations, to: post messages (e.g. personal and project profiles), interact in the chatroom, post events on the shared calendar, and share documents and files with everyone else in the GCF.

It also has the option of creating a subspace just for your team (whatever organisations they come from) and the project you are working on. The platform runs on 'Basecamp', a fully-featured and well-supported project management and online collaboration tool, and is provided free of charge to the Bible Translation Movement by the Bible Translation Fellowship. This has a lot of potential for any project where you want to plan meetings, share documents and have meaningful conversations with people across different organisational boundaries.

Everyone is invited to sign up - and if you'd like to explore the possibilities of using the Great Commission Fellowship platform with your team, it's straightforward to invite your team members and then create a new project.

List of SIL CBC Administrators 

You can see all the domain specific competencies on the ILS training website. More information about the general competencies and resources to help you develop them, can be found on the Consultant Competencies website. 

If you want to explore the Competency Manager tool for yourself and see how it supports professional development of translation consultants-in-training, click here and log in with username TranslationDemo and password TranslationDemo1. This gives you access to a dummy user that you can experiment with. 
 

Here is the list of SIL CBC administrators for each SIL Area, that you can contact with your questions. 

Katy Barnwell CT Article 
Jordan Monson  

The lead article in this month's Christianity Today journal is about the life and legacy of Katy Barnwell (SIL Senior Translation Consultant). 

New JAARS President 
Steve Russell  

JAARS welcomed Steve Russell as the new incoming JAARS President on September 1st with the official start date of October 1st.  The JAARS community thanked Woody McLendon on September 27th for his 10 years of excellent, Spirit-led leadership. After retiring from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Steve served a decade in politics in the Oklahoma State Senate and in the United States Congress. He then served as an executive pastor for a large church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Click here to read the full JAARS announcement.

Formed in 1948, JAARS focuses on locally appropriate and sustainable solutions for off-the-grid mission partners in the areas of transportation,  technology, media, and training. JAARS partners primarily with mission organizations committed to Bible translation, Scripture engagement, and other language-related initiatives that support education, economic development, cultural preservation, health, and wellness among the thousands of language communities worldwide who seek to flourish using the language(s) they value the most. In many but not all cases, these communities exist in some of the world’s most remote and difficult places.

Useful Links

SIL Translation Service****s

International Leadership Team

  • Greg Dekker - ITS Director
  • Dick Kroneman - International Coordinator for Translation Research and Practice 
  • Paul O'Rear - International Coordinator for Translation Resources
  • Phil King - International Coordinator for Translation Training and Development
  • Nathan Payne - International Coordinator for Oral Translation Services
  • Bill Bivin - Director, Global Consultant Pool 
  • Brian Migliazza - ITS Operations and Project Management

Area Translation Coordinators

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