July 2026 Translation News

Google Link to the PDF JULY 2026 Translation Newsletter

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SIL 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.

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July 2026 Good & Glory - Greg Carlson AI in Bible Translation - What are the Goals? - Jonathan Robie Oral Translation Services - Kris Toler Africa OBT Consultation July Multimodal Bible Translation Community of Practice July 2026 OBT Reading Group How to contribute to the quality of Bible translation - Drew Maust New Translation Consultants Americas Area SILTEC Program Militsa de Gyves - Peru Nick Darrel - Peru Jean Gotopo - Americas Jonathan B - EurAsia Interviews with Translation Consultants - Nailya Maxberg AI & Translation Spot Advanced AI at EMDC 2026 - Peter Brassington AI Drafting Best Practices and Guidelines - Dan Jones Memoriam Sherwood Lingenfelter (1941-2026) Anthropologist George Shultz (1956-2026) SIL Board Secretary News Judy Heath Joins Africa Translation Team Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators Courses - Bob Carter Oral Bible Translation for Community Empowerment - New Publication TAZI Conference - Wendy Chamberlain New EurAsia Translation Coordination Team - Amber 800 Full Bibles Completed - ProgressBible New ETEN Website When the Word is Seen: Sign Language Bible Translation - New Publication The Timeless Texture of the Book of Revelation - Stephen Schooling Doing Research relating to Bible Translation in the 21st Century as a European in Africa: Some Aspects of a Decolonial Approach - Marcus J Useful Links

SIL Translation Services International Leadership Team Area Translation Coordinators

Coming Events Taste of FLExTrans (July 2026) Online Exploring the use of AI in Consultant Work (Aug 2026) Online FLEx Parser Workshop (Aug 2026) Nairobi "What is a word?" Anthropology insights into communication theory and what this means for Bible translation. Global CoP for BT Consultants. (Aug 2026) Online Knowing Me, Knowing You: Online Anthropology Course on Worldview and Interpersonal Dynamics. (Sep-Oct 2026) Oral Bible Translation Consultant Workshop (Sep 2026) South Africa Taste of FLExTrans (Sep 2026) Online Africa OBT Consultation (Oct 2026) Online FLExTrans Workshop (Nov 2026) Online Greek linguistics. Global CoP for BT Consultants. (Nov 2026) Online Translation Development Event (Nov 2026) EurAsia SBL Global Bible Translation Studies (Nov 2026) Denver Bible Translation Conference (Oct 2027) Cape Town, South Africa

Good & Glory Greg Carlson - AsiaPacific Translation Team For the next few months our newsletter will begin with members of the Global Translation Community of Leadership sharing what motivates them to be involved in Bible translation. This month we hear from Greg.

When I talk to people about what I do, sometimes they ask me how I got into Bible Translation. I often use my set of practiced standard lines:

“I love the Bible and I want other people to have it too.” “My career path went from Youth Pastor, to French & Math studies, to an Intervarsity missions conference, to Secondary Mathematics teacher, to church mission committee, to seminary, to Linguistics, to Bible translation…” “I love numbers, and I was challenged by the numbers I saw, much like William Carey was when he wrote ‘An Enquiry’ in 1792, and by the 16,750 Unreached People Groups that Ralph Winter inspired us with.” “I was moved by BT movies, and books like Peace Child and Bruchko.”

While all those lines are true, they only show my perspective on how I got into Bible Translation, my why. But there is a behind the scenes reason that I don’t think about that much. It sneaks up in little verses in the Bible here and there, like Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (NLT) And a few verses later, Romans 11:36. “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory…” (NLT) So deep down, behind the scenes, everything is for my good & God’s glory. Hmmm. That everything must include me and BT.

Wait! So my helping a group get God’s Word in their language is for my good? Oh, for sure it’s for God’s glory; for sure, for their good, but for my good? The way I figure it now, God knew that in order for me to put my focus on him, I needed to study his Word, to look at it really, really closely. He knew that I needed to share it with other people so I would understand it myself. He knew I had to be way out of my depth and to learn to cry out to him in prayer. He knew that I needed to learn to trust him for finances, and for health for my wife and kids. He knew I needed to travel to different places and see the world with a different lens. I needed to taste khao soi and mango sticky rice and gelato. He knew I needed those joyful “aha!” moments when word upon word upon word finally made sense to me and my translator friends. I needed all of that, so I needed to do BT. I don’t think God really needed me to do BT. He has millions of more capable people. But God knew that this career would be good for me, actually great for me. And what he is doing in me and what he does through me brings him glory. That’s pretty awesome. So what motivates me to do all the exciting things in BT? From my view, it’s the need, it’s lots of interesting people and it’s fulfilling work (and some gelato). But deep down, from his perspective, I think he’s led me into the career that’s best for me, the career I need to draw me close to him. My good & His glory.

AI in Bible Translation - What are the Goals? Jonathan Robie - Biblica Used in the wrong way, AI can leave people dumber and more isolated. You may feel that you have answers, but no longer know how to tell what is true and what is not. I spend hours every day using AI to design tools and resources for translators, and I have seen the same pattern in vibe coding and content creation pipelines. Even experienced programmers who use AI blindly can find themselves out of control of their own code: it becomes harder to maintain, and they begin to lose the habits of thought needed to get it right.

I think the same danger applies to Bible translation teams. Sometimes people speak as though using "more AI" is itself a goal. But AI is only a tool, and the goals of Bible translation teams do not change when AI enters the process. The real goals are that people use the translation, and that both they and their communities are shaped by the process and the product. Speed and quality matter, of course, and AI can often help with both. But if it makes it easier to produce output without building understanding, judgement, ownership, or the capacity to serve others well, then it is undermining some of the most important goals. If we drop a perfect translation in the laps of people who have no skin in the game, do not identify with the translation, do not know how to use the Bible well, and have not built a team, it may never be used. We need to put serious effort into these things in any translation project, with or without AI. For that reason, I find it useful to keep these five questions in view.

1. Are translation team members growing and maturing in their understanding over time, or are they delegating their thinking to AI? This includes all roles in the team. If AI becomes a substitute for wrestling with the text, weighing options, explaining decisions, and learning from one another, then the team may produce pages without producing understanding. A healthy process uses AI to sharpen human judgement, not to replace it. Over time, people should know more Scripture, more about their own language, and more about translation than they did when they began.
2. Is the team forming as a team, or is each person spending most of their time interacting with AI at the expense of social relationships? Translation work is not merely a sequence of individual tasks. It is a shared practice that builds trust, shared knowledge, habits of collaboration, and mutual responsibility. If each person spends most of the process interacting

with AI in isolation, some efficiency may be gained, but something human and important may be lost. AI should make better collaboration possible, not quietly displace it. 3. Do they have a sense of ownership? Do others in their community? Ownership matters because people are more likely to use, defend, improve, and teach from what they have helped to shape. A translation that is simply delivered to a community may be accurate and polished, but it may still not be received as their Bible. Wise use of AI should increase local agency and participation, not reduce them. 4. Do they trust their own judgement about their own language, or do they treat AI as the expert in all things? AI can generate suggestions quickly, but it is not the final authority on meaning, style, naturalness, or appropriateness in a particular language. If translators begin to distrust their own ears and instincts, and treat AI as the expert in all things, they weaken the very capacity that translation projects ought to strengthen. The aim should be to form people who can test AI well, reject it when necessary, and improve on it with confidence. 5. At the end of a translation, is the translation team in a position to support their community in producing engagement materials, teaching, and other things the community needs to use the Bible well? A good translation project should leave behind more than a text. It should leave behind a team that is able to serve its community by producing engagement materials, teaching, answering questions, and helping people use the Bible well. If AI helps produce a translation faster but leaves little local capacity for what comes next, then one of the most important goals has been missed. Used well, AI should strengthen the long-term ability of the team to serve others. I would love to see descriptions of how people integrate AI thoughtfully into their process while keeping the actual goals primary. I think "more AI" is a given, it's a useful tool. But also a dangerous tool if it is used unwisely. Used well, I believe it can significantly improve the quality and speed of Bible translation, provide high quality resources for the Global Church, and help individuals and teams work things out at greater depth than they can on their own. The choice is up to us. We decide how we use these tools.

You can read further thoughts about AI in the "AI & Translation Spot" below.

Oral Translation Services Kris Toler Africa OBT Consultation - The 2026 edition of the Africa Oral Bible Translation Consultation (AfOBT) will be held online for three days, 13-15 October 2026 starting at 12:00 UTC. There will be presentations and discussions surrounding different topics related to Oral Bible Translation. Click here to register.

July Multimodal Bible Translation Community of Practice - This month’s edition of the Multimodal Bible Translation Community of Practice will be on Tuesday, July 14th at 9:00am Dallas, 14:00 UTC, 19:30 India, 21:00 Thailand. Jon Hahr from the Jesus Film Project will be sharing “Multimodal Translation of Media”. The Jesus Film has been translated into almost 2300 languages. With technological advances, the process of translating a script has changed in recent years; it's turned multimodal. Translators can now orally draft the translation of the Jesus Film and check their translations for lip-sync, video fit, and dramatic delivery simultaneously. Come learn about these exciting developments and what it might mean for other media.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Last month Christine Doi shared “Differences between Oral and Written English: A Case Study on Jonah”. You can find the recording of the presentation at https://emdc.academy/list/1957/stream/1254 OBT Reading Group for July - This is a small reading group where we read an article, paper or book related to the topic of Oral Bible Translation and then discuss it together. This month’s session will meet on July 31st at 09:00 Dallas, 14:00 UTC, 19:30 India, and 21:00 Thailand time. This month we will be reading “The Role of Holistic Exegesis in Assuring Quality in Multimodal Translation” by Dr. Bryan Harmelink. As I mentioned previously, the editorial staff of The Bible Translator Journal has graciously given permission for us to share the article for the purpose of this discussion group. It cannot be shared with people who are not participating in the group. Please respect this limitation and do not share the article with others. If you know someone who would like to participate in the reading group send them my way and I can add them to the list. This should be a really interesting article to discuss. I am looking forward to seeing you on the 31st. Here is the Zoom link for the session: https://sil.zoom.us/j/99964509859

How to contribute to the quality of Bible translation Drew Maust - Translation Domain Team Leader (Africa) People regularly ask about how to become a translation consultant or wonder how to get involved in Bible translation. Drew Maust published this article, How to contribute to the quality of Bible translation, in The Translator's Corner that attempts to reply to these kinds of questions. The article is in French, but your browser may allow you to auto-translate it to English.

He has broadened the usual question of "how to become a consultant" to "how to contribute to the quality of Bible translation," as this reflects the current direction of supporting the Church in quality assurance, and not just checking the scriptural texts at the end. This article is dedicated to those who study the Bible and wonder how they can contribute to the quality of Bible translation translators, pastors, exegetes, students, and more broadly, anyone passionate about biblical studies who cares about the mission and access to the Holy Scriptures. It explains what this service entails, how to understand it broadly, and how to get involved. Drew covers the following topics: The goal counts more than the title A broader vision: the mentor for quality assurance Competence remains essential From novice to expert Common frameworks Areas of expertise How is this path constructed? Demonstrating competence: proof through observation Where to begin? A work for all of God's people To go further

New Translation Consultants

Americas Area SILTEC Program SILTEC (SIL Taller en Consultoría) is the Americas Area translation consultant development program. The CiTs work for approximately three years alongside a mentor who is an experienced consultant. Together, they follow a growth plan to achieve the necessary competencies for certification. From 9-20 March 2026, Lima, Peru hosted a SILTEC workshop, bringing together 11 trainee consultants from six countries (Brazil, Peru, the USA, Mexico, Colombia, and Paraguay), along with their mentors and facilitators. This key event in the development of new translation consultants offered an excellent opportunity to meet in person for two weeks, delve deeper into various skills, and participate in consulting exercises and simulations. The entire experience unfolded in an atmosphere of camaraderie and fellowship, ideal not only for enhancing professional skills but also for strengthening friendships and fostering personal and spiritual growth. You can watch the video (in Spanish or English) and browse the photo gallery (HERE). Below are three of the newly certified Translation Consultants from this SILTEC program - Militsa de Gyves, Nick Darrel, Jean Gotopo.

Americas - Militsa de Gyves, Nick Darrel, Jean Gotopo Eurasia - Jonathan B

Militsa de Gyves - Peru

Congratulations to Militsa de Gyves working with FAIENAP (Fraternidad de Asociaciones de Iglesias Evangélicas Nativas de la Amazonía Peruana), on completing all the requirements for certification as a Translation Consultant. Rick Floyd and Dwight Shaver, on behalf of the SIL Americas Translation accreditation team, have recognized her as a new Translation Consultant. This decision was made after Militsa completed the SILTEC training and she received positive evaluations from colleagues who observed her consulting work along with the review of her growth plan and other relevant documents. Theo van der Louw was her primary mentor. Militsa is from Mexico and joined FAIENAP in 2013 serving with the Kakataibo community in Peru. She began her CiT training after SC staff encouraged her professional growth. In June 2022 she obtained a Master's degree in Theology.

Nick Darrel - Peru

Congratulations to Nick Darrell working in Peru with AIDIA (Asociación Interdenominacional para el Desarrollo Integral de Apurímac), on completing all the requirements for certification as a Translation Consultant. Rick Floyd and Dwight Shaver, on behalf of the SIL Americas Translation accreditation team, have recognized him as a new Translation Consultant. This decision was made after Nick completed the SILTEC training and received positive evaluations from colleagues who observed his consulting work along with the review of his growth plan and other relevant documents. His primary mentor was Oscar Sanchez at AIDIA, and he was also mentored by David Coombs and Dale Hoskins. Nick has a BA in Spanish and English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a masters in Biblical Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He speaks English and Spanish. In 2021 Nick started in translation with the Wycliffe Convergence program where he received onsite mentored checking experience in various countries along with many training workshops. He was placed as an apprentice in Peru working with AIDIA on various translation projects, mostly Old Testament.

Jean Gotopo - Americas

Congratulations to Jean Gotopo on completing all the requirements for certification as a Translation Consultant. Rick Floyd and Dwight Shaver, on behalf of the SIL Americas Translation accreditation team, have recognized him as a new Translation Consultant. This decision was made after Jean completed the SILTEC training and received positive evaluations from

colleagues who observed his consulting work along with the review of his growth plan and other relevant documents. Caleb Redfield was his primary mentor. Jean grew up in Venezuela and later moved to Peru and became a citizen. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Linguistics, and another Master’s degree in Theology. Spanish is his native language and he also speaks Portuguese and English. He has been working in Bible translation since 2009, starting with foundational courses. Later on, he trained as a facilitator for these foundational courses in the Americas and worked for several years as an instructor in linguistics and second language acquisition. In 2016, he studied translation at CILTA (Universidad Ricardo Palma) and was then invited to join CILTA as a faculty member. He taught the CILTA Field Methods course for 7 years, training future translators and literacy workers. He then worked with Letra Paraguay on their exegesis team from 2020 to 2025 assisting with several translation projects.

Jonathan B - EurAsia Congratulations to Jonathan B working with SIL EurAsia completing all the requirements for certification as a Translation Consultant. Peter T was his primary mentor. Katja (West EAA CTEC Chair) says: It is a great pleasure to announce Jonathan's certification as Translation Consultant. After reviewing Jonathan's dossier, the CTEC (Consultant Technical Evaluation Committee) was impressed with the depth of his training and experience, with his academic skills and growth mindset. We pray that his ministry as a Translation Consultant will bless many projects in EurAsia. Jonathan and his wife joined Wycliffe in 2007 and were assigned to EurAsia in 2008. He completed a Bachelors in Bible (2004) with emphasis in Biblical Languages from Moody Bible Institute. He then received a Masters Degree in Applied Linguistics (2014) from GIAL. His first exposure to language immersion was in Kenya as a teenager, where he lived with his uncle's family and learned to speak basic Swahili. His next language immersion opportunity was in 2007 where he and his wife spent a summer at an ulpan in Israel learning Biblical Hebrew. Now, after seventeen years in the region he speaks the national language. Jonathan started translation work in 2013 pioneering a new project. When he saw how the language was used (orally, not written), they then focused on oral translation with a storyteller, using platforms like Render, Audacity, and Audio Project Manager. In 2023 he began the CiT training track at a regional TDE (Translation Development Event) Most of his academic training was already finished but he found that what he still needed most was experience observing and working under consultants working in other language projects. He is grateful to the consultants and language teams who welcomed his participation into their workflow! He finished the CBC (Competency-Based Certification) CiT requirements in 2026.

Interviews with Translation Consultants We asked an experienced Translation Consultant, Nailya Maxberg, to share her thoughts concerning her work and philosophy of ministry. Experienced consultants have been a key organizational resource over the years, equipping and encouraging others to academic and professional excellence, while providing much needed leadership and service to many Bible translation organizations.

Nailya Maxberg - EurAsia How did you get interested in Bible translation? When I became a believer, I wanted to become a missionary. I joined missionary trips with our church team to areas where there was no church yet, and I really loved that work. At the same time, I was wondering what I should do with my training as a linguist. When I heard about Bible translation, I realized this was exactly where I could combine both mission and linguistics.

At that time, I had just received my dream job as a teacher of English and English literature at the university. Leaving it felt like a real sacrifice. But once I made the decision to join the Bible translation movement, my life changed dramatically. As you are also a linguist, how has that shaped your translation work? That background has helped me see Bible translation more holistically. Linguistics helps me ask better questions about meaning, discourse, and how ideas are communicated within a language. It also helps me understand why translators make certain choices. At the same time, since I am not a native speaker of the languages I work with, I still ask many questions about particular translation decisions. That process helps me confirm my technical understanding of the language while also learning from the translators and the community. What gets you excited when you work with others in Bible translation? I get excited about the creation of something that did not exist before. People may not have had a certain book of the Bible in their language, and then after months or years of work, that book finally becomes available. I also get excited about the possibilities of how people can use it. They may read it individually or in groups, listen to it in audio form, watch a film based on it, or sing songs based on Psalms. Scripture begins to live within the community in many different ways. I am also excited to learn about each particular book of the Bible. I have not worked on every biblical book, so many of them are still new to me in the context of translation. I enjoy discovering the details of the text and exploring how those ideas can be expressed in a particular language. What is the most gratifying thing you have done as a translation consultant? One of the most gratifying things for me is seeing local translators grow in confidence and skill over time. At the beginning, many teams feel uncertain and depend heavily on outside help. But gradually they begin making strong translation decisions themselves, understanding the biblical text more deeply, and taking real ownership of the project. What is your consulting philosophy? What’s your philosophy of mentoring? To be as helpful as possible. I try to adjust to the way each team learns and understands so that the work can move forward smoothly and without unnecessary obstacles. I do not want consulting to feel intimidating. My goal is to help teams grow in understanding and confidence so they can make good decisions themselves. Mentoring is not only about correcting mistakes. It is about equipping people, encouraging them, and helping them develop long-term skills for serving their communities well. What translation resources do you really value? I really value Paratext and the many resources available within it. It provides access to biblical texts, commentaries, dictionaries, translation notes, and tools that make collaboration much easier. I also value the help of AI, especially when working with Bible stories or oral Scripture materials that are not always presented verse by verse. How would you tell that you have served the church well? Serving the church is our priority. We need to hear what the church actually needs and wants. We have the goals and processes, but the churches have their own goals and processes that do not always correlate with ours. If we really want to help the churches we need to find a common ground and go from there and be ready to readjust as we walk along the church. That’s why it is important that the church be involved in the project from the initial setup of the project and continuing on throughout the rest of the translation process. How do you continue to grow as a consultant? I regularly listen to podcasts by biblical scholars and in-depth Bible study programs, which help me deepen my understanding of Scripture and expose me to different perspectives and approaches.

At the same time, consulting itself is an important part of my growth. Each project, translation team, and discussion presents new challenges and opportunities to learn, refine my skills, and apply what I have learned in real situations. Share something that you learned from a mentor or from a mentee. One valuable lesson I learned is the importance of being cheerful, kind, and respectful, even when writing comments in Paratext. I have noticed that translation teams tend to be more receptive to consultant feedback when comments are expressed graciously and positively. While agreement alone is not necessarily the goal and should never replace careful evaluation of the translation itself, a kind and encouraging tone helps build trust and strengthens the relationship with the team.

AI & Translation Spot Advanced AI at EMDC 2026 Peter Brassington Original content by Peter Brassington, abridged with AI Assistance.

An extended version of this article will be available shortly on the EMDC blog and there has been a lot of discussion on the BT email list about this topic. If you'd like to join the discussion, follow this link to subscribe to the list.

Not surprisingly, AI featured heavily at EMDC2026. I attended the Advanced AI track following the main conference, which used material also available through center.sabda.org/ alongside hands-on experience carrying out tasks within a virtual computer (often faster than most of our own laptops). We used AI to transcribe videos, convert text into speech, and explored the many possibilities of NotebookLM. These were all components of a project to transcribe more than 800 videos from the EMDC Academy archives and turn them into an “EMDC GPT”. In some ways, I would love to see something similar used to mine the wisdom contained in the SIL archives. Of course, AI is not entirely new. Few will remember the Linguistic Information Retrieval Project, which aimed “to enable you to maximize the amount of time you spend in thinking, by minimizing for you the time you spend acting as your own slave.” Back in 1963, Joe Grimes wrote: “Your time is worth a lot... You can use it up in routine labor... Or you can invest your time where it counts most: in extending your total experience in the language and culture, by getting away from your desk and talking with people, or else in thinking creatively about the systems that underlie the language.” Perhaps it would be good if we viewed today’s AI in a similar way: as a tool that creates more space for human interaction and creative thought. AI can dramatically speed up many tasks and help not only with Scripture translation, but also with translating and repackaging resources that enable people to engage with Scripture. The Advanced AI track explored creative uses of AI in Bible engagement, wider education, and even biblically based counselling. That last area may rightly raise concerns. AI should never be a substitute for trained human counsellors. Yet many people have no access to trained counsellors at all. Is an imperfect and potentially risky solution better than no solution? The question reminded me of the book Where There Is No Doctor. For more than 50 years it has provided valuable guidance in places without medical care, while never claiming to replace a doctor. AI could probably help translate resources like this into hundreds more languages, but careful review would still be essential before publication. A key risk of AI is that it is incredibly good at sounding more intelligent than it actually is. The more plausible it sounds, the less likely people are to question it.

Alongside many warnings about the dangers of AI, the course also offered practical ways to reduce some of the risks, with a focus on using AI wisely for God’s purposes. Like many, I have concerns about how this technology will affect Bible translation, Scripture engagement, language development, and every other aspect of SIL’s work. Yet, as one AI-generated song I created put it:

“AI can help the church if it doesn't rot our brain, You don't have to worship the tracks, but you cannot stop the train!”

AI Drafting Best Practices and Guidelines Dan Jones - Seed Company Director of Consultant Development Dan Jones from the Seed Company's Translation Quality team shares some of the things he and others in the Seed Company have been learning about using AI in translation.

With increasing global interest in AI-assisted Bible translation, there is a corresponding need for clear guidelines and best practices regarding AI drafting of translated Scripture.

Translation consultants play a key role in helping teams thoughtfully consider whether to explore AI drafting and, where desired, in guiding its integration into established quality assurance processes. When introducing the topic, consultants should aim to inform rather than persuade, establishing a shared understanding of both the opportunities and limitations of the technology. This document is intended to help translation consultants effectively support translation teams and Seed Company partner organizations as they consider, experiment with, and implement AI drafting. These guidelines compile available input from various sources, but they are not an exhaustive manual and will not answer every question about how AI drafting can or should be implemented in every context. They do not address the philosophical, theological, or ethical questions surrounding the use of AI in Bible translation, nor do they constitute an official Seed Company statement on these questions. They are a work in progress; SC's Translation Quality leadership invites further input to improve this document as technologies, tools, and methodologies evolve, and as lessons are learned. When introducing teams and partners to AI drafting: Start with calling and agency Describe AI drafting simply Be honest about limitations Name potential benefits without pressure Normalize mixed feelings Emphasize freedom and discernment Explain that there are several options for using AI drafts Click this link for the full document. Email Dan Jones for further information.

Memoriam Sherwood Lingenfelter Kingdom Anthropologist Sherwood Lingenfelter (1941-2026), was a senior statesman among evangelical anthropologists who also assisted mission agencies. He served on the SIL Board for many years, ending in 2016. He had several short-term research projects with SIL in Brazil, Cameroon, and Suriname. And he served as a research and training consultant for SIL over three decades in Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Philippines, Africa, and Latin America.

With Julie Green (former SIL MSEA), he coauthored Teamwork Cross-Culturally: Christ-Centered Solutions for Leading Multinational Teams. Sherwood graduated from Wheaton College (1963) and then completed a PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh (1971). He taught 11 years at SUNY Brockport and 14 years at Biola. He then spent 25 years at Fuller, ending up as provost emeritus and senior professor of anthropology. Click here for his obituary link.

George Shultz Cameroon & Global ...his ministry laid a foundation for lasting impact

George Shultz (1956-2026) passed away suddenly on 12 June after being hit while riding his bicycle. He initially served with the Kom people in Cameroon. George challenged local university graduates there to serve in language development and Bible translation. Today, many of his co-workers in Kom are consultants and leaders in the Bible translation movement. George then served as the SIL Cameroon (CMB) director where he positioned them as a training organisation that focused on building capacity. George went on to serve as the first Director of the Translation Degree Program at the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary, a joint venture between SIL CMB, CABTAL (Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy) and the Seminary.

Many of the people that George trained over those years are now serving as leaders within Bible translation in Cameroon and beyond. George also served on the SIL Global Board for a term (2012-2016) and then in 2016, he became the SIL Corporation Secretary, continuing on to this year when he handed over the role to Joan Spanne.

News Judy Heath Joins Africa Translation Team Dr. Judy Heath (SIL Chad) is joining the SIL Africa Area team as associate domain team leader for translation. She will serve alongside Drew Maust and Jonathan van den Broek, current co-domain team leaders, with a view to succeeding Drew by the end of the year. Judy brings decades of experience within SIL as a coordinator, translator, exegete, translation consultant, mentor, and trainer. Her seasoned judgment and passion for Bible translation are what this role needs and Drew is grateful to be passing this ministry on to such a capable leader. We look forward to the ways the Lord will lead the Africa Translation team in the season ahead. For a sense of how Judy approaches her work, you can read her philosophy of translation consulting statement here.

Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators Courses Bob Carter - JCBT Executive Director Bob Carter announces this upcoming series of Hebrew and Historical Geography courses at JCBT (Jerusalem Center for Bible Translators). You can register now for these excellent courses. Biblical Hebrew for Consultant Training (BHCT). Year 1: Sep 2026 to July 2027 Online (weekly) and then the month of August 2027 in Israel. Year 2: Oct 2027 to Jun 2028 Online (weekly). The Book of Psalms (in English). Online only (weekly). Murray Salisbury and Niek Arentsen. 23 Sept to 16 Dec 2026. The Book of Leviticus (in French) - Dr. Samy Tioyé. Three weeks in Israel: 3-24 October 2026. Land of the Bible Course. Two weeks in Israel: 10-23 January 2027.

Oral Bible Translation for Community Empowerment New Publication This special issue of Acta Theologica on Oral Bible translation for community empowerment highlights a growing recognition that translation is not about the transference of meaning but rather about the emergence of oral and written texts through deep engagement with the linguistic, cultural, and communicative realities of target communities. Together, these works present oral Bible translation as a multifaceted practice that intersects with language preservation, cultural identity, spirituality, and community empowerment. They collectively assert the need for a shift from text-centered translation models toward approaches that prioritise orality, performance, and the lived experiences of target audiences.

Makutoane, T. J. 2026. "Introduction." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 1–4. Cleaver, B. 2026. "Helping to Preserve Minority Languages of Muslim Communities in Russia through Oral Bible Translation." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 5–22. Gya, D. M. 2026. "Translating the Psalms: Considering Target Language Orality Strategies." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 23– 49. Banda, M. C. 2026. "The Impact of Oral Bible Translation on Spiritual Formation in Malawi, with Special Focus on the Malokotela and Mihipiti Languages." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 50–68. Houston, T. J. 2026. "Counting on Oral Bible Translation: Preserving Language and Culture through Numbers." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 69–87. Miller-Naudé, C. L., T. J. Makutoane, and J. A. Naudé. 2026. "What Do We Actually Translate in Representing Orality in Oral Bible Translation and Performance?" Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 88–113. Makutoane, T. J., J. A. Naudé, and C. L. Miller-Naudé. 2026. "Quality in Oral Bible Translation and Performance." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 114–37. Nyirenda, M. 2026. "Book Review: Oral Bible Translation and Biblical Performance in Southern Siberia." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 138–41. Cleaver, B. 2026. "Response to Book Review." Acta Theologica, no. Suppl 40 (May): 142–43.

TAZI Conference Wendy Chamberlain - SIL EurAsia Communications In June I went to Kuala Lumpur for the sixth biennial TAZI Conference (01-05 June 2026), hosted by the United Bible Societies. This academic gathering explored the theme, “Islamic Perspectives on Biblical Texts: Interpretation, Shared Themes and Opportunities for Dialogue.” Participants from North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe made a really global atmosphere for learning and exchange. We stayed under the shadow of the towering Merdeka 118 building. I liked the way the week was marked by rich conversations and laughter. The conference featured presentations from an impressive group of contributors, including Catholic priests, an imam, Muslim scholars and writers, members of various Bible societies, and SIL colleagues. The discussions were thoughtful…with participants bringing deep knowledge of both the Bible and the Qur’an. There was a refreshing willingness to wrestle

honestly with complex issues such as gender roles, the politicization of religion, particularly around elections, and questions of contextualization. The warmth and openness of the Muslim contributors were especially memorable. For SIL, TAZI 2026 provided insights into how we can approach translation work among Islamic communities with greater wisdom and sensitivity. The conference encouraged an understanding of the significance of the Qur’an in the lives of Muslim audiences. Altogether, I felt like it was an enriching time that strengthened relationships with partners and inspired future collaboration.

New EurAsia Translation Coordination Team Amber - EurAsia Translation Team Lead The EurAsia area has now finalized it's newly formed Translation Coordination Team: Amber - Team Lead Feruza - West EurAsia Representative Selvi - South EurAsia Representative Judi - East EurAsia Representative

800 Full Bibles Completed ProgressBible In May 2026, a significant reporting milestone was reached -- 800 languages have a full Bible in our records! This means that approximately 6.2 billion people in 800 language communities now have access to the complete Word of God in their own languages. The ProgressBible team stands with those in the Bible translation movement, giving thanks to God for His enabling of this momentous accomplishment, representing the collaborative work of individuals and partnerships over generations. Completed Bible Insights from 2021 to the present:

About half are from Asia: 10 different countries, about 47 Million people, and 20% of the total is from India alone. About a third are from Africa: 18 different countries, about 117 Million people. Remainder from Americas, Europe, and Pacific: thirteen countries in all, about 2.5 Million people. This group includes the first full sign language Bible.

New ETEN Website The brand new ETEN.Bible website is live, and it is designed to help communicate what God is doing through this alliance with greater clarity and consistency. From how ETEN collaborates to how progress is accelerating, this site brings the shared work into focus.

When the Word is Seen: Sign Language Bible Translation Special Issue of The Bible Translator This special issue of The Bible Translator 77.1 (April 2026) brings together authors and specialists from various translation agencies directly involved in sign language projects to address relevant topics related to the different challenges, stages, phases, and needs of these types of projects. Isela Trujillo and Marlon Winedt served as guest editors. Sign language Bible translation is an important and growing field of ministry and research. Despite recent advances in translation practices among various Bible translation agencies in different countries and in diverse contexts, systematic research and appropriate documentation on the subject is lacking. Eighteen years have passed since The Bible Translator last published a special issue on this topic (2008).

During this time, significant advances have been made, and therefore it is relevant to publish a new special issue that reflects the developments of recent years. Challenges in Sign Language Bible Translation | Bernadet van der Louw Going Beyond the Manual: How Understanding Sign Language Morphology and Syntax Impacts Translation | Stuart Thiessen Translating Vocatives into Sign Languages: A Case Study from the British Sign Language Bible Genesis Project | Phil King & Brent Allen The Importance of Discourse Analysis for Sign Language Translation Teams | C.J. Wallace & Mark Penner Learning from the Deaf Community about Translation and Performance | Noah Buchholz Sign Language Poetics and Bible Translation: A Multimodal Social-Semiotic Perspective | Marlon Winedt Visual Resources and Persuasion: The Performance of a Pauline Letter in Dominican Sign Language | Isela Trujillo Deaf Teams’ Experiences in Sign Language Bible Translation | Isela Trujillo & Marlon Winedt Listening with the Eyes: Experiences of a Sign Language Interpreter in Bible Translation | Héctor Aranda Challenges in Translating the Bible into Cuban Sign Language | Alain Montano From Fragmentation to Integration: The Transformative Impact of the Sign Language Translation Tool (SLTT) on Bible Translation for the Deaf | Caio Cascaes

The Timeless Texture of the Book of Revelation Stephen Schooling Stephen Schooling is offering discounted rates for his recent publication: The Timeless Texture of the Book of Revelation: A Holistic Discourse Analysis. Stephen served with SIL Pacific for many years as a Translation Consultant and has a PhD in Biblical Studies from Trinity College Bristol. It is 700 pages with a retail price of $60 USD but Stephen is offering this new resource at cost price ($35 USD) to anyone involved in Bible translation. Email Stephen to make these arrangements. If you write up a review and get it published somewhere, then you can receive a free copy. The following ancillary materials are available to serve anyone who wishes to get a quick understanding of the content of the book, and a rapid overview of the conclusions concerning the structure of Revelation before investing in the book sightunseen: (1) A Preview Article, (2) A Third Party Review Article, and (3) A Proposed Road Map for the Book of Revelation: A Summary of the Structure, Topic and Themes of Revelation (Article in the Gospel Witness Vol.100/4 May 2026, Page 45).

Doing Research relating to Bible Translation in the 21st Century as a European in Africa: Some Aspects of a Decolonial Approach Marcus J Recently a thought-provoking article was published, Doing Research relating to Bible Translation in the 21st Century as a European in Africa: Some Aspects of a Decolonial Approach, in Anthropology Allspice (Volume 8.1 April 2026). Marcus works with SIL Eurasia and has spent a lifetime in north Africa. When meeting a Southern Sudanese man who was ministering in the Sudan, I asked him about the kind of Christian workers needed. He answered promptly, “the missionaries we used to have”. My Southern Sudanese friend added, “The missionaries we used to have came because of the people, but missionaries nowadays come because of a project.”

The modern Bible Translation movement began in colonial times in the West and is in many aspects still dominated by organisations originating or being heavily influenced from the West. Some of these Bible translation organisations emphasise the importance of research, especially in linguistics. Is Bible translation and the research that supports it irremediably tainted by the structures and inequalities of colonialism during which time many research and translation methods were developed? How can it be reformed, or changed, to shake off these structures and inequalities and the mindset that fosters them? As a Western linguist, ethnographic researcher and translator in Africa, I ask myself these questions. In this article, I provide some answers which are based on my approach to academia in North Africa, especially among the Nubian ethnic groups (see also Jaeger 2024, chapter 2, where I describe this in detail). I also argue that some of the current research and the translation work based on it are still carried out in a mindset that is in need of decolonisation. Unfortunately, the number of dedicated and long-term commitments is decreasing drastically. Instead, “helicopter” science – with flying visits and prioritising technology over relationships – and even “helicopter” Bible translation and consultant checking have become common (see, for example, Randy Groff’s 2025 presentation about the ethics of parachute consultant checking). If missionary linguists have to leave the field for various reasons, are they granted time to keep some of their friendships going while being involved with a new job? Is our commitment to a project, and does it therefore last only as long as the project?

Or is our commitment to people, which is therefore a life-long commitment?

Coming Events 2026 - 26 July. Taste of FLExTrans (Online). Register at this link. 2026 - 05 Aug. Exploring the use of AI in Consultant Work (Online). Email Nick Peterson 2026 - 10-21 Aug. FLEx Parser Workshop (Nairobi) 2026 - 25 Aug 15:00 UTC. Global CoPs for BT Consultants. Online. "What is a word?" Anthropology insights into communication theory and what this means for Bible translation (Johannes and Sharon Merz) 2026 - 04Sep-16Oct. Knowing Me, Knowing You: Online Anthropology Course on Worldview and Interpersonal Dynamics. Register here: KMKY Registration. For more information contact Sharon Merz. 2026 - 14-25 Sep. Oral Bible Translation Consultant Workshop. Johannesburg, South Africa. Contact Kris Toler for further information. 2026 - 16 Sep. Taste of FLExTrans (Online). Register at this link. 2026 - 13-15 Oct. Africa Oral Bible Translation Consultation. Click here to Register 2026 - 02-06 Nov. FLExTrans Workshop (Online). Contact Emily Havens 2026 - 17 Nov 15:00 UTC. Global CoPs for BT Consultants (Online). Greek linguistics (Michael and Rachel Aubrey) 2026 - 05-12 Nov. Translation Development Event (EurAsia). For further information contact Thomas Hemphill or Amber Jasa. 2026 - 21-24 Nov. Global Bible Translation Studies Consultation (GBTS) at The Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). Denver 2027 - 19-22 Oct. Bible Translation Conference. Cape Town, South Africa. Lagoon Beach Hotel. Theme: Bible Translation and Humanity - the image of God in context

Useful Links Donate to SIL Translation Services / BT Glossary / Translation Development Event Bible Translation Consultant Competencies / YouTube channel for BT Competencies Linguistic Standards and Deliverables for Bible Translation website SIL Senior Translation Consultants / BT Communities of Practice Email the SIL International Translation Office / International Translation Services ILS page Join/visit the SIL Translation Resources Google Group / Visit the public SIL.org/Translation site Find Translation Resources (both free download and for purchase) Journal of Translation / Mentoring Matters website - Mentor Training Courses Consultant Development and Management Team Progress.Bible Information / Memoriam website

SIL Translation Services International Leadership Team Phil King - ITS Director Angeline Foo - SIL Coordinator for Translation Research and Practice Nick Peterson - SIL Coordinator for Translation Resources Kris Toler - SIL Coordinator for Oral Translation Services Viji Mathew - Director, Global Consultant Pool Brian Migliazza - ITS Operations and Project Management

Area Translation Coordination Teams AsiaPacific - Angeline Foo & Greg Carlson & Fletcher Hardison EurAsia - Amber J & Feruza & Selvi & Judi Africa - Drew Maust & Jonathan van den Broek & Judy Heath Americas - Rick Floyd & Dwight Shaver & Dany Tasama GSLT - Bernadet van der Louw

Copyright © 2026 SIL Translation Services. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because of your interest in translation updates. This newsletter is produced by SIL Translation Services. It contains items of interest for translation personnel within SIL and related organizations. It includes notices of upcoming conferences and workshops, announcements of recent dissertations and journal articles, and pointers to useful information related to translation.

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