What gets you excited when you work with others in Bible translation? As I work with translation teams, seeing the understanding of the love of God and His character come upon those who are working with His Word never ceases to amaze me. I truly see the power of the the Word of God that is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, doing just this. People who encounter the Scriptures are convicted of their own sin, see the need for repentance for them and truly start understanding that fellowship with God is possible. A majority-religion translator once asked me: “How can I have the love that I see in the eyes of my Christian brothers and sisters?” I had the answer, and he knew that I had the answer. This answer is in the Bible. I was able to tell him that when one loves Jesus, one knows how to love sacrificially and the only way to be able to love this way is to have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and made new in Him and through Him.

What is your consulting philosophy? I see my role as a consultant primarily as a representative of Christ to those who don't know him yet, and as an example of being a follower of Jesus to those who do. Yes, our work involves a lot of technical details, checking the text, making sure that everything is accurate, natural and acceptable, however if we do not live out the words we are translating, nothing we do or say will have an effect. I'd like to think that I am discipling the future disciples of Jesus Christ in my work of consulting.

What translation resources do you really value? I love that I have access to many translations through programs like Paratext, Logos, Bibleworks, etc. However, what I value the most is being able to communicate and share with my fellow consultants, translation advisors and translators via community of practice meetings, seminars and workshops.

How do you share your translation discoveries with others? I try to present during translation conferences, seminars and community of practice meetings.

Can you share about a time when you realized you were wrong and what you learned from it? Of course, there are many times that I am wrong and it's not easy to admit mistakes or wrongdoings. Something that sticks out is a couple instances when someone asked a question and instead of answering those questions with patience and understanding or giving someone else an opportunity to answer those questions and concerns, I was brisk and made them feel foolish for asking a question. I regret those moments and I have learned that no matter how tired I might be, no matter how tight the time might be, I still need to be sensitive and considerate towards those who are working with me. 

What are your top tips for someone starting on a career path in Bible translation? Stay humble no matter how gifted you are, ask for help wherever you may be, learn how to ask questions, but most of all know that God is sovereign and he will lead you and show you the way.

Share something that you learned from a mentor or from a mentee. I work with some really, really smart people. I learned countless things from my mentor on my path to becoming a consultant, but two key takeaways were the importance of communication and being humble.

What do you see as the place of the church in Bible translation? Body of Christ is who we are, and the Bible says that we are all gifted by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. If one part of the body does not do what it needs to do then the other part will not be able to function properly. I know that without the prayer and the financial support of the church none of my work would be possible. I rely on the prayers of my brothers and sisters on my daily walk with Christ, on my relationships with my family members and friends, and on my work of bringing the word of God to those who don't yet have it yet in their heart languages.

What would you say to young/aspiring translators? Don't be afraid to tell God what you would like to do. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, God has prepared the way, the hearts and the team or the teams that you will be working with, He is preparing you to do His will therefore trust your Father in heaven and keep learning what you need to learn so you can become part of the team that is bringing the Word of God to people who've never heard Him say that He loves them.