What gets you excited when you work with others in Bible translation? I rejoice when I see individuals experiencing hope and growth as Jesus reveals himself to them through his Word. The fact that we now have new training models and exegetical resources that allow this to happen from Day 1 of a new project is doubly joyful.
What do you see as the place of the church in Bible translation? The church is at the center of Bible translation! When Bible translation is a ministry of the church, I believe it is appropriate for those of us who have a bit more experience or technical background to align ourselves, and if necessary re-align ourselves, to serve the church, helping them accomplish their ministry goals.
My consulting philosophy is quite different than it was even 1 or 2 years ago: it is to serve as a quality assurance mentor to the church, helping them to achieve their quality goals for their own translation projects. All of my current work revolves around “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.”
What translation resources do you really value? My favorites are the FIA oral exegetical resources, produced by SRV Partners, and the Church-based Bible Translation (CBBT) training courses that enable church leaders to produce good quality drafts from Day 1. These resources were designed for Oral and Deaf translators, so they are especially powerful for those audiences. However, they are equally effective for written translation projects. The creators of these resources are standing on the shoulders of giants. It is because of the excellent resources that have already been developed (for example, Translator's Notes) that these new resources are possible.
How do you continue to grow as a consultant? It seems to be that about 95% of that is simply having a growth mindset. Be curious, stay open, don’t let yourself get stuck in what you’ve always done or known. If your father was a scribe, and your grandfather before him was a scribe… you might think you should be a scribe too. And that may be a great idea. Unless it is the year that Gutenberg invents the printing press!
What are your top tips for someone starting on a career path in Bible translation? We are in a highly dynamic era in the Bible translation movement. We need leaders who will be like the sons of Issachar, “men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Remain sensitive to how the Spirit of God is moving in our times, and be flexible about tactics and tools.