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Description: The church not only initiates and sustains Church-Centric Bible Translation, but it also impacts the theological growth of its community through the actual translation process. This session explores possible ways of integrating Bible translation and theological formation, while also providing examples of approaches to the process.

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🪁 Training Guide ✝️ 👥 💬 🍶 🏋🏻‍♀️ 📜

Training Guide

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Suggested Ministry Integration:

As you share about your church's ministries, ask: Where is God already moving among your readers/listeners? Which groups are hungry to know Scripture better? Try connecting your translation project to those same groups—Bible study groups, discipleship meetings, or Sunday worship. Your translation work is not separate from ministry; it is strengthening the places where your church is already serving.

🗣️ Oral tip: In oral communities, share stories about how other churches integrated translation into their existing gatherings. Let people hear how translation deepened their own faith and their church's ministry.

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Having laid the foundation for the role of the Church in Bible translation, let's explore how your specific church could be involved in Bible translation.

How do Bible translation projects impact your church every week?

Activity: In your group, identify current projects or projects about to begin. Review how your church is involved in the translation project. Does the project impact everyone in your church? If so, how? If not, why not?

Embed drafting in the study of the Word - Do 🕺

Objective: Participants will gain an understanding of the translation drafting process by practice integrating it into a Discovery Bible Study.

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Choose whatever text is most appropriate for your audience:

• Open Bible Story 1 (or any number)
• A brief, straightforward passage of Scripture from the ULT </aside>

5 Movements (5M OBS):

• What does it say?
• What did it mean to the original audience?
• How does it apply?
• How can I minister this to the Church?
• How can I proclaim this to the world?

1. Play or read OBS 1/Scripture for the large group. In pairs or small groups (no more than 5), discuss answers to question 1 “What does it say?” (What is in the text?) Each group should report out at least one element to answer “What does it say?” until a complete list is created. Optional: post answers publicly. What words might be difficult to understand or translate into our language? Discuss and document answers if desired. What phrases might be difficult to understand in our language? (could use tNotes & tWords at this stage if desired). Discuss and you may choose to document answers.
2. Play or read OBS 1/Scripture for the large group again. In pairs or small groups (no more than 5 people), discuss answers to question 2 "What did it mean to the original audience?" Why is the author writing this? What are the big ideas/themes (1-3) the author is communicating? Discuss answers to this question. Then, the pairs/groups will retell the story based on their observations and understanding. They can write down their draft or record it on their phones.

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Suggested Ministry Integration:

As groups retell the story in their own words, listen carefully to what truth each group discovered. These discoveries are not just translation notes—they are spiritual insights your readers/listeners need. Ask each group: "What did you learn about God or about yourself from this story? Who in your church needs to hear this truth this week?" This practice turns translation work into intentional Scripture ministry.

🗣️ Oral tip: Recording retellings on phones is powerful—later, play those recordings back to the wider church community. People hear their neighbors' faith and translation becomes visible ministry.

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