Ma'di Translation
I will be working with five national pastors who are involved in translating the Greek New Testament into the Ma’di language. I am currently assisting them by checking back translations of their work and comparing it to the Greek to check for errors and mistakes in the translation. The translation is using Scrivener's majority text. We are striving for an 'essentially literal' translation in the Ma'di language. As the New Testament nears completion, I will begin teaching them Hebrew so that they can move directly into translating the Old Testament as well.
Books Translated and Checked:
- Mark
- Romans
- John
- 1-3 John
- James
- Acts
- Luke
- Philippians
- Thessalonians
- Titus
- Philemon
- Colossians
- Timothy
- Corinthians
- Ephesians
- Galatians
Books Ready to be Checked:
- Hebrews
- Peter
- Jude
Books Still to be Translated:
- Matthew
- Revelation
Lhukonzo Translation
I have also taught Greek for the Lhukonzo translation team located in southwestern Uganda. There are four members in this translation team. The translation work is being overseen by missionary Matthew Stensaas. I will continue assisting this translation project as the need arises.
- Mark
- James
​- 1-3 John
- John
​
Books Translated and Checked:
Book Being Translated:
Books Still to be Translated:
- Acts
​
- Luke
- Philippians
- Colossians
- Thessalonians
- Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Hebrews
- Peter
- Jude
- Matthew
- Revelation
Church Planting
I will be working alongside the national pastors in planting churches among the Ma'di people. The translators are also pastors who have churches they are leading. A couple of them are actively planting churches in Adjumani as they work on the translation project. I will initially be working with one of these pastors as he starts a church in Adjumani which is a town of about 37,000 people. I have been able to preach in several churches on previous trips while one of the Bible translators interpreted for me. My initial ministry will likely include several of these preaching opportunities in surrounding villages. It is also possible that I may be serving as an intern pastor for a church currently without a national pastor. I see Bible translation as being a key element in establishing strong, indigenous, self-propagating Baptist churches that are independent of missionary support.
Other Opportunities
I will also be involved in several other ministry opportunities besides translation and preaching. I will be involved in:
- Evangelism
- Discipleship
- Developing relationships with local government officials
- Learning the culture and language
- And other things as they arise.