Essentially Translatable

On this episode, Rich and Emily bring you to Papua New Guinea to hear a first-hand account of the energy behind the Bible translation movement. Join us for an insightful conversation with Ministry Entrepreneur Duncan Kasokason.

 Duncan is a Bible translation consultant through the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinea. Starting in 1986, Duncan started to translate the Bible into his own language with pen and paper. Throughout the years, he has helped many others become involved in Bible Translation ministry. His passion is for all to have God's Word in their own language. Now he encourages others to get equipped to serve and experience the power of the Word through work in Bible translation.

Whether you are curious about the timeframe for Bible translation projects, or you want to learn more about how projects get started, Duncan provides invaluable knowledge gathered from many years of experience working with partners and equipping the next generation of Bible translators.

Highlights:

·      Duncan Kasokason is a Bible translation consultant from Papua New Guinea

·      Starting at age 30, Duncan has been involved in Bible translation since 1986

·      Training others in Bible translation is important to Duncan, he anticipates the progress made by the next generation.

This week, we celebrate 100 episodes of Essentially Translatable! For this episode, co-hosts Dr. Rich Rudowske and Emily Wilson reminisce about some of their favorite moments from the past four years on the podcast.  

The Essentially Translatable podcast has brought countless stories from the field, interviews with Ministry Entrepreneurs, and conversations with international partners. Join us as we reflect on the many profound, spiritual, and informative discussions throughout the years. 

Hear something that sparks your interest? Click the links below to listen to the full episodes: 

Episode 7: Modern Day Tower of Babel | Rev. Linus Otronyi 

Episode 15: Luther’s Translation as Pastoral Care | Dr. Erik Herrmann   

Episode 17: Multi-Lingual Identity | Dr. Ebenezer Boafo   

Episode 26: Easter People 

Episode 32: Go to the Deepest Water | Bishop Andrew Gulle 

Episode 38: Speaking My Language | Rev. Dr. Tilahun Mendedo 

Episode 41: Spirits, Charms, and Rituals | Dr. Mike Rodewald 

Episode 49 and 50: Scripture Impact | Pontsho Mosweu and Tshwari Tjetjoo  

Episode 52:  The Final Episode 

Episode 54: Lives are Changing | Mark & Marie 

Episode 65: Empower the Church | Sarah Esala 

Episode 84: Emotional Intelligence in Ministry | Michelle Thompson 

Episode 86: The Curse of Knowledge | Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti 

On this episode of the Essentially Translatable podcast, Rich and Emily are joined by John Ndemba and Rev. Mike Kuhn, who serve in the Bible translation movement in Cameroon and have recently become involved with the SURAM project. Rev. Kuhn fills the role of Data Analyst for SURAM, he also has served as a Missionary with Lutheran Bible Translators Canada in Cameroon since 2013. John Ndemba serves as the Project Coordinator for SURAM, he previously worked as Cluster Facilitator for the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy within the Southwest region of Cameroon. 

 The SURAM (Scripture Use Research and Ministry) project in Cameroon started in 2022. During the two-year period it will gather research, the staff of SURAM hopes to measure the effects of translated scripture within the country. To accomplish this, the team is asking three main research questions: 

1. How much of the translated Scripture is being used by the language communities? 
2. What impact has translated Scripture had on the community, within the church congregation, and for the individual within that community? 
3. What factors are contributing to high use and impact and what factors are decreasing impact? 

Cameroon is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. There are currently 270 living languages in the country. Scripture has been produced for about 50 of those languages, leaving roughly 220 languages that still have little to no Scripture. The linguistic context for Cameroon makes it an ideal candidate for a high-depth research project about how translated Scripture has been used so far within the country. 

 Between 2007 and 2017, 28 language communities dedicated newly translated Scripture. SURAM has been able to conduct ministry and research within 25 of those language communities. With data gathered from those interactions, as well as continued Scripture engagement with the community, the results from the project will help to mobilize Bible translation ministry moving forward. 

 Listen in to learn more about the international staff and collaborators working on this important project. Take hope in the informative outcomes of this study that will help further benefit the Bible translation movement! 

Does God have one specific purpose in mind for you? Have you ever paused to examine the various roles God has assigned for you in life? In this episode of the Essentially Translatable podcast, Dr. Jeff Leininger and Dr. Rich Rudowske discuss our callings (plural) and how we can recognize them.  

Dr. Leininger is the author of Callings for Life: God’s Plan, Your Purpose. He currently serves as pastor at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL, which follows his twenty-one years as the campus pastor and Director for the Pre-seminary program at Concordia University Chicago.  

Join Jeff and Rich as they discuss the theology of vocation through the straightforward lens of recognizing the multiple callings God has chosen for us. By limiting ourselves to one calling, we can neglect the many opportunities that God has gifted us. To recognize these, we can take note of the spaces, the places, and the faces that surround us in our everyday moments. 

Many of us are called to be spouses, parents, teachers, or managers. We can be impacted by the places we study, relax, or work. We are often called to be actively engaged in our occupations and communities. By embracing the multiple ways God has called us, finding our purpose in life can become less daunting and make it easier to recognize where God is leading us.  

What comes to mind when you start to think about the callings God gave you rather than what you chose? 

For this special holiday episode, join us for a reflective study on the power and promise given to us through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Cozy up and dive into an in-depth conversation of how the complexities of Jesus’s incarnation are represented throughout different languages and translations.

Grab your favorite Bible translation and follow along as co-hosts Dr. Rich Rudowske and Emily Wilson lead you through different verses of the Bible. Did you know? In John 1:14 the Greek translation expresses how Jesus “tabernacled” among us, meaning he moves around and makes a home with us as our Savior on earth. Hear what the ancient translations say and get a side-by-side comparison with some of the newer English translations such as the New Living Translation.

In this episode, you’ll also get to learn more about the complexities that go into translating the bible. Rich provides firsthand insight into translating the book of Luke into the Shekgalagari language. The completion of this translation helped to solidify our close, personal relationship we have with Jesus for Shekgalagari speakers, and helped to explain how the gift of the incarnation is for all people.

See below for an example of a bible verse in two different translations:

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Luke 2:10 NLT

Moengele a ba raya a re: “She tjhoge, bona, ke le jhwela mahogka owa a molemo, owa a da go ityumerisa batyho bothe.” Luke 2:10 Shekgalagari

For an informative study that will uplift and inspire you during the season of Christmas, tune in and experience the good news that continues to bring great joy.

In this episode, Rich and Emily are joined by Dr. James Maxey, Director of Strategic Partnerships for The Seed Company, and Dr. Nathan Esala, formerly Translations Coordinator for Lutheran Bible Translators—who has joined Seed Company as part of the strategic alliance between the two organizations. They discuss the power of partnerships across the Bible translation community.   

We are in a season of collaboration at Lutheran Bible Translators to expand the Bible translation movement. As servants of Christ, we desire unity across the Church to make God's Word available to all people. During this interview, Maxey and Esala share their eagerness for this new exploration of partnership between the two organizations.  

There are multiple benefits to joining in alliance with each other. Esala highlights Lutheran Bible Translators's many years of involvement in global communities and the resultant long-standing relationships. The Seed Company offers a fresh take on how to gain awareness for the mission of Bible translation. Specifically, Esala and Maxey are working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea to make Bible translation a focused ministry in the country. Combining our efforts can lead to new accomplishments for God's Kingdom.   

The connecting power of relationships is emphasized throughout the discussion. Maxey and Esala have a deep connection to Lutheran Bible Translators and to each other. Their entwined relationship throughout the years has motivated them to form this partnership.  

Esala reminds us that one of the functions of Christianity involves building bridges between people of different cultures and experiences. Whether God has led us to foster partnerships in countries like Papua New Guinea or Cameroon, or we are embedded within our own communities in the United States, God desires us to learn continuously more from one another.  

In this episode of Essentially Translatable, co-host Emily Wilson is interviewed by Rev. Rich Rudowske to discuss prayer as the strategy for the Bible translation movement. Emily works in the prayer working group for Lutheran Bible Translators and acts as the prayer point person for the illumiNations collective impact alliance. She shares valuable insight into why prayer is transformative to our lives and is exceedingly pleasing to God. 

Join us to hear testimonials from both Rich and Emily about the profound impact prayer has had on their faith. For Emily, the importance of prayer became apparent at a young age during a family fishing trip. Throughout the highs and lows of life, Emily has kept prayer a key focus and accepted the answers God has given to her. 

Prayer as the strategy is one of the Missiological Imperatives at Lutheran Bible Translators. Rich shares his intuition of making Lutheran Bible Translators a more prayerful organization before he realized the organization would take on specific prayer initiatives. To accomplish set goals, the prayer community is encouraged to have an ACTIVE prayer life: 

A-adoration 

C-confession 

T- thanksgiving 

I-intercession/supplication 

V-vanquishing Satan 

E-extreme prayer 

The discussion highlights prayer-centered initiatives taking place within the organization, as well as the possibilities for those who would like to receive resources to pray alongside the organization. For Giving Tuesday 2023 we are raising prayer instead of focusing on financial gifts. If you would like to join us in raising 2 million yearly prayers, sign up below to become a Prayer Partner and join a global community of supporters! 

The Lord longs to hear our prayers, no matter how big or small. By practicing strategies that equip us for extreme prayer, we can feel confident God will answer us by doing “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).  

Episode Resources 

Extreme Prayer by Greg Pruett: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Prayer-Impossible-Prayers-Promises/dp/1414386249  

Become a Prayer Partner: https://lbt.org/pray  

Join us for a “fireside chat” approach in this episode, where Rich Rudowske, Executive Director + CEO, is joined by Paul Federwitz, Director for Fields Programs, for a vital conversation about the intersection of cutting-edge technology and the enduring practice of Bible translation. 

The heart of our discussion lies in the relationship between human wisdom and AI's capabilities. While acknowledging AI's potential to enrich the translator's toolkit, our hosts dive further into the irreplaceable value of the human touch and community involvement in rendering Scripture's profound messages. 

The conversation steers clear of technical jargon, offering a clear view of AI's role as a supportive ally rather than a replacement for human expertise. We address the excitement around tech advancements, alongside the careful considerations they demand, all in an accessible chat that will resonate whether you speak tech or are simply intrigued by the potential AI has in a variety of fields. 

Tune in for a balanced discussion that weaves together the human experience, technology in communication, and the promising avenues of AI in Bible translation. 

In this episode, we are joined by two staff members of Lutheran Bible Translators - David Federwitz, Regional Director for West Africa, and Calvin Inman, IT coordinator, who recently returned from Liberia. They discuss the importance of being physically present in their work and how technology is a tool for spreading God's truth. 

The focus of the trip was to work with our partner, the Liberia Translation and Literacy Organization, LIBTRALO. LIBTRALO is working in a number of different languages focused primarily on literacy and Scripture engagement. 

It’s challenging to keep up with the rapidly evolving and expanding technology landscape, even for IT professionals. In his IT role, Calvin interacts with a lot of our partners. To best serve partners, IT needs an intimate knowledge of the working environment, the equipment, the people, and more. Without that insight, it’s difficult to assess the best course of action when IT issues arise.  

Cultural differences play a role too – Westen society is time-based and African society is often relationship-based. Technology and approach needs to adapt to each context. For this reason, it was critical to be there in person. 

Calvin shared that the first day of the trip was simply getting to know the team, their background, where they live, their family, and more. Once the group opens up with each, it’s easier to open up about the issues they’re facing with technology. By the end of the trip, issues that have never been raised over the phone, we surfacing and Calvin was able to walk alongside them in fixing the issue. 

It’s important to remember that behind every computer in the IT world is a person who is deeply loved by God. Technology is often associated with individuals sitting behind desks in isolation, but in reality, all aspects of IT involve working with people. Whether it's networking, software development, or PC support, the ultimate goal is to serve and support individuals. This perspective shapes their perception of IT work, it’s a means to serve and support God's people in their mission. 

In this episode, we sit down with Rev. Chuck and Karen Tessaro, missionaries who have been serving in Nigeria since 1985. The Tessaros share their experiences working on translation projects and their transition to a role of consulting and equipping the church. They discuss the importance of putting God's word in people's hands (having served with Lutheran Bible Translators since 2003) and how it has led to new insights and a deeper understanding of faith.  

The Tessaros are an inspiration in their reliance on God through prayer. Prayer is so much more than an individual practice; prayer can foster unity and acts as a collective effort to address challenges that arise in translation ministry. 

Throughout their time in Nigeria, the Tessaros have lived amongst the community – going to market, sitting in conversation with, and praying with them. Nigeria has encountered significant times of suffering through war and food scarcity, and yet the Tessaros and many others they’ve impacted were able to stay mindful of the Lord’s presence and His provision. 

Discover the power of God’s Word, the value of building relationships, and the impact of prayer in this enlightening episode.