NTM

Interpreting for Juan

The interpreting marathon is over and I’m back at my desk in my home office in El Paso.

This picture was taken during the closing session of the final day, when Juan led a time of intercession. Prayers were offered in Korean, Tagalog, German, Spanish, Portuguese and English (in a variety of accents) as we worshipped our awesome Father and asked for His blessing and guidance.

Eida and I first met Juan in 1982 when we first went to Colombia to teach in the missionary training center. He was a member the first class of candidates. Juan has been a key member of the group that redesigned our mission into an international partnership of fields and agencies from all over the world. His classmate, Andrés Jiménez, also participated in this Forum in his capacity as Director for the field of Colombia. It’s amazing what God has done since we sat in a tiny classroom together 27 years ago!

On the closing day, the 8-year history of the development of the new working agreement was reviewed, questions were answered, and the delegates formalized their acceptance of the agreement by signing for the entities they represented – both sending countries and church-planting fields.

It was a real honor for my teammate Duff Gustafson and me, not only to be present for this historic occasion, but to assist in the process by interpreting for the speakers and translating into Spanish the collection of documents which make up the new working agreement.

Now it’s back to the daily business of moving my pile of text and video translation projects ahead, completing reports, and keeping our support team (that’s you) up to date. The first Spanish version of an excellent missions video was waiting for me to review when I got back to El Paso. More on that later. Pray that we’ll make good progress on getting this and many other resources into the hands of people who will use them to advance God’s kingdom.

August 12, 2009

I’m writing you from an interpreter’s booth at NTM’s USA headquarters. I arrived on Sunday and will be here till the 19th, a week from today. Every morning at 8:10, I put on my microphone headset with the headphones and begin interpreting for Stuart Briscoe till 9:30, trying to follow him as closely as I possibly can.

Dr. Briscoe is the former pastor of Elmbrook Church and a well-known author. His teaching comes into my ears in English and out my mouth in Spanish, being broadcast to the headsets of the Latin Americans attending this forum who don’t understand English. It may be some of the best teaching that I’ll ever have the privilege of speaking, albeit imperfectly. It’s an excellent study of the life of Peter ― deep, yet entertaining.

Throughout the rest of the day, my teammate Duff Gustafson and I take turns interpreting the four remaining hour-long sessions at the microphone until 4:30 in the afternoon. On a couple occasions, I’ve interpreted (or “interrupted”) for our Latin American brothers alongside them at the lectern, speaking alternately as they shared their thoughts.

This “Field Ministries Forum” is an annual week-long gathering of leaders and consultants from our NTM fields around the world. Ministry strategies and methods are explained and discussed and experiences and learned lessons are shared for the mutual edification of these key people who encourage, guide and coach our cross-cultural church planters.

There are pastors here from Venezuela, a field where the mission has largely been shut down, triggering as a result the formation of an alliance of national churches from different denominations and associations united for the first time in the cause of carrying on the work of reaching tribal people for Christ. It’s very moving to see how God is moving the national churches and NTM to work together in ways that we never have before.

And it’s thrilling to be a part of helping our Latin American brothers function in a role of full partnership on an international level in our fellowship. This is a wonderful thing that God is doing, and your support makes it possible!