Japan (MNN) — “A Word With You” is now being translated into seven languages as Hutchcraft Ministries has found a partner to do daily translation and broadcast work in Japanese.
“A Word With You” is Hutchcraft Ministries’ five-minute daily devotional broadcast that has run for 40 years.
Brad Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries says that the country of Japan has been on their radar for a long time.
“It’s been a country that has been on our hearts because we’re all about wanting to be able to get the gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of Jesus, to some of the hardest to reach,” Brad says. “When you’re looking at a country where one percent proclaim to know Jesus, that is a place that we want to be with a program like this.”
(Photo courtesy of Pixabay)
The point of adding a Japanese translation is not just to say that “A Word With You” has added another language.
Brad says that having the right translation and host partner is essential because of the conversational nature of the ministry.
“A Word with You” is written and narrated by Brad Hutchcraft’s dad, Ron.
“It’s not just kind of this monotone telling of a story.” Hutchcraft says. “And so when we’re going into these other languages, other cultures, we want to make sure that it is someone who represents that, and we love that.”
In the ministry’s partnership with Trans World Radio, Hutchcraft Ministries has found people with the right intonation and storytelling abilities, which make “A Word With You” so special.
Hutchcraft says, “It’s a storytelling approach to the gospel and to encouraging the body of Christ. When you are able to have a story-wrapped gospel, it breaks down barriers. It reaches people where they’re at. When you tell the story in a positive, encouraging way, all of a sudden, you’re evoking the emotions, and you’re connecting with the listener.
One of the partners recently shared with the Hutchcrafts that she loves the program because people want to listen to it.
“As she explained it to us,” Hutchcraft says, “People are listening to it, and all of a sudden they’re hearing this story, and they’re wondering where it’s going, and by the time you hear where it’s going, it’s too late. You’ve already heard; you can’t run away from it at that point.”
Listeners even reach out to say that the stories connect with them and that they have either brought them closer to Jesus or brought them to Jesus for the first time.
The struggles people are facing in Japan are similar to those of many around the world. People are lonely and have devastating hopelessness. In these digital days, people are looking for things that matter, Hutchcraft says.
(Photo Courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)
“We’re trying to teach people that there is this relationship, this usable relationship,” Hutchcraft says. “When you have this connection with Jesus, it’s not just about the solo, personal relationship, and that’s important, but all of a sudden you’re part of the body of Christ, you’re part of a greater community.”
Hutchcraft Ministries tries to make sure they are encouraging the local body of Christ to tune in.
“The program that is going out in Japanese is on the (Trans World Radio) app now, so it is being broadcast there, and it’s been translated, but we are in the final stages of just making sure that where it airs in Japan will have the greatest impact, and we’re working with our partners to make sure that it’s in the places that will reach the most people with the gospel,” Hutchcraft says.
Please pray that the messages will reach the right locations and that people will have open hearts.
Pray that this program will join in what the body of Christ is already doing in Japan and that the Lord will position the work in the place that would have the greatest impact and reach the most people for Jesus.
Pray that believers and non-believers alike will experience how deep, wide, and far the love of Christ goes.
