International (MNN) — Bible translation is absolutely vital to the evangelization of the globe. But what happens once those translations are finished? Do they always resonate with the people group they're designed for?
One way that Wycliffe Bible Translators ensures that the message of their newly-translated Scripture projects gets across is to incorporate it into more media than just a book. Many cultures praise God in many different ways, and Wycliffe has found several effective methods for getting Scripture into those worship styles.
Wycliffe trains World Arts Specialists to team up with local Christians to take newly-translated Scripture and incorporate the truth of God's Word in each local culture's performing and visual arts.
While training in the World Arts program, students learn how to research traditional art forms in the cultural context of a language community. They determine how local instruments and the style of the music contribute to the message. They look at the role dance and drama play in telling a story.
When personnel understand the answers to these questions and more, they help the artists in the community communicate God's Word more powerfully through those artistic forms.
Wycliffe argues that God is not only glorified when people hear the Bible in their own language, but also when it is effectively shared in forms that speak to the very core of who people are.
Currently, Wycliffe is in high need of Arts Specialists. Teams are needed everywhere, especially where there are high concentrations of minority language communities, such as Central Africa, the islands of the Pacific, and Asia.
Wycliffe implores you to ask God to send laborers into His harvest fields; pray for an increase in the number of people applying to Wycliffe as Arts Specialists. Pray that many people would be transformed by the Scripture-based messages World Arts personnel help to create.
Click here to learn more about how you can serve the Lord with song, dance, theatre, and story.
