The Gift of Languages & Cultures
Did you know there are over 7,000 languages in the world? The thousands of different languages, cultures, and art forms are evidence of God’s creativity.
Some might see this diversity as a problem to be solved. We view it as a gift to be celebrated! As a bonus, it also makes our work extremely fascinating.
Interestingly, the places of greatest linguistic diversity often correspond with areas of greatest biodiversity too.
Heart Language & Intimacy
We believe God loves to speak to us in the language we understand best – our heart language!
No language and culture is adequate to perfectly express who God is – even Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or English. Yet all languages can be used by God to communicate meaningfully.
This core belief motivates us to participate in the exciting discovery of how God would speak in Kriol (the language of 14,200 speakers in the Northern Territory), or Lewo (2,200 speakers in Vanuatu), or Bantoanon (75,000 speakers in the Philippines). In the process, we too are enriched as different languages highlight different aspects of God in unique and sometimes clearer ways.
Friendship & Community
We believe God communicates with us to create relationship and community. So our greatest ‘work’ isn’t measured by the number of verses or books we translate, but the depth and quality of the friends we make. This speaks to the ethos of how we hope to serve – not as ‘experts’ going to ‘target groups’, but as friends, and perhaps one day, even family.