I sat in the back row . . . listening and praying from a heart overflowing with thanksgiving. The leaders up front spoke with conviction born from perseverance through severe challenges. Their love for God and for His Word overflowed from their hearts. At the tables around them, other African and Asian leaders listened intently, taking notes in their own languages, leaning to whisper translations for their colleagues, soaking in every word. The encouragement flowed smoothly from heart to heart like cool and refreshing water. Creativity, energy, motivation, and commitment were rising to new levels!

I wish you could meet these leaders, Alex, Efi, Marnix, and Diolia; Peter, Boureima, Beatrice, and Cyrus. To my knowledge, this was the first gathering of its kind in modern Bible translation. African and Asian leaders in Bible translation came together to share experiences and encouragement to sharpen one another and to explore ways to increase the impact of their ministries in the communities they serve.

Normally these gatherings are organized and their agendas controlled by Americans or Europeans. When I first heard about the plan for this gathering of African and Asian leaders, I was thrilled. These are men and women whom I have come to know, respect, and love during 14 years of partnership in Bible translation in their nations. They are insiders in Bibleless communities, personal stakeholders in the outcome of Bible translation, with understanding and insight into the implications that outsiders can only understand remotely.

When they invited me to attend this gathering, my first response was to decline. I did not want to compromise their conversation. I wanted them to speak to one another freely and unguardedly. But they winsomely persisted in reaching out to me. They invited me to listen . . . and to follow their leadership. I couldn’t decline.

To me, it felt like turning a corner. For a long time, I sensed that this turn was coming, but I saw only uncertain alleyways or apparent dead-ends until this gathering. Now the new direction seems obvious and clear. Our international partners are leading Bible translation into a new season of effectiveness.

Helen Keller once said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road . . . unless you fail to make the turn.”

Let’s turn together!

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