Adventures in California

November 20, 2013 in Church, Culture, Front, Life, Mark, Wycliffe

SONY DSC

Although we are currently living in Oregon in the US, Laura is originally from California and still considers that to be her home in many ways. Recently we were excited to be able to spend a couple of weeks in California visiting friends, supporters and our supporting church in Petaluma.

We had an amazing time, and loved being able to catch up with friends who we hadn’t seen for a couple of years. Our time in Petaluma was also really encouraging, particularly as we spent an evening with the church home group that has committed to supporting us in prayer and practically in whatever ways they can. We were really glad to have the opportunity to spend time getting to know the group better, and felt humbled by their enthusiasm to support us and our work in whatever ways they can. Read the rest of this entry →

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A missional reading of 1 Peter 2:4-12

October 9, 2013 in Africa, Bible, Bible translation, Church, Language, Mark, Mission, Tanzania, Theology, Wycliffe

Speaking at Calvary Chapel, Salem

Last week Laura and I had the opportunity to speak at Calvary Chapel, Salem here in Oregon. As well as giving an update on Bible translation projects that we’re involved in in Tanzania, I took a look at 1 Peter 2:4-12, exploring what it means to read this section of the letter from a missional perspective.

Looking back, I think I sub-consciously applied the various missional hermeneutics we covered in the “Reading the Bible Missionally” module of Redcliffe’s MA in Bible and Mission, specifically looking at:

  • The place of the text in the missional meta-narrative of the Bible
  • The significance of the text in forming and equipping a missional community among its initial hearers
  • The text as part of a movement from the particular to the universal
  • The text speaking to the missional situation of the present-day hearers

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Nyiha Scriptures: “Now I know how my ancestors talked about God”

August 15, 2013 in Africa, Bible translation, Church, Front, Language, Mark, Mission, Swahili, Tanzania, Wycliffe

Nyiha family

Back in May I was privileged to spend a few days with the Nyiha language community in Mbozi District of Tanzania’s Mbeya Region. The Nyiha were the first community that I was involved in surveying in August and September 2004, and since then they have worked with experts from around the world to translate the books of Ruth, Jonah, Mark, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Revelation into their language.

The purpose of my recent visit was to see what impact these translated Scriptures are having among the community, and to see what lessons could be learned from the Nyiha that could be applied to translation projects in other communities throughout Tanzania. Read the rest of this entry →

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Ten things I love about being in America

June 27, 2013 in Culture, Front, Life, Mark

Mount Jefferson

Recently we transitioned from life in Mpanda, Tanzania, to Oregon in the USA where we’ll be for the next few months. Below are ten things that I’m really enjoying about life in America. Once you’ve browsed through these, you might like to take a look at the ten things that I’m missing about our life in Tanzania…

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Ten things I miss about Tanzania

June 27, 2013 in Culture, Front, Life, Mark

Babu and Bibi

Recently we transitioned from life in Mpanda, Tanzania, to Oregon in the USA where we’ll be for the next few months. Below are ten things that I’m already missing about Tanzania. Once you’ve browsed through these, you might like to take a look at the ten things that I’m enjoying about America… Read the rest of this entry →

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