Ep. 202: Translating The Bible In A New Way: A Conversation With Jane Schoen

The Editors August 10, 2022

Today I welcome back to the program Jane Schoen. Jane is the director of Strategic Initiatives for the Strategic Resource Group, an organization that funds projects to reach unreached people groups in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called MENA region of the world.

A year ago I reported on a new initiative by the Strategic Resource Group that – if successful – could have a dramatic impact on the way we do Bible translation. They are using a so-called Translation Service Provider – an organization that normally translates contracts, treaties, movie scripts, books, and all manner of other material – to translate the Bible. The company it is using is called Lingua Linx. I wrote an article about this process back in August of last year. Earlier this year we checked in with Jane to see how things were going, and today we look in again.

The very fact that Jane and SRG are allowing me to have these regular check-ins is dramatically different from the way the Bible translation industry normally operates. It’s an industry cloaked in secrecy and layers of bureaucracy. In fact, for the past two years or so, I’ve written nearly two dozen articles on the industry and its practices, and you can find links to these articles below. I encourage you to check them out.

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The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth.

Until next time, may God bless you.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Program

Here is a list of articles we have written about the Bible translation industry, from oldest to newest:

ECFA Charter Member, Wycliffe Associates, Resigns Membership While Under Review – March 7, 2020

https://ministrywatch.com/ecfa-charter-member-wycliffe-associates-resigns-membership-while-under-review/

What Would Wycliffe Fly? – March 19, 2020

https://ministrywatch.com/what-would-wycliffe-fly/

Wycliffe Associates Touts MAST, Print-On-Demand – April 15, 2020

https://ministrywatch.com/wycliffe-associates-touts-mast-and-print-on-demand-program/

When Is A Bible Translation Not A Bible Translation – May 14, 2020

https://ministrywatch.com/when-is-a-bible-translation-not-a-bible-translation/

Bible Translation At A Crossroads – June 30, 2020