By Heather Pubols
Would you go to a library or bookstore if there was only one book there in a language you knew well? That’s the reality for people in many parts of the world. They might have a Bible in their language but have no other books.
In contrast, many of people in other places have access to a wealth of literature and written content that we can read in our own language, yet we don’t appreciate it!
Books capture the knowledge and stories of communities so that it can be shared now and for many years to future generations. For Christians, this can include explanations of biblical texts, testimonies of God’s faithfulness, or stories from a Christian worldview that give us a glimpse into God’s purposes.
MAI provides opportunities for Christians to learn how to create those libraries—to write, edit and publish the materials that will enrich their community and help to grow the church.
A Bible translation leader recently told me about a community in Cameroon that created all kinds of new literature after the Bible was translated into their minority language. They started with practical guides for how to do farming, how to handle local health needs and hygiene, literacy booklets and primers.
From there, they went on to create topical books and works of fiction. The community now has a group that writes plays and does live performances. They’ve had a revival of their culture and language. That never would have happened if those first pieces of literature had not been created.
In other places, the written culture is old, but the Christian publishing sector is weak, non-existent, or only focused on translating foreign books.
In fact, you may think, “There’s already so much Christian literature. Let’s just translate those books.” Translated books are not bad. Outside perspectives can be beneficial. I’ve enjoyed many translated books that have given me the unique insights offered by other cultures.
Yet home-grown authors can connect to the local context and needs in ways that translated literature usually doesn’t. MAI is equipped to be an important partner to help train and develop more local Christian writers, editors and publishers.
God has gifted local writers, editors, and publishers with the insights of an insider in their culture. That can help them interpret Christian faith for their local context in ways that outsiders can’t.
Not only is this valuable for local communities so that they can interpret their Christian walk through their cultural lens, but it’s also something that helps all Christians globally. Everyone has blind spots and areas of strength, and our cultures are all different. We can learn and grown in our faith from the ideas and perspectives offered by believers in other contexts.
When a culture is able to express Christianity through their worldview, that is a blessing to the nations. We want the world’s theologians and the world’s artists to create new works of theology, new works of Christian discipleship, new tools for evangelism, and even Christian-based poetry, fiction, and other artistic forms of literature to benefit their own community and beyond.
In the Bible, Revelation 7:9 gives us a picture of what heaven will be like. It describes a future where a great multitude of people from every tribe, tongue, and language is worshiping before the throne of God.
Why does God want all of these different kinds of people there?
Because the fullest expression of the image of God in humanity comes from believers across different time periods, from different cultures, speaking different languages—all coming together, all of us each with our own unique perspectives, sharing that with each other.
God is inviting all of us to join him in what he is doing.
One of the ways you can participate with him is by helping to equip more communities to be able to have original literature for their language and context. Through MAI you can do this by joining us in prayer, partnering with us financially, or giving your time and experience as a volunteer.
Will you join us?
Related resources
- Why Christian publishing? with Heather Pubols
- Writing as an Act of Worship with Jeremy Taylor
- Publishing for Lasting Impact – a webinar with Mark Carpenter