Ep. 234: Translating The Bible In A New Way:  A Conversation With Jane Schoen and Amy McClintock

Today I welcome back to the program Jane Schoen, and we are joined by her colleague Amy McClintock.  Jane and Amy are with 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. Almost two years 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 LinguaLinx. I wrote an article about this process in August of 2021. But one aspect of this project that is different from those undertaken by traditional Bible translation organizations is the remarkable degree of transparency SRG has shown to me in the process.  Last year, for example, I checked in with Jane in both January and August to get updates on the project.  And that’s what we are doing today.  The difference today is that Amy McClintock has joined SRG in a leadership role, so she will be joining Jane in today’s conversation. The very fact that Jane and Amy 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 I’ll have links to those articles below.  I encourage you to check them out. Before we go, I’d like to remind you that MinistryWatch is donor supported.  We take no money from ministries.  All of our content is free.  No paywall.  That means we couldn’t do what we do without faithful donors.  You guys are the real heroes of this enterprise.  So if you’d like to join that heroic group by pitching in to make sure that MinistryWatch remains a viable endeavor, you can go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the “donate” button at the top of the page.  And if you donate in the month of January, we’ll send you, as our thank you, a copy of Dr. Michael Kruger’s new book “Bully Pulpit.”  This book defines what spiritual abuse is, and is not, and provides practical and compassionate ways for dealing with spiritual abuse in the church.  To donate, click here. 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 https://ministrywatch.com/the-bible-translation-industry-is-at-a-crossroads/   American Bible Society Names Robert Briggs As President – June 30, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/american-bible-society-names-robert-l-briggs-as-president-and-ceo/   Key Executives Depart Wycliffe Associates – August 12, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/key-executives-depart-wycliffe-associates/