Riding the Second and Third Missionary Waves

The first wave was the expatriate missionaries who came to Brazil to reach the indigenous people groups and who continue to provide training, technology, and resources; the second wave was the entry of Brazilian nationals to reach the indigenous groups; and now the third wave has arrived. Brazil’s indigenous people are now going out as missionaries to reach other indigenous groups and acting as resources to help others translate more of the Bible. Dias said that “Coming together, the three waves can become a tsunami!”

One hundred twenty nine people with an interest in the impact of Scripture came from 58 different ministries and 20 countries across the Americas—from the Northwest Territories of Canada to Chile—to attend the second Scripture Impact Partnership Conference in Panama City, Panama November 12-15.

The purpose of the conference was “To build a regional partnership in the Americas for sustainable universal access to and utilization of Scripture in this and every generation.” The concept of “Scripture impact” was stated simply in the conference’s theme: “Working Together So That the World May Know.” That is, that the world may see Christian unity and know that God sent Christ and that He loves them too. (John 17: 23).

COMIBAM, SIL Americas Area, Wycliffe Americas Area, The Latin American Forum of Bible Societies, and A Toda Lengua, a networking organization, sponsored the conference.

Henrique, a little boy when missionaries came to his village in Brazil, told conference participants: “I would never have believed as a young boy that I would be standing here, a child of God, an Indian mission leader. It’s because years ago missionaries came to my village and we heard the Good News about Jesus.” Now Henrique wants to help his people in Brazil learn more about God, to receive His Word in their own language, the language of the heart.

Jose De Dios, Americas Wycliffe’s America area director, said that what impacted him most about the conference as the Wycliffe’s area director was that “Partnerships are about relationships with a purpose. We don’t just use people so we can meet our goals, but we also seek these relationships in order to enable each other to meet our common goals.”

Key topics addressed that were followed by group discussions were “The future of Vision 2025” presented by Kirk Franklin, Wycliffe International executive director designate; the “Ethno-linguistic communities for the 21st century” presented by Wycliffe and SIL International Executive Director John Watters; “Evaluating the impact of cultural change” and “The integral mission” by Allen Reesor, Book of Hope; and “World view,” by Dr. Isabel Murphy, SIL Brazil.

Conference organizers hoped to see the meetings result in: (1) strong community and teamwork among leaders of in the Americas; (2) shared understanding of the global and regional issues where partners work; (3) cooperative strategies for translation, revision, publication, and distribution that promote Scripture impact using various media in the Americas and around the world; (4) collaborative systems to envision, train and mobilize workers from the Americas for the Worldwide Scripture Impact movement; and (5) cooperation among partners in providing prayer, personnel and funding for the Scripture impact movement.

This conference and other meetings involving representatives of the three waves have seen such outcomes fulfilled. Wycliffe International executive director for the last six years, John Watters, said, “It has been particularly gratifying to see what God has done during the past six years. This conference with partners was a testimony to how far we have come in being more inclusive and walking with the church of Latin America as it grows in its awareness and commitment to missions and the ministry of God’s Word.”

Wycliffe International Executive Director Designate Kirk Franklin said, “To hear the participants’ vision and reports of what they are doing to involve the Latin American church in Bible ministry was very encouraging…I was impressed with what I heard is happening within these countries, particularly in places like Brazil and Peru amongst the Indians of the Amazon and the Quechua in Peru—of Latin Americans ministering amongst their own people groups.”

As the conference was drawing to a close, Nory Grant, SIL Americas communications coordinator saw evidence of the strong community and teamwork that was a key goal of the conference and noted, “I saw people huddling in lively groups following the scheduled meetings for further discussion and visiting, and many gathering for group pictures. It was great!”

Although the immediate success or outcomes of the conference is hard to measure at this time, SIL Americas Area Director Jim Roberts said, “The most significant impact of the Partnership Conference will be revealed in the months and years ahead. I know that seeds of many relationships and alliances were planted during the conference that will bear fruit in the years to come.”

—Arthur Lightbody
November 28, 2007.