Last weekend I spoke in a youth conference in Italy organized by the guys at 9:37. 
Although I was very nervous about getting cultural applications wrong and the struggle to preach through an interpreter – I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great weekend, and the young people were really friendly, encouraging and genuine.
The cross cultural experience created a few thoughts in my mind:
- Italy, like many other nations, is in great need spiritually.
- The young people are the generation that needs to reach out.
- Although the evangelical church is clear on the gospel, they struggle to contextualise it.
- 9:37 is a vital ministry (Google ‘nove37’ and click on ‘translate this page’).
- We need to pray for Italy.
- We need to support mission in Italy.
- Italy is only a RyanAir flight away…
I wonder, should more emerging leaders in Wales be popping over to Italy (and France, Albania, etc) and be creating partnerships with other emerging leaders? It would take less than a week a year and £100. In Acts 1:8 we were given the road map of the church: Local, national and international. We speak a lot about the local on this blog (great), have interviewed David Ollerton about the national (very good), but what about the international?
I’ve been reading John Piper (never a comfortable read), and have been challenged by this: ‘Where passion for God is weak, zeal for missions will be weak.’
So, where will you go?
Last weekend reminded me of how easy it is to see our local needs and forget the world outside. Last weekend challenged me to remember God’s heart is for all the people’s of the world and as you preached to be missional is to be involved in world wide mission. My challenge is to live this out not just this month when we are both inspired but over the coming months and years.
Couldn’t agree more.
We had a similar experience in Spain lately, when we went to visit a student worker there. She covers a patch almost twice the size of Wales. Pretty much on her own. We visited one of her CU’s – two students (in a large university).
You think things are bad in this country, we’re positively thriving compared with countries which aren’t a million miles away.
Being only bilingual (which is, i guess, one better than most evangelicals in the UK) and also a heavy laden dyslexic (did i spell that right?!) my severe lack of ability to learn other languages had made me realize years ago when i was in my teens that foreign mission of any sorts was not at all a calling of mine. But this business of having an on-the-spot translator, Benny Hin style, hits me as very interesting – and although it is unlikely to get me sending letters off offering my self to OMF and IFES it certainly opens my eyes to a cross-language medium of gospel spreading that i hadn’t thought of before.
Perhaps I can come and preach in Welsh at the Church in Amanford on a Sunday morning and have Darcy translate on-the-spot into English for me… no wait having Mr. Hallam senior would be more entertaining!
We have translation in our Welsh language service Darganfod (although we do use headphones). I’m not convinced that having an on-the-spot translator is necessarily a ‘Benny Hin Style’ thing (and all the connotations that follow), but I am thinking of dying my hair silver
. In Italy my greatest concern was for them to grow indigenous churches, and have them as young Italians to lead the work. However, I do believe there is a place for occasional on the spot translation.
For example, if a Christian minister from Rwanda was in Britain and was going to preach, I would happily listen through an on-the-spot translator.
By the way, what about being a missionary to Australia or Patagonia?
I can’t believe in this technological age that some sort of instantaneous translation wasn’t employed. It is really sad though that they have to out source their speaking, i guess it goes to show the spiritual need.
I’m glad that 3 out of 4 of our “English Preachers” already preach in our welsh language service. No need for out sourceing there!
Maybe. Mind you, the guy translating was a better preacher than me! His name was Jonathan too.
I agree instantaneous translation is better than sentence at a time translation but the problem with instantaneous translation is the need for hundreds of headsets in conference context which is expensive.
Did you hear the story about the tongues-translation in Rhiwbeina Baptist some time ago? This guy was lead to the front and gave a word in tongues – people waited for the translation and the application but none came. Then this Polish guy (i think it was Polish anyway) came forward and told the congregation that the guy in the front was talking Polish, his language, and he explained the gospel to him in his own language and there and then he committed himself to Christ. The amazing thing was that the guy who did the explaining in Polish couldn’t speak polish, never did and never done afterwards! Amazing!
You don’t believe in polish, do you?
Good info, thanks