August 2023 – MissioPhil

First cohort of the Graduate Certificate in Translation Consulting program, with me and another instructor — First cohort of the GCTC program, with me (front right) and another instructor (front center)

One of the greatest joys in my ministry with Wycliffe Bible Translators is teaching courses at Dallas International University. DIU exists for just one reason: To train current and future Christian workers to serve effectively in cross-cultural ministries around the world. Most students at DIU are preparing specifically for work in Bible translation.

This summer, DIU began offering a new program of study leading to a Graduate Certificate in Translation Consulting (GCTC). Our first group of students, four men and two women, are from three different countries. At the end of June, I traveled to the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CANIL) in Vancouver, British Colombia along with another DIU professor and our Academic Dean. There we held a week of orientation to kick off the new program. The GCTC will prepare these men and women to help local translation teams ensure that their translations are faithful to the original biblical text and understandable to the people who will use them.

Our Fall 2023 semester begins at DIU on August 23. I will be teaching “Cultural Competence and Communication,” the second course in the GCTC program. I am excited about this course! My passion is teaching Christians about other peoples and cultures so that they can clearly communicate to everyone God’s message of love and hope through Jesus Christ! I know God is going to bless me and my students as we gain competence in crossing boundaries of culture and language with the Good News.

Thank you for partnering with me in prayer and finances so that I can serve with Wycliffe by teaching at DIU! Through your partnership in prayer and finances, we are taking God’s Word to those who need to hear.

Co-workers in God’s Service

In 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches a fundamental principle of building God’s Kingdom. He writes, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow … The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose. … For we are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:6, 8-9 NIV).

That’s what you and I are! I spend my days teaching future translation workers how to make sense of new cultures. You work hard every day doing your job for God’s glory, so that you can support the ministry of Wycliffe Bible Translators. And that makes us partners with each other and with God. What an amazing privilege we have to serve God together!

As your co-worker, I invite you to partner with my Wycliffe ministry through prayer and regular giving. If you are ready to do this, please go to wycliffe.org/partner/philtroutman and click “Pray and Stay Connected” to become a prayer partner, and click “Give” to become a financial partner. Together, we can make God’s Word available to all peoples!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all things”

Rejoice the that New Testament in the Vitu language of Papua New Guinea was dedicated on July 27, 2023. This means that more than 5,000 Vitu-speakers now have access to God’s Word in the language they understand best!
Pray that God will give me wisdom, organizational skill, and stamina as I teach at Dallas International University while also working to raise up a team of prayer and financial partners to sustain me in my Wycliffe ministry.
Give thanks that God continues to call men and women from around the world into the ministry of Bible translation. Many of these future Bible translation workers receive their training at Dallas International University.