Welcome to Essentially Translatable. Are you fascinated by languages, literacy, cross-cultural issues, and the Word? Join us in exploring the exciting world of Bible Translation! Featuring interviews with leaders in the global translation community, Essentially Translatable is educational, exciting and informative.
“When that Word is put in the language that I learned at my mother's knee, that I grew up with, that I understand to my core, and I hear God’s Word coming to me, that’s my God.” –Rev. Dave Brezina
Rev. Dave Brezina serves at Messiah Lutheran Church near Boston, Massachusetts. His congregation celebrated Bible Translation Sunday in 2020. Discover the impact.
Access this year’s Bible Translation Sunday resources at lbt.org/bts.
"From day zero, it was a community effort. There were so many people who were fired up about what we were doing. And so many people wanted to be involved.” –Dr. Chris Pluger
Dr. Chris & Janine Pluger served in Zambia and helped complete the Nsenga New Testament. Now they are headed to Ethiopia to serve in multiple Bible translation projects. They have plenty of stories to share.
“When people lose hope, it is time for the Gospel. It is time to plant the faith. We have seen also people, who are coming to Jesus. Because when people despair, they need encouragement.” – Bishop Andrew Gulle
Bishop Andrew Gulle leads the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania’s East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELCT-ELVD). The Lutheran Church of Tanzania is the second largest Lutheran church body in Africa. Lutheran Bible Translators partners with the ELVD in the Kerewe Bible translation program.
Many churches do not know about the ongoing need for Bible translation. Millions of people are still without Scripture in a language they understand. Join the Bible translation movement to put God’s Word in their hands.
Mark your calendar. Sign up to receive resources! Bible Translation Sunday is September 26th this year (lbt.org/bts).
Dr. Reed Lessing is this year’s sermon contributor for Bible Translation Sunday. He is the Director of the Center for Biblical Studies, a professor at Concordia University St. Paul, and the author of several Old Testament commentaries.
Heidi Goehmann is an author, licensed clinical social worker, deaconess, and mental health advocate. Heidi serves on Lutheran Bible Translators' Board of Directors and is passionate about God's Word in the hands of people everywhere.
“That is what the Bible does for us. It helps root out all that internal stuff so that God can begin to heal and redeem and restore.”
Dr. Bruk Ayele serves as president of Mekane Yesus Seminary in Ethiopia. Explore with him. Listen to Bible translation as mission within the largest Lutheran church body in the world.
"Part of that mission …is bringing the Good News to someone in their heart language. So, if our missionaries are Bible translators, …we believe that that mission will be very effective.” – Dr. Bruk Ayele
Rob Hilbert is the Executive Director of Aramaic Bible Translation and missionary with Lutheran Bible Translators. He previously served as a missionary with LBT in Sierra Leone and Botswana.
“It was the language that Jesus spoke in and would have communicated in. So, it has been around for a long time. The [Aramaic] languages we currently work in are descendants of that language.” – Rob Hilbert
Students had questions, and the pastors had answers.
Pastor Tom Lange teaches religion including Christian apologetics at Saint Paul Lutheran High School.
Listen in to stories of Easter from around the world. Laugh, ponder, and rejoice!
“We’re celebrating, we’re remembering that again – that day. But on the other hand, there’s not a day that has gone by since that first Easter day where that statement isn’t true for all of humanity. Jesus Christ is risen today. And that changes everything.” – Rev. Rich Rudowske
“We just said let’s come together. What can we do together in unity – in oneness – that we couldn’t do by ourselves? The big, big goal was to eradicate Bible poverty.”
-Mart Green
