Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – The Luke Partnership: A First Step in Evangelism, Church Planting, and Discipleship

By Bob Creson, Jim Green, and Roy Peterson

The Luke Partnership enables a community to attempt translation work without setting up intimidating, long-term projections for a full-scale New Testament project.

“We always consider the option of modifying these initial goals,” says Dr. Katy Barnwell, senior consultant for The Seed Company, “but so far the Luke Partnership package—Luke, the JESUS film, and other Old and New Testament scriptures—has been approved without much variation.”

We strongly emphasize audio materials from the beginning so the community can use the scriptures right away, even before they have a literacy program in their language. Even where some can read, audio often provides the most effective media to reach people. Tom Meiner, director of partnerships for the JESUS Film Project, explains,

In many cases, the Luke Partnership brings the first scriptures in their mother tongue to a group of people. The JESUS film is certainly the first film in their language, which obviously creates a lot of interest. For many of these people, the literacy rate is low, so the film helps bring them the message of Christ in a way they can understand…. The film generates excitement for the believers because now they have a tool that will draw attention, whether in a large crowd or in a private showing, so there is new interest in evangelism. Often this carries over to a nearby language group. The church leaders in that group then want these tools for their people as well. Church planting impact is similar. The scripture and film help to open doors and reveal the “ripe fruit.” If there was no church, in many cases one has started.

Partnering with Future Users of the Materials
The Luke Partnership is a strategy that enables a community to attempt translation work without setting up intimidating, long-term projections for a full-scale New Testament project. The aim is to produce materials that local churches and mission agencies can use immediately—often within ninety days of the start of translation. Local churches welcome this approach and availability of tools for evangelism and church planting in a form that can be used immediately.

“Making available small portions early,” says Barnwell, “and involving the church and community in testing and using these early, helps to increase local interest and support.” Barnwell also notes that this process allows quick feedback on the translation that helps the team to find the right style of translation for the local situation.

Where churches exist in the language area they are primary partners and owners of the projects. In areas where no church exists, the Luke Partnership looks for other agencies working in the area with whom we can partner for immediate and ongoing impact. This material is never developed in a vacuum or translated without a plan for distribution and follow up.

The Cluster Strategy In many cases, languages identified as priority needs for translation are not isolated. We developed a “cluster strategy,” grouping languages in the same geographical area together.

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Bob Creson (left) is president/CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. He worked in West Africa and in international administration with SIL. Jim Green (middle) is executive director of The Jesus Film Project. He joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1962, serving in Africa for fourteen of his forty-six years in ministry. Roy Peterson (right) is president/CEO of The Seed Company, an affiliate of Wycliffe USA, which focuses on national-led Bible translation.