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Asset Based Bible Translation (ABBT)

Many of you will have heard of asset-based community development (ABCD). How can Bible translation programmes be asset based, rather than deficit based? The best way to look at this is a comparison table:

Deficit based Asset based
Driven by outsiders Driven by the community
Outside funding Community funded
Done to meet a need Done to help the community grow
Quality control done by a consultant Community checked and approved
Control from outside-in Lead by stepping back
Products not accepted? Products are accepted
Little engagement Engagement with products
Scientific Organic
Not sustainable Sustainable

Of course many translation programmes these days are neither one nor t'other, they are somewhere between these two extremes. Nevertheless, this illustrates a point, and shows that the current drive to 'finish' Bible translation for all people groups in the world 'that need a translation' (their deficit is the Bible) is misguided. Instead the focus should be on the community reaching out to unbelievers and discipleship of believers within that community using whatever means (and products) are available, or can be developed. In an ideal scenario, a passage from Scripture is translated during the week, and used on Sunday (and perhaps midweek in a life group). The idea that we can somehow speed up the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah by finishing all overseas mission work (and therefore reach out to every people group) is very 20th century, and also very bad theology. With asset-based Bible translation the focus is on kingdom growth rather than completing a task. Outsiders will often be needed to help with training, and to act as catalysts to help the process get moving in the first place. Once the community is working on producing products to help the community develop (and this is understood holistically i.e. we believe in integral mission), then Scripture translation will be carried out as and when necessary to help with that development. The old model of translating the Scriptures first and then encouraging Scripture engagement will be a thing of the past (not that SE people ever thought it was a good idea).

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