Why the dolphins? Well… joy and new songs come in many forms! Some from ministry (below) and some from the “stuff” God shares along the way. So, this is one of the perks of being in Kona for our short-term ministry assignment — weekends… diving… from the shore… beautiful. This family inspired me with their own song!
Vicki and I are “toughing it out” on a short-term assignment in Kona, Hawaii this fall. The goal is to help build meaningful collaboration between Seed Company and our friends in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an international ministry wired quite differently than Seed Company. Both are well-established ministries - and we really like each other!
We were about 65 feet below the surface… waited quietly… they just came and danced for us. I literally had tears in my mask as they seemed to be sent just to greet us… just to make our hearts smile… thank you Lord!
YWAM focuses on youth. They are known for passion, enthusiasm, and a “go anywhere, do anything” spirit. YWAM-ers tend to have a short-term view of mission activity. They seem to prioritize “what’s happening now.” Imagine a lot of dancing and singing in their journey and service!
Seed Company, on the other hand, invests deeply in long term outcomes of Bible translation. We design and implement projects with great attention to detail. Very different approaches to ministry! But we have an important, common thread in our shared DNA - both organizations deeply value the Scriptures. Both ministries want God’s Word to be available to all peoples, in all languages.
YWAM, left, surfing the waves of opportunity and ministry, dancing joyfully together, shooting for the moon! Seed Company, right, accelerating Bible translation approaches and partnerships, grounded in mission, managing projects for quality results. Both ministries learning to run together, like at a picnic 3-legged sack race, to see Scripture available for all. By God’s grace, we’re building something unique aimed at Kingdom results… It’s a new song for many of us… and it’s fantastic to be right in the middle!
Increasingly, YWAM wants to be meaningfully involved in Bible translation activities. They have a vision to End Bible Poverty Now. Seed Company’s vision is to see Scriptures being translated in every language group that need them by 2025. You can see the potential for synergy and collaboration. I get to work right in the middle of all this passion and purpose… building a “third space” where we can serve together.
Ron and Judy. Long-time servants. Bible lovers and teachers. First Bible translators in YWAM… incredible privilege to team together at this stage in life to encourage the next generation.
And, good news for all of us, this isn’t entirely new to YWAM. The couple in the photo (Ron and Judy Smith) have been with YWAM since the 1970s. They pioneered YWAM’s 9-month long School of Biblical Studies in 1981. They are deeply invested in the value of Scripture, and seeing it become available for all the language groups of the world. In fact, Ron facilitated YWAM’s first Bible translation project in the late 1980s… a forerunner of our current collaboration.
Jesse, right, the next generation, leading the School of Biblical Studies at the University of the Nations in Kona… passionate for the Scriptures and the Lord of the Scriptures… committed to see the Word come alive among the nations… humble servant leader.
You can see that Ron and Judy - and me - might not fit chronologically in the midst of a youth movement… but God is doing a new thing… using folks like us, in teamwork, through our passions and experience, to call some of the next generation, like Jesse (above) and his colleagues to Bible translation involvement. It’s amazing. I find myself breathing the air of this “new song” almost every day!
Psalm 98:1 “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”