MARK MATLOCK, facilitor of the US-based Bible translation support mission Seed Company’s ‘Imagine Zero’ summits, talks about how the new campaign aims to work with churches in taking God’s Word to every person in the world…
Imagine Zero is a new initiative of the Seed Company that is a continued expression of their dedication to the translation of Scripture and the transformation of lives around the globe.
With the mobilisation and support of the local church, leaders aim to accelerate the translation of Scripture and eliminate ‘Bible poverty’ throughout the world within the next decade. The term “imagine zero” embodies our vision to see “zero people without God’s Word”, therefore providing every people group in the world an opportunity to know God and to be changed by the transforming power of the Gospel.
GRAPHIC: Supplied.
“While the task is undoubtedly a big one, it is not limitless in its scope. There are a finite number of languages, and it is up to us, as God’s people, to see that the Scripture is translated into each and every one of them. Jesus Himself has commissioned us to take the Gospel into all the earth, and we believe that He would not have called us to something that was not achievable.”
Believe it or not, this is a realistic goal. There are over 7,000 thousand known languages in the Earth today. While the task is undoubtedly a big one, it is not limitless in its scope. There are a finite number of languages, and it is up to us, as God’s people, to see that the Scripture is translated into each and every one of them. Jesus Himself has commissioned us to take the Gospel into all the earth, and we believe that He would not have called us to something that was not achievable.
In an attempt to describe the severity of Bible poverty consider this: The lack of access to Scripture can be quantified in several ways. Of the 7,000 plus known languages, only 670 of them have a complete translation of the Bible. There are over 1,600 languages that exist without one single verse in their own language. This translates into over 165 million people in the world without a verse of Scripture in their own tongue. Aside from these, there are untold millions with only partial access to God’s Word.
The strategy we have is really built around the idea of a combined, unified effort between existing organisations and the local church. By creating vital partnerships with these organisations around the world and developing a network of like-minded pastors and leaders in the local church, the vision to eliminate Bible poverty worldwide can truly become a reality.
Seed Company is connecting with local leaders by hosting summits in various cities beginning in the US this year. They are quick to point out that these meetings are not conducted according to your typical conference format. Pastors and church leaders are invited free of charge to participate in discussions that focus on the implications for the local church and the Gospel over the next decade and beyond. Summits have been convened in 15 cities thus far this year with another 10 events slated to take place this fall.
Each session lasts only three-and-a-half hours with a complimentary lunch provided. During each session, attendees are introduced to exclusive, Seed Company-commissioned research from Barna Group – Translating the Great Commission. With this information as a foundation, local church leaders then participate in discussions on how they can better energise their congregations, better understand the millennial generation, and better work together to make sure life transformation takes place through Scripture.
Everyone that attends a summit will walk away with a) City-specific insights that will help community outreach effectiveness by learning what Americans are looking for today when they engage the Bible online, with research from American Bible Society’s Look Inside campaign as well as specific approaches to sermon preparation that help increase Bible engagement among each congregation, b) access to a free kit with sermon outlines to engage the church around the support of Bible translation, and c) resources to help churches get involved with Bible translation.
You can learn more about Imagine Zero by visiting www.imaginezero.com .
Mark Matlock has dedicated his life to “the next generation”. For more than two decades, he has worked extensively with ministry leaders, parents, students, churches and organizations, speaking to over one million teenagers in his lifetime. He is the founder and president of WisdomWorks. In addition to his role as consultant through WisdomWorks, Mark is the host and facilitator of the Imagine Zero summits conducted by Seed Company, where he also serves as strategic advisor on church relations. He is also a special project analyst and presenter for Barna Group, aiding clients in facilitating and implementing research findings into the operations and strategic planning of their organisation. Along with past service on various founding boards like MercyMe’s Imagine A Cure Foundation and Seed Company, Mark currently serves on the board for the American Bible Society.
