Dear Friend,
I recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia where I had the chance to visit the libraries of a few other seminaries. In one of those library tours, I stopped to take a closer look at the kinds of books that were on the shelves, and when I did, I was struck by a sad realization. It wasn’t that most of the books in their collection were from an older era (though they were), or that they were theologically unsound (thankfully they were not). Rather, what hit me was that most of their books were written in English—and most of the people in that country don’t speak English.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this on the field. The sad reality is that the majority of Christians around the world have very few biblically sound books available in their own language.
This is why indigenous publishing is a game changer for missions, and a strategic effort for TMAI.
Alongside preaching, the ability to publish the truth in the common tongue proved to be a major powerhouse behind Luther’s work in the Reformation, and over the past 30 years, we’ve seen this precedent ring true in the work of our Training Centers around the world. Even more than conferences and radio broadcasting, the publication and distribution of good books has brought some of the most enduring fruit to the field that I’ve ever seen. This is why nearly every one of our 18 schools (with over 2,200 students) is engaged in the work of indigenous publishing. They know what happens when people have God’s word explained to them in their own language.
In the past year alone, TMAI’s global network of indigenous publishers have published over 100 books. These include commentaries, systematic theologies, exegetical resources, Christian living books, children’s Sunday school curricula, and more.
But we need your help to continue to make more sound resources available for pastors and church members around the world. As we end 2022 and look ahead to the new year, your contribution to TMAI’s Publishing Fund can help to translate and publish much-needed books into upwards of 25 languages. Would you consider partnering with us financially to support our indigenous publishing efforts? Donate HERE
Below is a sample of translation projects that await funding in order to be completed:
- Portions of The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chinese)
- Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson (Japanese)
- Understanding End Times Prophecy by Paul Benware (Croatian)
- Various seminary textbooks (Marathi–India)
But as important as translation is, our long-term publishing strategy goes beyond the translation of English books. Our firm conviction is that—just like with pastoral training—when it comes to authoring and publishing books, the most enduring strategy is to train indigenous authors who will write books in their own language and communicate in ways that their own people can understand.
Your contribution to TMAI’s Publishing Fund will not only fund translations, but it will help TMAI schools to raise the next generation of indigenous authors and publishers. This kind of sustained ministry will require building out the infrastructure. Some examples of prior investments in publishing include:
- The purchase of a printing press in Madagascar
- Equipping poor and rural communities with solar-powered reading tablets full of biblical content
- Advanced translation software for use across multiple languages
In order to provide maximum opportunity for impact, TMAI has the goal of raising $625,000 by December 31 to help fund indigenous publishing projects. Will you consider making a year-end gift to aid in these efforts? Even more importantly, will you pray that the Lord will bless the publication and distribution of biblically sound books across the globe? To learn more and to partner with us financially, click HERE
In all these initiatives, the end goal remains the same: we want people around the world to worship Jesus Christ. We know good and godly books can help people do this, and we want the global Church to have more of them. By God’s grace, our teams are already working towards this end, and now you have a greater opportunity to support them. This collective effort to magnify Christ is what we love to see, and what we pray to see more of among the nations.
Please consider joining us as we strive to proclaim—and publish—God’s truth around the globe.
Until all have heard,
Mark Tatlock
President
