Taking Teamwork Further

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote the only post that I have ever advertised elsewhere: "Why you should never preach THROUGH an interpreter." The comments and response to this post have more than justified my self-promotion, even though I don't intend to repeat it.

The response to it has been incredibly positive. Interpreters especially seem to have welcomed the idea that, if the gospel is to be proclaimed across cultural boundaries, it will take teamwork. Even more, one colleague pointed out that the principle can be taken even further to where interpreters actually engage in training preachers in this "with" approach.

But what if we take this further? Who else can we preach "with?" Would it be too much to ask that, instead of churches concentrating on our points of difference, we work "with" each other to gather in the harvest? Returning to cross-cultural discussion, what if we were to work "with" people who occupy analogous roles to interpreters. This might begin with giving more recognition to those working with the Deaf and supporting projects like the translation of the Bible into sign languages (by Wycliffe). Going further, we could also benefit from working "with" those who have expertise in working amongst young people, old people, businesspeople etc by supporting ad helping their ministries.

There really is no end to what could be achieved. The key is to set aside feelings of competition and to start by asking "what can I do to help?" If nothing more, we can at least pray.

Who can you work "with?"