So what are they doing in YWAM Kona?
So, what have we been up to since arriving in Kona, Hawaii?
We joined a forming team called “Innovations for Transformation” (IFT). It’s a research, development and innovation expression of YWAM’s University of the Nations.
There 3 main projects that we are a part of:
#1 – SourceView Bible App
Not just another digital Bible.
The SourceView Bible app is not just a digital version of the printed Bible. It is an entirely new experience. It takes a deeper look at God’s story and reveals who spoke each word and to whom they were speaking.
Our Part (#1):
We are currently serving as Bible researchers developing the new layer of data for the SourceView Bible app: VerbView. It displays (and allows for searching) of all the actions of God. The foundation for this work is Psalm 111:2-4:
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
Our Part (#2):
We are also continuing development of Bibles for distribution in Thailand and other nations. We’re working on 4 other languages in the Philippines to put their Scriptures into the SourceView format because they believe that their people will engage more in the Scripture in that format. With these Bibles, YWAM Philippines is planning to begin a National Bible Distribution project there.
Great Commission Impact:
In order for entire nations to be discipled, we need to see individuals engage with God’s word in ways that allow them to get to know God personally. Getting to know how God relates to others and the things that he does and says paves the way to know Him. This app is a tool that will engage with this generation in ways that they can relate to.
#2 – Share Bibles App
This is a project that we started in Thailand in 2016. The Share Bibles App is designed to record Bible Distribution at the house level anywhere in the world. It collects data that tells us what Bible was distributed, who distributed it, when it was distributed and whether it was received or not. It’s the first of its kind and will be used by Bible distribution ministries all around the world.
(We’re currently testing the new version for global use!)
Great Commission Impact:
A common vision among many global ministries is: “A Bible for every home.” This app will be able to record the data accurately and share it across organizational boundaries, allowing for this vision to be accomplished in partnership throughout the body of Christ.
NOTE: The Bible Distribution ministry that we started in Thailand is still going on strong with new villages receiving Bibles regularly. There has been an increasing amount of positive responses from the Thai people. Here is a post from the YWAM Chiang Rai Base: Bibles for the Unreached!
#3 – 365 Stories
This project was envisioned by our leader, David Hamilton. The concept is to have a journey through the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation in bite-size chunks: 365 stories of 500 words or less.
Our part:
We’ll be going through the Bible together with David Hamilton, selecting the most appropriate stories that best represent the meta-narrative of the biblical story. Our current goal is to get 52 core stories of the Old Testament by mid-February.
Great Commission Impact:
Of the 7,000+ languages in the world, only 1,700 have the entire Bible translated. 1,600+ languages still have absolutely no Scripture in their language.
By creating bite-size stories for readers, we’re also creating bite-size stories for translators, which will help to speed up biblical translations around the world. There are currently 2 Bible translation companies that are eager to establish these core stories so that the Old Testament can begin translation.
Apart from these 3 main projects, we are involved in some local teaching opportunities in the University of the Nations courses.