The Kirksville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Missouri has been blessed with new families from different countries and cultures attending our church. We have people attending from Haiti, Republic of the Congo, and the American Samoa’s. There can be some difficulties with languages and communications. Although for some attending, the English language may not be their primary language, we have found, with the help from God, ways to overcome those barriers.
In our Youth Sabbath school, we have youth whose primary language has been French and/or Haitian Creole. Two of our older Youth Sabbath school members, Israela and Concillia who are sisters from the Republic of the Congo, fluently speak both French and English and they translate the discussion for the rest of the class. When the girls are not in attendance, Sabbath school teacher Debbie McCormick uses a free Microsoft app on her phone called Microsoft Translator and connects her phone to a large screen in order to communicate with the class. The app simultaneously translates English into French or French into English depending upon which language is spoken.
In our adult Sabbath school, we also utilize the same Microsoft app and phone connected to a large monitor so that everyone can understand the lesson and discussion by both those who speak English or French. During services, Israela or Concillia will translate English to French for the congregation, or we use the same translation app with a phone connected to the projector.
With the aid of two young ladies who translate and with the aid of technology, we are able to communicate with all of those attending. God has truly blessed our church!
Kent Dunwoody pastors the Macon and Kirksville churches in Missouri.
