Hey there all you IT folks Do you feel like God is calling you to use your talents and gifts in a different way? If so, I want to tell you about a conference that is coming up.

May 15-16 in Dallas or October 23-24 in Orlando.

The Check IT Out conference is only a few weeks away in Dallas, Texas. This conference is put on by Wycliffe and a number of partner organizations with representation from Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, The Seed Company, SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics), JAARS, etc… This year, it will be hosted by The Seed Company at their Arlington, Texas offices.

Did you know that the world of Bible Translation needs you? This isn’t your grandpa’s Bible Translation organization. Satellite communications, SANs, SQL Server, software development, web development, Drupal, DotNetNuke, .Net, PHP, Linux, open-source and on and on. There are many opportunities to serve short and long term. Some organizations have supported missionaries who are IT folks and other organizations hire IT staff.

The conference topics include

1. Introduction to the World of Wycliffe
   • Magnitude of the existing need for Bible translation
   • Understanding the Wycliffe Family of Organizations
   • Wycliffe servants -what do they do?
2. Technology Overview
   • How technology is used
   • Tools available
3. Technology Demo
   • Speech Analyzer (real-time phonetic analysis)
   • Adapt-It (automated translation)
   • Other software as time permits
4. ITS Live: Live Tour of Computer Services
   (if conference is held at a center)
5. Business Application Software
   • Administrative, business, insurance, finance software
   • Complexity of systems critical to operations
6. Telecommunication Challenges
   • Challenges on the field
   • Tools we use
7. International Training
   • The realities of training non-Western working partners
   • Methods and types of training resources
8. A Day in the Life
   • Live interview with a Wycliffe IT worker
   • Focus on the IT life of a Wycliffe “field” environment
   • Opportunity for live Q&A
9. Challenging Language Scripts
   • The Non-Roman Script Initiative (NRSI)
   • Wycliffe, Bible translation and Unicode
   • The digital realities of writing-system creation, rendering and use
   • Screen, keyboard, printing and data-handling in the “non-Roman” world
10. Language and Translation Software
    • Range of software
    • FieldWorks
    • Tools
11. From Inquirer to IT Missionary
    • Step-by-step process
    • Training required
    • Partnership development
    • Assignment
12. Dynamics of IT Volunteering
    • Various types of involvement
    • Examples of volunteering
13. The Great IT Commission
    • The modern world’s changing missions environment
    • The centrality of IT in missions
    • The seven ways you can use your IT skills to facilitate translation
14. First Person: A Translator’s Story
    • The benefits of Bible translation to a Bible-less society
    • The many issues and problems that must be overcome
    • The role of IT in translation from the translator’s perspective
    • A very personal story of how God worked through a particular translator
15. Question and Answer Panel: Burning questions you have always wanted to ask
16. Your Next Step: What will you do with everything you have learned?

You can find out more at the CheckITOut.org website.

Are you a SQL Server DBA, Developer, Report Writer?
Do you align with a desire to spread God’s Word?
Do you love working in an evolving/energetic environment?

Yes? Well here’s  a neat opportunity.  The Seed Company is a Christian non-profit focused on Bible Translation. Based in Arlington, Texas in the heart of the D/FW metroplex they are seeking a multi-talented individual to fill a big need.

“The Seed Company is a faith-based, 501(c)3 organization committed to the vision of creatively networking God’s people around the world to translate the Bible into every language for His glory”

Here’s the info on the position.

Brief Description: Preserve and extend TSC staff capabilities through database development, administration, and reporting.

Responsibilities:

General:

1. Has servant heart, and a desire to make others more effective in their work.
2. Good interpersonal skills.
3. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
4. Ability to understand user needs and to design database solutions appropriate to those needs.
5. Familiarity with computer networking and security issues.
6. Familiarity with server administration and backup/restore techniques.
7. Ability to document routine tasks.
8. Working knowledge of Microsoft Access, Windows Server and Microsoft Office products.
9. Working knowledge of web technologies.

Specific:

1. Ability to develop and maintain data dictionaries and data models/ schemas.
2. Ability to design and maintain reports and reporting environments.
3. Ability to design and implement user interfaces for data entry and reporting.
4. Ability to design and maintain integration (ETL, SSIS) with other database systems.
5. Knowledge of tools for database design, performance monitoring and user interface development.
6. Thorough understanding of SQL Server and reporting tools.

The position is full-time and will be out of the Arlington, Texas office. There are a number of neat initiatives going on including moving to an SSRS reporting environment (SSRS 2008), the potential to start into Data Warehousing, data integration and automation with a number of internal and external information systems.

Interested parties should contact:

Dave Mutchler
dave_mutchler@tsco.org
(817)-557-2121

Corporate Headquarters

The Seed Company
3030 Matlock Rd. Suite 104
Arlington TX 76015
USA
view map
Phone (817) 557-2121
Toll Free (877)593-7333

Contact Info: Email resumes with cover letter to: dave_mutchler@tsco.org

Business Type: Bible Translation

Comments: The Seed Company is an affiliate of Wycliffe Bible Translators and seeks to make employment decisions in accordance with applicable federal and state employment discrimination laws and regulations. As a religious organization, The Seed Company is entitled to make employment decisions on the basis of religious beliefs and practices of the applicant or employee. All positions require a personal commitment to Christ, evidenced by personal testimony and identification with a local church.

This Sunday morning I sat quietly and listened to the book of 2 Timothy. Yes, the entire book. I felt led to listen, to feel the words of Paul. From that listening, I’ve gone back to further delve into some passages.

[Note: Faith Comes By Hearing has a great set of Audio Bibles.]

Paul addresses Timothy in such a peaceful way.

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Oh, how diligent Paul was in remembering those who served. How faithful are we in our intercessory prayers? This got me thinking, Paul was sitting, abandoned by so many that had been around him but yet, he continued to pray for others. He prayed for the grace, mercy and peace of the Lord to be with Timothy.

Many of you know my link to Bible Translation work so it come as no surprise that my thoughts immediate went to this topic. Their are still over 2,200 languages that have yet to have a single verse of God’s Word in their own language. 2,200 languages that are lost. But the great news is that their are men and women working night and day to complete this work.

These men and women have given their lives to God’s direct calling. We should be praying every day for them, their needs, their protection, their communication of God’s Word. Many times it is easy to pray general prayers, but I find it very meaningful to pray for specific needs as well. That’s why I enjoy the daily prayer requests from The Seed Company, a Bible translation organization. I can pray for specific, timely items from Bible translation project teams around the world.

“…I aspired to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; but as it is written, ‘THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.’” (Romans 15:20-21)(NASB)

So, back to Paul. Throughout 1 and 2 Timothy he is careful to do three things, encourage, rebuke, and teach. First, Paul writes to encourage his protege and God’s people. He does this is a loving manner. In 2 Timothy 1:5, I read:

5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

This seems as though it was a significant compliment and encouragement to Timothy. Paul affirms him as having a sincere faith as seen in his grandmother and mother. I can imagine the deep sincerity in this statement. The curious side of me wonders why the female patriarchs are mentioned but not the male?

Paul is also encouraging Timothy through his rebuke of practices and certain individuals in the early church. Was Paul writing these things not only to bring them to the light but also to give Timothy renewed vigor and energy to address these issues?

16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Most definitely. Paul, as one of God’s ambassadors, speaks truth from which those who truly followed the Lord listened. I can’t help but believe that this gave Timothy an increased spiritual strength.

I don’t know about you, but I know that my Christianity, my belief in Christ Jesus, is a journey. The choice to follow was a turning point, but my knowledge of Him continues to grow each day. But as a Christian, the mere fact of my faith means that I want to know Him more. There is a yearning to know Him through His Word, the Bible.

Today, be “Paul” to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray faithfully, intercessory prayers for those you know. Encourage them in their faith, their walk. Be honest, loving and open in your dealings.

Blessings.