Truth in love blog

Family Driven Faith Translations

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:41:28 -0500

I’ve received a number of emails and calls about translating Family Driven Faith (and What He Must Be) into different languages. Let me remind you that I DO NOT TRANSLATE MY BOOKS. That is a complicated process that takes more time, talent and resources than I have at my disposal. Here’s how it happens: A publisher contacts Crossway to secure the rights to translate the book into another language. Crossway agrees and the work begins (it’s probably a little more complicated than that, but you get the idea). I’ve had contacts from people all over the world who would love to have the book in their language, and believe me, I would love nothing more! Unfortunately, I have little control over that.

The best thing to do is contact the publisher who produces the Christian books you read in the particular language in question and see if 1) they know about FDF, 2) they have already secured translation rights, or 3) would like to do so. I would imagine that enough people doing that would encourage those who publish in your language to consider securing the rights and making this book available. In the meantime, if you know about other translations of FDF or WHMB currently in progress, pleas give us a heads-up so we can get the word out.

VB

The FIC Discussion with Dr. Köstenberger: Addendum

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:33:10 -0500

In my initial response to Dr. Köstenberger, I was unfair in my assessment of Brandon Shields. In the original version I wrote:

Brandon Shields, the other source to whom Köstenberger refers repeatedly, had little or no knowledge of the FIC prior to his involvement in the Perspectives on Family Ministry project. He is not a scholar; he is not a researcher. Shields is a youth minister who doesn’t like the FIC model. Moreover, his objections were addressed in the Perspectives book, and those responses were never given consideration here. One has to wonder why, if Köstenberger insisted on using Perspectives, he didn’t choose to use the actual FIC sections of the book since they were the ones that actually put forth the affirmative case for the model from a first-hand perspective.

To say that Shields “is not a scholar; he is not a researcher” was clearly an exaggeration. First, whether he was a Youth Minister or a Yard Man, the work that he did in Perspectives must be characterized as research. Second, Brandon Shields is indeed a scholar (holding a Ph.D. from Southern Seminary), and all those concerned about the future of Family Ministry are pleased to have his contribution in Perspectives on Family Ministry. He helped sharpen and crystalize our arguments, and brought out many aspects of FIC ministry that needed to be clarified. I did not need to go so far in my statement, or make my point at his expense, and I am sorry. He deserved better, and so did my friends at Southern Seminary who trained him, and Timothy Paul Jones who commissioned him for the aforementioned project. Dr. Köstenberger’s use of Dr. Shields’s sections without reference to the FIC responses was the real point I was making, and I should have stuck to that.

Let me also make it clear that the apology from ARBCA to which I made reference in the original response came from Gordon Taylor (the “Coordinator” of ARBCA at the time), and Fred Malone (the moderator of the discussion in question). There was no official statement from ARBCA, nor did those of us involved believe there needed to be. Moreover, the recording of the discussion was removed from the ARBCA site (prior to the teleconference with FIC “leaders”) at ARBCA’s initiative.

VB

The FIC Discussion with Dr. Köstenberger Continues: Part 2

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:06:23 -0500

Here is Dr. Köstenberger’s latest response. As I said, I have contacted him personally, and have no intention or need to continue the public discourse (plus, I don’t know what comes after surrejoinder). I join Dr. Köstenberger in his assessment of and appreciation for the tone of our discourse, and trust that others who continue to raise questions about his new chapter will follow suit. I continue to believe that this discussion is of great benefit to those of us in the FIC since it 1) raises the issue in a public forum allowing many who don’t know about us to at least begin to ask questions, 2) brings the issue to the attention of those in the academic community who have ignored or marginalized the FIC to this point (with the notable exception of contributions of men like Timothy Paul Jones and others who, though they do not embrace FIC as their preferred model, treat it as a viable, credible option), and 3) forces those of us in the FIC to examine, clarify, and sharpen our doctrine, our practice, and our apologetic.

While the debate is far from over, my ensuing conversations with Dr. Köstenberger will be private with this one exception:

Dr. K., I’ve thought it over... You can keep calling us extreme. I just don’t think I can give up ‘segregation’. It’s just too good a word ;-)

VB

The FIC Discussion with Dr. Köstenberger Continues

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:08:00 -0500

For those of you who have not followed the discussion, here is a link to Dr. Köstenberger’s rejoinder and my answers to his questions. I was reminded today that those who were not keeping up with his blog would not know what has transpired. Also, a number of you have asked for more information on the FIC. Please visit our church website at www.gracefamilybaptist.net. That should answer many of the more common questions, and don’t forget our Semper Reformanda Conference coming up on October 22-24 in Humble, TX.

VB

Family Driven Faith in Spanish! (For real This Time) Plus More Good News!

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:39:01 -0500

Finally! Family Driven Faith is available in Spanish. Patrimonio Espiritual is available online, and should be in stores soon. This is a major breakthrough that we have been praying for for quite some time. There has been talk about translating the book into a number of languages, but Tyndale was the first to purchase the rights and do the work.

There has been great interest in the Spanish-speaking world. Now we’ll see if that interest translates into sales. Prayerfully, this will aid in spreading the family discipleship message throughout Latin America and beyond.

If you read Spanish, or have friends and/or family that will enjoy this book in Spanish, use the link below and surprise them with a copy. If you don’t, just buy one and act like you can read Spanish, yourself. Also, please join us in praying that God will open the door to ministry in Latin America (Yes, Javier, I’m practicing my Spanish), and speed up the translation process among other language groups.

UPDATE: I just received word today from a publisher in Indonesia (the most populous Muslim Country in the world) who is translating Family Driven Faith there. Stay tuned for further updates as that release date approaches.

VB