Over the past 13 years Songs for Saplings has worked with partners around the world to translate and record the Questions with Answer series in other languages.
During this time, we have received requests to translate and record the music in many languages. So far we’ve done projects in seven languages.
As we’ve done this work, certain languages have stood out to us as very strategic and often requested by people working in other countries. Starting in 2016, Songs for Saplings is focusing on these “strategic language” projects.
To that end, for the next few years, we will prioritize the translation of the “Questions with Answers” series into Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Swahili.
The four most widely spoken languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish and Arabic. We have recently released the entire “Questions with Answers” series in French, which is also in the top 10 most widely spoken languages.
Our strategic goal is that by 2020 the “Questions with Answers” music will be available in the four most spoken languages in the world, and five of the top ten. Additionally, we would then have the songs available in the four most widely spoken languages on the African continent (Arabic, Swahili, English and French).
While we do this, we will continue to facilitate translation into other languages besides these, but Songs for Saplings will focus much of our internal resources on the four strategic languages. We believe this focused plan is the best way for us to make the most significant impact in the theological education of children in the world.
GET INVOLVED! JOIN US IN EQUIPPING CHURCHES AND MINISTRIES
In addition to translating our music, we will be continuing to develop partnerships with churches and ministries around the world who operate in these languages in order to distribute our music as an easily-accessible resource to strengthen their efforts in ministering to children and families.
Our hope and prayer is for our songs to serve as rich, accurate and meaningful communications of Scripture, and that they will serve as valuable resources in the hands of churches, families and ministries where these resources are most needed!
Prioritizing these strategic languages would mean that the music will be available: - In places where Christianity has been growing rapidly for decades (such as Latin America, Africa, Asia) - In languages where there are fewer theological resources available for churches and ministries - In places where Christianity is resisted and not well understood (such as North Africa, Middle East, Asia)
In doing this we depend on the support of our friends and fans. So, in order to achieve these big and wonderful goals, we will be seeking your participation and prayers.
If our music has been meaningful in your family or church, we would ask you to consider supporting our translation projects. There are many ways to get involved and to sponsor our projects, including allowing your church or family to sponsor the creation of a song in a strategic language—or even a whole album. You can see sponsorship opportunities here.
We also have a Church Partnership program to provide free music to your church, Sunday school or small group’s ministry.
Click here for information on Church Partnership.
If you have questions, we would love to talk with you. You can contact us here.
As we move forward we ask for your prayers and support. The creation of these next 24 albums by 2020 is a huge undertaking, but we think we can be successful if we are prayed for and supported by our friends.
“Brothers and sisters, please pray for us, that the message of the Lord may be spread rapidly. Brothers, sisters, please pray for us, that the message of the Lord will be honored as it was with you. We pray the Gospel be preached in all the world, And believed and obeyed by more and more and more, And God’s Kingdom may be established on earth, Established on the earth as it was with you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Comments