Introduction

How to Preach with an Interpreter:

A Crash Course

Introduction

Throughout the course of their ministries, most preachers dream of someday preaching the Gospel overseas. As more and more churches are sending their pastors to visit missionaries on the foreign field, many preachers are seeing that dream come true. You may be reading this booklet because the Lord has given you this opportunity. Or perhaps you are a missionary. It will be months or years before you are able to preach on your own in the target language. However, with an interpreter, you will be able to preach the Gospel as soon as your feet hit foreign soil. This booklet is a crash course on the subject of preaching with an interpreter and is designed to prepare you for your overseas preaching experience.

Whether you are a missionary or a traveling pastor, communication is the key to a successful cross-cultural ministry. The Scriptures teach us that salvation and edification cannot take place without communication . Rom 10:14 reminds us that none will hear the Gospel message if no one preaches it. If there is no communication of the Gospel, then there is no salvation. The Scriptures also teach us that if the communication is not clear, then the entire preaching experience is wasted for both preacher and listener:

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:7-11) NKJ

These verses underline for us the importance of clear communication for the sake of the salvation and edification of others. Although they stem from a scenario that was long ago removed from the church, the overarching principle of the passage clearly applies to the ministry of a cross-cultural preacher. This is why a missionary seeks to learn the language in which he ministers and why he uses an interpreter until that day comes to pass.

Those of you who have never observed preaching with an interpreter may need a picture of what preaching with an interpreter is like. Imagine yourself taking your place at the pulpit. At your side is a national who speaks both the target language and yours. With about two to four feet between you, centered at the pulpit, both of you share the podium space. You speak your first sentence, a little less than five seconds long. After you speak, the interpreter takes his turn, imitating your emphasis, pace, and gestures. The two of you trade off like this through the course of the entire sermon. Sound difficult? Intimidating? Distracting? It can be if you and the interpreter are not properly prepared.

The ministry of which we speak obviously requires two elements—a preacher and an interpreter. In order to help you fully understand the interpreting process, this booklet will discuss both roles. Although this material is designed primarily for you as the preacher, an understanding of the role of the interpreter is essential to your ability to communicate effectively. If you have the opportunity, you can even use information found here to prepare your interpreter for his ministry. Perhaps you can meet together on several occasions to discuss the material and practice applying it together. Although you will observe some overlap, each role is discussed in separate chapters.