Theo and Martha Enns Connecting YOU to tribal missions About
As Martha and I start a new ministry assignment, after being in Alabama for 4 years on Special Assignment, our leaders at NTMC wrote this letter explaining our projected future:
September 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
Re: Theo and Martha Enns
Greetings from NTM of Canada. We are pleased to share with you Theo and Martha Enns’ new ministry opportunities. As this is both exciting and unusual, we would like to provide some background.
NTM has a series of teaching lessons for a tribal context which lays out in chronological order key OT and NT stories which are foundational for a clear understanding of the gospel. NTM developed a version of these lessons for the North American context: the “Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ” series. This was followed by an edition for children. NTM-USA has now contracted Higher Life Development Services to develop that children’s edition into a five-year Bible curriculum for North American Christian School or home school usage.
In 2005 Theo translated the teacher’s manual and first 70 lessons of the original tribal-context curriculum into French for use by African church planters – a great learning experience for Theo.
While living in Alabama, the Lord connected Theo and Martha with Baptist Haiti Mission (BHM) through several summer mission trips. Theo and Martha learned what the Lord is doing in Haiti and BHM learned about Theo translating Bible lessons into French. Their mutual excitement led to cooperation and in the summer of 2009 Theo started editing a Grade One Bible curriculum for BHM’s use in Haiti. BHM have asked if Theo could finish developing their French Bible curriculum for grades one through six, using the Firm Foundation teaching material.
The differences between North American and Haitian cultures make this difficult. It’s not a matter of translating words from one language to another, but ensuring that the concepts are transferred clearly and effectively. For this reason NTM is asking Theo to take Higher Life’s new curriculum and simplify its cultural references, terminology and idioms resulting in an English “root version” which can then be used as the basis for translation into other languages.
These projects have the potential to impact many people and Theo and Martha have the experience and heart to help these projects become a reality. We trust that you will be pleased to partner with Theo and Martha as they continue to give the years of their lives in service to the Lord. Please note the two ministry descriptions attached, and contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely, in Christ,
_________________________
Edwin Esau, Director of Personnel
Ministry Description for Theo and Martha Enns
1.a. THEO: Sanford, Florida – Estimated time frame: 18 months – Jan.2011 till Jun.2012
Revision liaison for the “Firm Foundation Children’s School Curriculum”.
Because of Theo’s years of experience in teaching and translating the Firm Foundation adult materials he would work as the NTM liaison to the Higher Life Development Services, Inc. who are contracted to develop a 5-year Bible curriculum for North American Christian school and home school usage. Theo would bring the NTM perspective to the project and, conversely, provide NTM the inside connection to Higher Life’s progress and explain the final product to NTM personnel who will be using it and developing it further.
1.b. MARTHA: Sanford, Florida – Estimated time frame: 18 months – Jan.2011 till Jun.2012
Customer Service Representative in the Communications and Distribution department of NTM-USA.
In light of Theo’s ministry, Martha has been asked to serve full-time in the NTM Communications and Distribution department as a Customer Service Representative (see separate profile).
2. THEO: Sanford, Florida – Concurrent with 1.a., above - Jan.2011 till Jun.2012
Develop an English “root translation”, of the Firm Foundations Children’s School Curriculum.
The difficulty with any translation project is the difference between cultures. It’s not just a matter of translating words from one language to another, but ensuring that the concepts are transferred clearly and effectively. For this reason NTM is asking Theo to take Higher Life’s new Bible curriculum and simplify its cultural references and its terminology and idioms resulting in an English “root version” which can then be used as the basis for translation into other languages.
3. THEO: Haiti – Estimated time frame: 18-24 months. Jul.2012 till Jun.2014
Translate the Firm Foundations Children’s School Curriculum into Haitian French.
Theo and Martha would move to Haiti for up to 2 years in order to translate the English root-version of the new Firm Foundation Children’s School Curriculum into Haitian French, at the request of the Baptist Haiti Mission (BHM). The BHM asked for Theo’s help to develop a Bible curriculum for their 320 church schools for grades one to six. Martha would help the BHM missionaries with secretarial work and as hostess for volunteer short-term workers.
4. THEO & MARTHA: Africa – 2014 and beyond.
Help New Tribes Mission in partnering with the African churches for cross-cultural missions.
Theo and Martha have a standing invitation from the NTM West Africa Leadership Team to return to Africa to develop a Church Liaison Team which would help the African pastors to mobilize and equip the African believers in cross-cultural outreach. Resources like the children’s Firm Foundation curriculum could be an asset to Theo & Martha’s future ministry in Africa, were the Lord to continue to lead in that direction.
New Tribes Mission, USA.
Communications – Distribution Center
Ministry Profile
Ministry Position: Customer Service Representative
Name: Martha Enns
Location: New Tribes Mission U.S. Headquarters – 1000 E. First Street, Sanford, FL 32771
Department: Distribution Center
Status: Full Time
Purpose: To get NTM materials into the hands of the missionaries and churches. To educate our customers about our materials either directly or by observing possible needs.
Responsibilities: Customer Service. Answer phone, take phone orders, answer questions about the materials, and wait on customers at the counter. Help out in any other areas during slack times. Have a growing knowledge of all items by reading the books or watching the videos we carry. Other duties as assigned.
Relationships and Contacts: Customers, missionaries on the field, and NTM staff.
Qualifications: Salvation, good people skills, polite phone manners, detail person, courteous, someone who is comfortable with just using a computer, able to type, teachable, flexible, knowledgeable of the Firm Foundations books and other materials that we carry, able to work in an open office environment – no cubicles.
