spiritual need — a Savior. “Our Lord Jesus through His Word answers the questions every culture or individual is asking, and we want to hear those questions well,” said Dr. Merideth Pitts, Assistant Professor of Linguistics. “As His ambassadors, we seek to carry His Word with love and clarity across linguistic and cultural barriers.” OVERCOMING LANGUAGE BARRIERS There are at least 1,800 known languages without a translated copy of the Bible. The Wycliffe Global Alliance estimates that 129 million people have no portion of Scripture translated in their native tongue. For Campbell Lino ’27, a linguistics major, that is unacceptable. “People need the Gospel in their heart language," she said. “Faith comes by hearing, and if you don’t have the Word in your language, how can you grow in your faith?” This fall, Lino started her studies with the long-term goal of translating Scripture for an unreached people group. But in her heart, God has been cultivating a desire to serve other cultures for many years. In kindergarten, she tested well enough to qualify for a Spanish immersion program at her otherwise English-speaking school, an opportunity her parents found valuable. So from first through fifth grade, her schooling was entirely in Spanish and by seventh grade, she felt called to be a missionary. Her dream home is a mud hut among people who need the Gospel but lack access to it. “God’s given me a passion and a gift for languages, and I want to use that,” she explained. She came to Cedarville to learn about language from a biblical worldview and take advantage of the University’s connections, connections she hopes will make her a translator sooner rather than later. Pitts says that translation jobs are expected to grow by more than 20% over the next eight years. This gives ELML graduates an opportunity to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people with various backgrounds. “Linguists who focus on Bible translation help carry the message of the Scriptures accurately into a new linguistic community, not only through direct translation work, but also through a variety of support roles including literacy education,” she explained. Linguistic majors often pair their program with one of the other languages taught in the department and, after graduating, will use that skillset to teach people English or another language. They help people adjust to new languages and cultures, aiding vulnerable individuals during an often-overwhelming transition. But language study isn’t just for majors in the department; in a world where work is more global, understanding multiple languages is important for all Christians. “In whatever career you’re in, it’s more and more likely you will interact with people who speak other languages,” said Vallejos. “You can connect with people on a different level when you’ve taken the time to learn their language.” Knowing multiple languages helps Christians develop friendships where they can share their faith and better serve those friends. Vallejos’ own interest in languages blossomed when she was only 5 or 6 years old. Her home church had a migrant ministry where the congregation would provide everyday supplies for local immigrants. There was always a translator during these interactions, but even at a young age, Vallejos wanted to communicate with migrants on her own. Now she sees how important languages are to the global church. “It glorifies God to be praised in all kinds of languages instead of just one,” she said. OVERCOMING OTHER OBSTACLES For Christians who translate or work in dangerous countries or remote villages, the challenges can be daunting. Dr. Waller, Assistant Professor of French and Linguistics, has seen it all. “Our people were under threat all the time,” he said. Sometimes, husbands would be detained or kicked out of the country, leaving their families behind. The challenges due to persecution can be daunting. Ultimately, it is our hope that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will praise our God. 8
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