Terry Wildman, whose ancestry includes Ojibwe from Ontario, Canada and Yaqui from Sonora, Mexico, is the lead translator, general editor, and project manager of the First Nations Version. He serves as the director of spiritual growth and leadership development for Native InterVarsity. And in this episode, he shares the story behind how this beautiful translation came to be.

Mariah Humphries, a citizen of Mvskoke Nation and on the team of Be the Bridge as the Director of Marketing and Innovation, adds insight, joy, and depth to this conversation. Terry, Mariah, and Latasha remind listeners Jesus is always on the side of the oppressed and that giving up culture, language, traditions is not a necessity in following Jesus.

In fact, Creator hears you, sees you, understands you, and delights in you as he created you. You can follow Jesus in the context of your culture.

We hope you’ll pick up a copy of the First Nations Version and learn from Indigenous brothers and sisters, not just around Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Native American Heritage Month but throughout the year.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode!

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

“There's so much beauty and there's so much good that Creator has put into our Native cultures that to see that disappear would be a terrible loss.” -Terry Wildman

“Being a Native Christian doesn't mean you have to compromise and assimilate into this other mindset. You can be truly who you were created to be and follow Creator in this beautiful way.” -Mariah Humphries

“A lot of people don't understand the influence of Western culture on the Bible, on tradition, on theology in what we have now.” -Latasha Morrison

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