VANDER MEER, John and Marian

John and Marian joined Wycliffe in 1994 and are part of the team helping the people of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) receive a Bible translated into their language.

Using the technical skills, he learned while working at the Pickering and Darlington nuclear plants in Ontario, John first provided technical support in radio communications and solar power, then in IT, and then in media.  Around 2018, his focus shifted from producing media content to teaching media skills to Congolese media technicians.

Marian home educated their six children, made their home a centre of activity for the local community, and assisted in the activities of the personnel department.

In order for them to be able to help and honour their aging mothers, John and Marian are no longer working and living in Africa, but are working remotely from Whitby, Ont.  Marian is currently her mother’s primary caregiver.

 John is revising training materials for a media technician training program that is somewhat unique in that it prepares students to independently develop and manage media projects in their local communities. Using internet tools such as WhatsApp, John has been able to communicate with the students on a regular basis, answering questions and guiding their training progress.

The question is sometimes asked, “How can providing media skills help the local community better use their translated Bible?”

One of the first things to be done before Bible translation can begin for the more than 200 languages spoken in the DRC is to create an alphabet. In the absence of books, how was knowledge passed on?  Traditionally, by telling stories and proverbs and singing songs. Equipping these language communities with media skills will allow them to expand the effectiveness of their traditional teaching methods through the use of audio and video.  Adding this tool to their toolbox will provide a powerful means of communicating the message of their translated Bible.