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About EMDC & Our History

What EMDC does, why it exists, and the story of how a small gathering in Germany grew into a worldwide network for Scripture engagement.

About EMDC

A consultation built around real needs

EMDC began as a multi-agency consultation that meets annually. It started as a venue where minority language workers, Bible translators, literacy workers, and language development workers could meet with media specialists (including radio, TV, internet, and mobile), IT technicians, recording specialists, graphic artists, and specialists in Orality and EthnoArts (arts, drama, dance). Over the years, EMDC has evolved to meet the needs of practitioners in our complex world.

EMDC Does

Follow-up & Scripture Engagement Orality & Storytelling Scriptures by Mobile Phone Scripture Apps Scripture Games Using Social Media & Networks Video & Audio Production Creating Video Animation Discovery Scripture Studies Scriptures & Trauma Healing / Substance Abuse Ethno & Local Arts Culturally Correct Forms of Distribution Distance Biblical Education Digital Publishing DMM Minority Language Translation, Distribution & Literacy

Changes During COVID-19

Because of the 2020 COVID crisis, EMDC 2020 (expecting 900 people from 300 organizations) was cancelled. EMDC Online was soon launched. In 2023, this site went through a major upgrade and was renamed "EMDC Online Academy." Hundreds of seminars and workshops can now be found at EMDC Online Academy.

Concurrent with the development of the EMDC Online Academy, the EMDC team from several organizations launched EMDC.info, which provides a portal to the other EMDC platforms: emdc.blog, emdc.guide, and emdc.live.

"Attending the EMDC is a must for anyone involved in language and media content creation and/or distribution! The variety and quality of workshops offered was impressive and the sense of community amazing! Thanks to EMDC, I feel that I'm better connected and equipped to tackle the challenges ahead."

Bernard Wagner, The Omega Audio Bible

EMDC Vision Statement

Our Vision

EMDC networks and equips the body of Christ to communicate the Gospel in culturally-relevant ways that lead to transformed lives.

The Ethos of EMDC

What We Believe

"No one else can do what you do, where God has placed you. It is our goal to help you equip yourself for that task."

How EMDC Does This

EMDC provides physical and virtual meeting places for:

1Cutting-edge training on relevant communication and media topics
2Trusted people to share ideas and resources
3Discussion of niche topics where practitioners can share their stories by podcast, blog, social media, and other available platforms
4Networking opportunities that often lead to rich, long-lasting relationships
5A marketplace atmosphere where providers and users mutually exchange ideas on available (or needed) devices, tools, and strategies

EMDC History, Purpose & Name

From one gathering in Germany to a worldwide network

EMDC began in 2010 as Eurasia Media & Distribution Consultation, a multi-agency consultation that meets annually. EMDC has taken on a broader and more international nature over the years. The section below explains the historical, original purpose and design of EMDC.

Conference Timeline

1st · September 2010, Germany
130 people · 32 organizations
No pre-EMDC training — just 3.5 days of EMDC.
2nd · March/April 2012, Germany
200 people · 70 organizations
3 tracks of pre-EMDC training (75 participants): Video, Audio, Web.
3rd · April 2013, Thailand
224 people · 81 organizations
9 tracks of pre-EMDC training (120 participants): Video 1 & 2, Audio 1 & 2, Web Development, Orality/Storytelling, Ethnoarts, Mobile Production, Mobile Applications.
4th · April 2014, Thailand
320 people · 99 organizations
11 tracks of pre-EMDC training (194 participants). Added: Culturally Intelligent Media (Anthropology), Discovery Scripture Groups.
5th · April 2015, Netherlands
380 people · 130 organizations
15 tracks of pre-EMDC training (201 participants). Added: Becoming an Online Trainer, Animation, Research Methods for Effective Media and Communication, Digital Engagement including Archiving.
6th · April 2016, Thailand
450 people · 138 organizations
14 tracks of pre-EMDC training (270 participants). Added: Storyboarding, Scripture Engagement Games, Scripture Engagement and Trauma Healing.
7th · April 2017, Netherlands
420 people · 146 organizations
15 tracks of pre-EMDC training (270 participants). Added: Culture Meets Scripture, Scripture Engagement, Film Dubbing.
Over 30 registrants were denied visas.
8th · March 2018, Thailand
725 people · 193 organizations
18 tracks of pre-EMDC training (490 participants). Added: Using Bloom in Scripture Engagement, Creating eLearning Content and Curriculum, plus a Korean Workers' Summit.
9th · April 2019, Netherlands
602 people · 210 organizations
27 tracks of combined pre- and post-EMDC training (400+ participants).
Over 55 registrants were denied visas, representing many organizations.
10th · March/April 2020, Thailand
Cancelled · expected 900 people, 270 organizations
18 training tracks were planned at pre-EMDC and 18 at post-EMDC. The consultation was cancelled due to COVID-19.
10th (rescheduled) · June 2022, Netherlands
251 people · 94 organizations · 45 countries
A 4-day gathering with no training before or after.
Over 100 registrants were denied visas due to COVID restrictions, representing many organizations.
EMDC Español (1st) · October 2022, Mexico City
178 people · 70 ministries
15 countries, 40 indigenous language communities, and 30 languages represented.
11th · May 2023, Thailand
780 people · 227 organizations
15 and 16 training tracks before and after the consultation.
EMDC Español (2nd) · November 2023, Colombia
151 people · 73 ministries
20 countries and 42 indigenous language communities represented.
12th · May 2024, Thailand
685 people · 187 organizations
27 training tracks for pre- and post-EMDC.
13th · 14 - 22 May 2025, Netherlands
430 people · 175 organizations · 57 countries
Brought together community-based workers alongside resource trainers and developers involved in Scripture engagement, media, EthnoArts, trauma healing, and language technology.
EMDC Español (3rd) · August 2025, Peru
14th · 13 - 26 May 2026, Chiang Mai, Thailand
770 people · 260 organizations · 60 countries
Pre-EMDC 13 - 16 May · EMDC 18 - 21 May · Post-EMDC 23 - 26 May. The main consultation was preceded by four days of training with a choice of 17 tracks.

Why This Meeting, What It Aims For, and What Takes Place

Why This Meeting?

  • We have similar needs that the rest of the world does not have.
  • We have access considerations that many don't have.
  • We have a similar situation with majority beliefs.
  • We have similar linguistic challenges.
  • We can keep travel closer than a worldwide conference.

What Takes Place?

  • Plenary sessions, workshops, training, and language-, country-, or ethnic-group-specific working groups discussing language programs and planning.
  • A multi-agency consultation meeting alternately in Asia and Europe, where minority language workers meet media specialists, IT technicians, recording specialists, graphic artists, digital publishers, and Orality/Ethno-Arts specialists.

The Four Main Goals of EMDC

  1. Provide a meeting place where those engaged in minority language work, whether in-country or displaced, can interact with communication and media specialists to develop media strategies, explore ethno-arts, and assess and prioritize media products.
  2. Network existing regional media organizations with minority language teams for present or future partnerships on actual, doable projects.
  3. Help those with material record, edit, mix, and finish their project in hands-on workshops, or at a minimum connect them with those who will see it through.
  4. Provide a venue where minority language workers can express their media-related needs, learn from one another, and explore ways to share resources.

Why the Name EMDC?

Eurasia

Broadly defined, Eurasia is our primary focus. Since we meet in Asia every other year, we have a large Asian input. We also welcome Europe-focused and Africa-focused workers who find their needs met at EMDC.

Media

Media is one of the core elements, but not only in typical forms. Stories, music, art, and new media are all forms of media in our opinion.

Distribution

Since Scripture is our main distributed product, we look for creative ways to distribute it, including Discovery Study Groups, Trauma Healing teaching, games, and other creative forms.

Consultation

We do not see EMDC as a conference. It is a consultation of many mini-consultations, with Affinity Groups for video, audio, web, ethnoarts, orality, new media, mobile, research, animation, study groups, trauma healing, and more — all sharing the common goal of distributing Scripture creatively to minority people groups.

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