EMDC 2026 Affinity Groups & Communities of Practice

During EMDC, Affinity Group Facilitators convene meetings along three main categories: Geographic, Social, Technological.  These may vary slightly depending on the location (Europe/Asia), the theme, and the year, but you can get an idea from the list below.

“It was one of the best conferences I have attended during the last 20 years of ministry when it comes to location, environment, facilities and program. The time for workshops and interaction (affinity groups) was so excellent and the whole set up of ministry leaders and fieldworkers gave nice opportunities for connections on all levels.”

Bengt-Ake Bengtson, IBRA Media           

These are the Affinity Groups and leaders from EMDC 2024, Thailand.  Closer to the EMDC start date we will update this for 2026.

Many of these Affinity Groups are functioning as Communities of Practice on EMDC.Online

Geographic

  • South Asia: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,  Joshy Kurian, joshy@emdcon.org       
  • Southeast Asia: Countries east of Bangladesh, Justin Randolph, justin_randolph@sil.org
  • Middle East, N & S Central Asia, David Gray, david_gray@sil.org 
  • Indo-Malay & Islands, Lanny lt@linkmail.org
  • Africa, Michael Mensah mickydaniels05@gmail.com

Social

  • Next Gen, Joshua Chew, ablaze.media.prod@gmail.com
  • Ethnoarts, Anne Esteban, anne_esteban@sil.org
  • Trauma Healing, Michael Wan, michael_wan@sil.org
  • Orality/Storytelling , Bharat Nadar, bharatnadar@gmail.com
  • Literacy, Linguistics, & Education, Karsten van Riezen, karsten_van_riezen@sil.org
  • Scripture Engagement, Jennifer Brassington, jennifer_brassington@sil.org  
  • Social Media/Digital Engagement, AJ & Clyde, aj_partner@pobox.com
  • Diaspora, Displaced, & Refugees, Sunny Hong, sunny_hong@sil.org

Technological

  • Publishing, John Hatton, john_hatton@sil.org
  • Video/Film, Joshua Chew & Steve Baldwin, FilmAffinity.EMDC@gmail.com
  • AI & Chatbots, SABDA Team sabda4god@gmail.com
  • Apps, Richard Margetts, richard_margetts@sil.org
  • Kalaam Media User Group (websites), Dave Johnson, davej@kalaam.org
  • Audio/ Radio, Joost B, JoostBastiaans@twr.nl
  • Language Technology, Mark Penny, mark_penny@sil.org