About EMDC & Our History
What EMDC does, why it exists, and how a small gathering in Germany grew into a worldwide network for Scripture engagement.
About EMDC
EMDC started as an annual multi-agency gathering where minority-language workers, Bible translators, literacy specialists, and language-development teams could sit down with media producers (radio, TV, internet, mobile), IT staff, recording engineers, graphic artists, and specialists in orality and the ethno-arts. Over the years it has grown to meet the needs of practitioners working in an increasingly complex media landscape.
What EMDC covers
Follow-up & Scripture engagement · orality & storytelling · Scripture by mobile phone · Scripture apps and games · social media and networks · video and audio production · video animation · Discovery Scripture studies · Scripture, trauma healing, and recovery from substance abuse · ethno and local arts · culturally appropriate distribution · distance biblical education · digital publishing · DMM · minority-language translation, distribution, and literacy.
A regular attendee called EMDC a must for anyone working in language and media content or distribution, praising the range and quality of the workshops and the strength of the community.
Bernard Wagner, The Omega Audio BibleAdapting to a changed world
The 2020 EMDC, expecting 900 people from 300 organizations, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 crisis. EMDC Online launched soon after, and by 2023 that platform had grown into what is now the EMDC Online Academy — home to hundreds of recorded seminars and workshops. Around the same time, the EMDC team launched emdc.info as a single portal into the wider family of platforms, including emdc.blog, emdc.guide, and emdc.live.
Our vision
EMDC exists to network and equip the Body of Christ to communicate the Gospel in culturally relevant ways that lead to transformed lives.
Our ethos
No one else can do what you do, where God has placed you — our goal is to help you equip yourself for that task.
Five things EMDC provides
Cutting-edge training
Practical training on the communication and media topics practitioners are facing right now.
Trusted connections
A network of people you can trust to share ideas and resources with.
Room for niche topics
Space to discuss specialized subjects and share your story through podcasts, blogs, and social platforms.
Long-term relationships
Networking that often grows into rich, lasting partnerships.
A true marketplace
Providers and users trading ideas on the devices, tools, and strategies that are needed or available.
EMDC History, Purpose & Name
EMDC began in 2010 as the Eurasia Media & Distribution Consultation, a multi-agency gathering that has met almost every year since, taking on a steadily more international character.
130 people, 32 organizations. Just 3.5 days — no pre-EMDC training yet.
200 people, 70 organizations. First 3 pre-EMDC tracks (75 participants): Video, Audio, Web.
224 people, 81 organizations. First year in Asia; 9 pre-EMDC tracks (120 participants).
320 people, 99 organizations. 11 tracks (194 participants); added Culturally Intelligent Media and Discovery Scripture Groups.
380 people, 130 organizations. 15 tracks (201 participants); added Online Trainer, Animation, Research Methods, Digital Engagement/Archiving.
450 people, 138 organizations. 14 tracks (270 participants); added Storyboarding, SE Games, SE & Trauma Healing.
420 people, 146 organizations (30+ denied visas). 15 tracks (270 participants); added Culture Meets Scripture, Film Dubbing.
725 people, 193 organizations. 18 tracks (490 participants); added Bloom, eLearning Content, a Korean Workers’ Summit.
602 people, 210 organizations (55+ denied visas). 27 combined pre/post tracks (400+ participants).
Cancelled by COVID-19 — 900 people and 270 organizations, 36 tracks, had been expected.
251 people, 94 organizations, 45 countries (100+ denied visas). A 4-day gathering, no training either side.
178 people, 70 ministries, 15 countries, 40 indigenous communities, 30 languages.
780 people, 227 organizations. 15 and 16 tracks before and after.
151 people, 73 ministries, 20 countries, 42 indigenous communities.
685 people, 187 organizations. 27 tracks combined.
430 people, 175 organizations, 57 countries.
770 people, 260 organizations, 60 countries — 17 pre-EMDC tracks. Most recent
Why a Eurasia-focused meeting?
- We share needs the rest of the world doesn’t face in the same way
- We share access considerations many regions don’t have
- We share a common situation relative to majority beliefs
- We share similar linguistic challenges
- We can keep travel shorter than a worldwide conference would require
The four goals of EMDC
- Give minority-language workers a place to meet media and communication specialists and shape media strategy
- Connect regional media organizations with language teams for real, doable partnerships
- Help teams finish media projects in hands-on workshops, or link them with someone who can
- Give workers a venue to voice their media needs and learn from one another
Eurasia Media & Distribution Consultation
Eurasia
Our primary focus, meeting alternately in Asia and Europe, with Africa-focused and Europe-focused workers also welcome.
Media
Not just typical formats — stories, music, and art all count as media in our understanding.
Distribution
Scripture is our main distributed product, spread through study groups, trauma-healing teaching, games, and more.
Consultation
Not one conference but many mini-consultations, organized as Affinity Groups around a shared goal.