EMDC 2026 Executive Summary
EMDC met from 13 to 26 May 2026 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, bringing together 770 people from 60 countries and 260 organizations.
The main conference was flanked by four days of pre-EMDC training (17 track choices) and four days of post-EMDC training (13 track choices).
Plenary Sessions
Engaging People in the Story
Stan Jantz and Ashish Nag introduced The Chosen, a series on the life of Jesus built to be relatable and emotionally engaging. The Come and See Foundation aims to produce and translate all seven seasons into 600 languages, free for all.
Using What God Has Given Us
Marco Arjona of BibleProject pointed to Exodus 17:14, where God tells Moses to write his story down — a call to ask how we can faithfully use what we’ve been given. BibleProject’s resources are now available in 55 languages.
God Calls Us Into the Story
Aldrin Bogi of Biblica reminded attendees that we’re not the hero of the story but part of it, made in God’s image — and encouraged staying committed to slow, faithful discipleship rather than measuring worth by numbers alone.
Breakout Session Themes
AI and emerging technologies
Covered AI-assisted translation, AI-powered engagement platforms, and how children might be discipled amid AI and extended reality — alongside real reflection on the theological and ethical questions AI raises.
Digital media & communication
A push to move ministries beyond simply publishing content toward genuine engagement and discipleship, spanning podcasts, radio, social media, and smartphone-based ministry.
Bible translation innovation
AI-supported translation approaches alongside efforts to equip local churches to lead their own translation work, plus new AI translation-coaching platforms.
Orality, storytelling & audio Scripture
Workshops on oral Bible study, storyweaving, and emotionally accurate recordings, focused on helping people experience and remember Scripture, not just hear it.
Children & youth
Reaching kids through animation, storybooks, Bible competitions, and games suited to a generation growing up digital.
Refugees & trauma healing
Identity and displacement in refugee ministry, and trauma-healing approaches growing in prominence amid conflict and migration.
Contextualization & culture
How local literary genres, art forms, and existing sacred texts shape the way people receive new Bible translations and visual portrayals of Jesus.
Multilingual & multicultural ministry
Practical questions facing multilingual churches on language choice and participation, plus research on why local-language translations thrive in some places and struggle in others.
Digital access & restricted contexts
New technology for delivering Scripture securely where believers face persecution, and a look at regions where Bible access is hardest.
Training & evaluation
New learning hubs and trainer resources, with a growing emphasis on evidence-based Scripture engagement.
Partnerships & mobilization
Mobilizing churches through media and collaboration, moving people from awareness to active participation in the Great Commission.
New Media Resources & Gadgets
One highlight this year: The Animated Word previewed a verse-by-verse animated adaptation of the book of Revelation, currently in English and open for dubbing into any language. Attendees also browsed a table of new gadgets — solar-powered digital audio players, radios, and video projectors.
EMDC in the years ahead
Future EMDCs will shift toward regional planning committees running content and communication for their own region, supported by the central steering committee and logistics team.
EMDC Europe
Netherlands, 12–20 May 2027
EMDC Africa
Planned for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, around May 2028 (bilingual English/French)
EMDC Asia
Back in Thailand in 2029
With thanks to the many logistics teams, speakers, worship leaders, trainers, and volunteers who made this year’s EMDC possible — report prepared by Richard Margetts and Steve Baughman.