The Eurasia Media & Distribution Consultation (EMDC) 2023 took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand (10- 23 May, 2023). Here are some “Quick stats” followed by remarks from the chairman. Please do not post this summary, as a whole, on any sites. 

EMDC History

● 1st —Sept 2010, Germany, 130 people (32 organizations)
No pre-EMDC training (just 3.5 days of EMDC)
● 2nd—April 2012, Germany, 200 people (70 organizations)
3 Tracks of pre-EMDC training (video/audio/web, 75 participants)

EMDC grew annually until 2020 when the pandemic shut it down. The cancelled EMDC 2020 had 900 registrants from 300 organizations, and 75 countries. Consequently, EMDC.online was born in May 2020 (followed by emdc.blog, emdc.guide, emdc.live). EMDC came back in-person in 2022 in NL and then in 2023 in Thailand (790 people from 227 organizations).

General Information

● The Steering Committee comes from: Lutheran Bible Translators, SIL, IMB, OMF, Faith Comes by Hearing, Galcom Int’l, M2M Indonesia, Sabda, Cru, and Wycliffe Australia.
● EMDC is self-funded, depending on volunteer helpers and a small registration fee. This fee is waived for many nationals, and only $80 for early registrants. This year around 500 people did not need to pay a registration fee.
● Visas: Several registrants were refused visas this year. With help from SIL-MSEAG, EMDC was able to provide paperwork for hundreds of visas.
● Around half of the participants are on-the-ground language workers, church planters, etc, and the other half are service providers & media experts/providers.  The “media providers” may include distribution that is technical (audio-visual, apps, social media, or devices) or human/ cultural (orality, local arts, trauma healing, Scripture engagement, etc).
● Two typical EMDC scenarios: One audio recording specialist came specifically looking for audio projects he would record for free. He left with several projects lined up. In-country, national workers came with an idea for a local video/film and met the specialist organization that will help them realize it.
●EMDC Español will meet for a second time in November, 2023.
●EMDC.info explains all the other platforms of EMDC.

Pre-EMDC and Post-EMDC Training Information

● The Trainers and assistant trainers for pre-EMDC training came from over 25 different organizations.
● The  31 Training Tracks were: (1) Video 1; (2) Audio Techniques; (3) Making Meaningful Media (4) Culture meets Scripture; (5) Scripture App Builder; (6) Digital Bible Library Curator; (7) Freedom Ascent; (8) Kalaam Media; (9) Alpha Tiles; (10) Simply The Story; (11) AI & Chatbots; (12) Literacy; (13) Outcome Harvesting; (14) Textual Criticism; (15) Diaspora/Refugees; (16) Mobile Production; (17) Radio Production;  (18) Books with Bloom and Create Seeds;  (19) Scripture Engagement; (20) Dictionary App Builder; (21) Digital 2D Animation; (22) Good News Conversations; (23) Social Media; (24) Trauma Healing Initial; (25) Trauma Healing Advanced; (26) Dubbing; (27) PTX Print; (28) Community Health Evangelism (CHE); (29) Strengthening Christian Families; (30) Scriptwriting; (31) FLExTrans
● A Training Closure Ceremony allowed the various Tracks to display the projects in audio, video, digital, print, web, animation, apps, (and more) that the students developed in just four days.
● Many connections were made in the Training Tracks what will lead in the months ahead to smaller, in-country training and production events.
● For a better understanding of the difference between pre-EMDC training and EMDC here is a brief explanation.
● Nearly 600 of the nearly 800 total EMDC participants came for the pre- or post-EMDC training (or both!); once again the final survey showed that the training was highly valued. Training is the key!

EMDC 2023 Information

● Attendees came from 65 countries and 227 organizations.
● Each day started with worship and a devotional brought by four men from Asia or Africa. The worship included songs and Scripture in several languages.
● The three morning plenary sessions were: Paul Konstanski (Cru), Alan White (Biblica), and Dr Alex Abraham (Operation Agape). 
● The 24 Affinity Groups (based on geography, technical, and social themes) allowed the EMDC registrants to find each other (on Day 1) and organize into smaller groups.
● Seventy workshops/seminars were facilitated by specialists in five main domains: Technical, Media, Social (Orality, Ethnoarts, cultural insights), Engagement (Scripture Engagement, research, marketing, trauma healing), and Translation (linguistics, exegesis, literacy, multilingualism)
● Seventy organizations had tables/booths, displaying their written, media, software, and hardware products that service many minority languages.
● Twenty-five persons each day gave their interesting Mini-Minute-at-the-Mic describing (with slides or videos) their products, services, booth, organization, and willingness to partner!  Always fast-moving and fun!
● Several organizations gave free or reduced-price material: listening devices, DVDs, books, etc.
● MegaVoice and The Bible Project had contests and gave away prizes. Rick with Create Seeds won the “Mini” (best Mini-Minute).
● Several experts in the field of AI held a well-attended AI Open Forum Evening.
● Monday night was the Coming Attractions (Mini-Film, Mini-Preview Party) including over a dozen new film products. Tuesday was the premiere of The Covenant.  Wednesday night displayed two other new films from Mongolia and India.
● The EMDC (optional) survey revealed that:

• Many persons acquired key ministry contacts
• Many new partnerships were explored or established
• Many persons conceived or developed a new ministry product
• 95% were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall experience at EMDC
• 93% will likely or enthusiastically recommend EMDC to colleagues
• 90% would likely or enthusiastically attend EMDC again

● Informal, free, networking time and affinity groups scored highest on the survey and proved, once again, to be a mainstay of the gathering.
● Several organizations had regional leaders’ meetings before or after EMDC.  EMDC assisted in logistics, housing, and equipment.
● For EMDC 2023, a prayer chart was organized and 24-hour prayer was lifted up by dozens of people in various parts of the world.
● The EMDC data base has 1440 organizations and 7,300 names that continues to grow. We appreciate the 227 organizations that attended EMDC 2023. The Steering Committee agrees to continue this training / gathering as long as we feel that the Lord is blessing it and using it for Christ’s glory.

Special Thanks:

The on-the-ground admin team did a fantastic job and a big thank-you is due to Cambell, Marcus, the MSEAG team, Melinda, Philipp & Christine, Rodie, Scott, Liz, Ryan, Hank & Krista and others!

Many thanks to Eshinee, Bob and the worship band.

For any questions about EMDC, or any desire to assist with training, personnel, or finance, please contact info@emdcon.org.

Steve B. (for the Steering Committee), June 2023

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