EMDC 2025 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           

Affinity Groups from EMDC 2024

( updated information for 2025 will be added later )

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

Geographic

  • South Asia: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,  Joshy Kurian, joshy@emdcon.org       
  • Southeast Asia: Countries east of Bangladesh, Roger Green, roger_green@sil.org
  • Middle East, N & S Central Asia, David Gray, david_gray@sil.org 
  • Indo-Malay & Islands, SABDA Team sabda4god@gmail.com
  • Africa, John Ommani, john_ommani@sil.org

Social

  • Next Gen, Joshua Chew, Linda Viljoen, margaretlviljoen@gmail.com
  • Ethnoarts, Justin Randolph, justin_randolph@sil.org
  • Trauma Healing, Amy Fields, amy_fields@sil.org
  • Orality/Storytelling , Jesse Baral, jessiebruccoleri@storyweaversglobal.org
  • Literacy & Education, Aaron Hemphill, aaron_hemphill@sil.org
  • Scripture Engagement, Jennifer Brassington, Peter Brassington,  jennifer_brassington@sil.org  
  • Digital Disciple Making Network, AJ & Clyde, aj@missionmediau.org
  • Diaspora, Displaced, & Refugees, Sunny Hong, sunny_hong@sil.org
  • Social Media/Digital Engagement, Joshy Kurian, joshy@emdcon.org
  • Linguistics & Language Development, Brian Migliazza, brian_migliazza@sil.org

Technological

  • Publishing, Priscilla Higby, priscilla_higby@sil.org
  • Innovation, Nick Wu, nick@indigitous.org
  • Video/Film, Joshua Chew & Steve Baldwin, ablaze.media.prod@gmail.com
  • AI & Chatbots, Mark Woodward, mark_woodward@sil.org
  • Apps, Richard Margetts, richard_margetts@sil.org
  • Kalaam Media User Group (websites), Dave Johnson, davej@kalaam.org
  • Audio/ Radio, Joost B & Nathanael G JoostBastiaans@twr.nl
  • Language Technology, Doug Higby, doug_higby@sil.org