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 as we fill in)

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

Geographic

  • South Asia: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Anil John, anil.john@bridgeconn.com
  • Southeast Asia: Countries east of Bangladesh, Michael Wan, michael_wan@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

  • Ethnoarts/Ethnodoxology, Younhee Kim, artsmission.kr@gmail.com
  • Trauma Healing, Clene Nyiramahoro, clene_nyiramahoro@sil.org
  • Anti-Human Trafficking, Bryan Varenkamp, bryan_varenkamp@sil.org
  • Orality/Storytelling, Irene van Riezen, irene_van_riezen@sil.org
  • Literacy & Education, Karsten van Riezen, karsten_van_riezen@sil.org
  • Scripture Engagement, Jennifer Brassington,  jennifer_brassington@sil.org  
  • Digital Disciple Making Network, AJ & Clyde, clyde@visualstory.org
  • Diaspora, Displaced, & Refugees, Bruce Rossington, bruce_rossington@sil.org
  • Linguistics & Language Development, Brian Migliazza, brian_migliazza@sil.org

Technological

  • Publishing, Priscilla Higby, priscilla_higby@sil.org
  • Video/Film, Steve Baldwin, steve@createmobile.org
  • AI & Chatbots, SABDA Team sabda4god@gmail.com
  • Apps, Richard Margetts, richard_margetts@sil.org
  • Kalaam Media User Group (websites), Jim Moore, Jim@kalaamsil.org
  • Audio/ Radio, Joost B, JoostBastiaans@twr.nl
  • Language Technology, Doug Higby, doug_higby@sil.org