Langham Literature’s Isobel Stevenson shares her experience in equipping writers and editors…
Isobel Stevenson’s protégé Tanya helped to edit this book by Lebanese pastor Hikmat Kashouh.
“In late October 2017, I reluctantly set off to Sri Lanka. It was not that I had any objections to going there, but the workshop at the Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) dovetailed with my commitments in other parts of the world.
“I would be on the road for seven weeks in a wide range of climates. But I had promised to go, and so I went.
“I am so glad I did! At that writers’ workshop in Colombo, God led me to Tanya, a gifted writer and editor who has now worked with me on a book by the Lebanese pastor Hikmat Kashouh, Following Jesus in Turbulent Times: Disciple-Making in the Arab World.
“That book (released October 2018) will be a blessing to pastors in the Middle East and to pastors in the West who want to reach out to Muslims in their communities.
A duck to water!
“Next, Tanya and I tackled a commentary on James that was published by the Asia Theological Association (ATA) in January.
Tanya also worked on this commentary on the book of James, which was an answer to prayer.
“Commentary editing is difficult because you have to consider the biblical text, the authors of the commentary, the potential readers of the book, and the requirements of the publisher.
“Tanya took to it like a duck to water! This too is an answer to prayer, for the ATA needs an Asian editor to edit their Asian commentary series.
“Low profile but critically important work like editor training is essential to promote the publishing of excellent theological resources in places like Sri Lanka (and across the Majority World). Langham Literature is ideally placed to provide such training.
Thank you Langham
“At the end of that project, Tanya sent me an email: ‘It’s amazing how that one meeting at CTS (for something quite different) led to this new avenue, which I find I enjoy very much! Not to mention that your workshop also sparked my own book-writing… So, another thank you to you for that, too!’
Isobel Stevenson leading writers’ training in Ethiopia in 2017.
“Those thanks should also go to all the Langham supporters who made it possible for me to conduct the workshop at CTS and to spend many hours working with Tanya and giving her feedback.
“Last year, she embarked on her first solo flight as an editor! Way to go, Tanya!”
By Langham Partnership Senior Editor Isobel Stevenson
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