Sharing the story of Pentecost in 21 languages

“Celebrating the gift of diverse languages”

(LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) 2020 Pentecost video shares the story of Pentecost as told in Acts 2:1-21 by bringing together 21 readers from member churches who each read a verse in their native language.

“Pentecost Sunday invites us to receive the Spirit's empowerment for God's mission,” said Rev. Dr Sivin Kit, Program Executive for Public Theology. “With this video, we are bringing together people from around the world to share a central and relevant Biblical story about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church.”

And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

The LWF is always looking for new ways to engage people, share stories and connect the churches of the communion, added Rev. Arni Danielsson, LWF Head of Communication. “We remember the Reformation principle of translating the Bible into local languages and indeed. With the help of people from the member churches, we celebrate the gift of diverse languages, offered to a world sometimes plagued with divisiveness.”

A Pentecost lesson in 21 languages from Lutheran World Federation on Vimeo.

Representing churches from the seven LWF regions we hear English, Burmese, Russian, Mandarin, Polish, German, Spanish, Finnish, Indonesian, Swahili, Arabic, Portugese, Icelandic, Hungarian, Hausa, French, Filipino, Oshiwambo, Tamil, Swedish, and Amharic.

The video is shared in LWF’s social media channels and is offered to the member churches for sharing in their own channels and use in services, online or in-person.