Evangelist Billy Graham has always gone to extraordinary efforts to communicate his message. But his four-day California crusade was instantly interpreted into an unprecedented 26 languages, including sign language.
Ira Schipper, who has worked for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for 34 years, said crusades have been translated since 1980, but none has been immediately interpreted into as many languages as this last event.
Interpreters were isolated in individual booths wearing headsets. They listened to Graham’s message in English then quickly interpreted it into another tongue. Each language is broadcast on a low-wave frequency. Attendees at the Rose Bowl receive the translated messages via headsets attuned to the appropriate frequency.
Schipper said it’s important that each person hears the message in his or her “heart language.”
“We believe that the message we have, that Mr. Graham’s been preaching for all these years, is the answer to the problems of the world, if people would get right with God through Jesus Christ,” he said.
The interpreters are all volunteers from local churches- just a few of the 20,000 people from 1,200 churches who are sponsoring the event.
Historically, Graham has embraced the latest technology to communicate to an international audience.
(RNS)
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