When only a few non-Dutch speakers attended the Baptist church, translation was not much of an issue, says Kevin Broek (37), church member and translator at KerkvoorNu. "We translated orally directly into English, which I still find the best way because you can convey warmth in your voice." But as more non-Dutch speakers found their way to the church, the process became more cumbersome.
The church welcomed Ukrainian refugees, who spoke two languages: Ukrainian and Russian. Through other activities such as 'Shop voor Nop,' people with an Arabic background also joined. "There were times when fifteen non-Dutch speakers were in the service," says Kevin.
Therefore, a system with multiple translators was set up: they translated the text via Google Translate and then sent it via WhatsApp to the non-Dutch-speaking visitors. "But that was a hassle," Kevin recalls. "Some people started talking back: 'This is wrong!'" Practically, it was not feasible.
Solution
The solution came through Pastor Christiaan Vos, who searched online for a more efficient method and came across the Kefas app. "We have been using the app for a year and a half now and are very happy with it," says Kevin.
Upon arrival, the translation option is announced via a sign. Visitors scan a QR code and are directed to a Telegram channel with their desired translation. During the service, a church member types along with the sermon and other spoken texts. The app translates this instantly and sends the translated text to users. Additionally, the app can be linked to the church’s sound system to automatically transcribe and translate spoken text, though KerkvoorNu does not use this function. "There was too much noise in our sound system, so the results were disappointing," Kevin explains.
The app can also convert text into audio. During children’s gatherings, such as the Christmas celebration for kids, this function is used. "Children who do not speak Dutch receive a phone and earphones. A church member types in the text, and the children receive a translated audio file in Telegram," Kevin explains. This way, even children who cannot read can follow the service.
Greater Engagement
Using Kefas has led to greater engagement from non-Dutch speakers in the services. "We see their faith deepening, especially among those who previously approached it more theoretically," says Kevin. An additional benefit is that fewer translators are needed. "Sometimes there are twenty people in the service who do not speak Dutch. Now we only need one church member to assist all of them." Six church members are involved in the translation function. "The person on duty sends an invitation to the Telegram channels on Saturday. During the service, messages follow like: 'We are about to start, put your phone on silent.' This prevents dozens of phones from going off simultaneously."
Criticism
Recently, a Ukrainian woman approached the translators with criticism of a translation. "Either the translation was incorrect, or the sermon was," Kevin recounts. "The pastor spoke about a militant God, which was difficult for her to understand as a refugee from a war zone. 'Isn’t God loving?' When I explained that it referred to a God who fights for us, the tension eased. It shows that besides language, there are also cultural barriers. That’s why it’s important to remain open to conversation."
Kevin’s Tips for New Users:
• Conduct a trial evening with the team managing the app. Go through everything: this helps iron out any issues and prevents stress.
• Ensure different translations are ready in the Telegram channels beforehand. We usually do not have German visitors, but we created the channel in advance. When a church member brought a German friend, I simply handed her my phone with the German Telegram channel. It was set up in a minute.
• Make it clear upon arrival that translation is available. We achieved this by placing an A4 sheet in a plastic holder with QR codes linking to the most-used translations.
