In 2003, Justin Stanford and his wife joined Wycliffe to complete a simple assignment: teach the children of missionary Bible translators at an international school in Papua, Indonesia. Justin thought he understood the rhythm of Bible translation work: Westerners go, and Westerners translate. But it did not take long for him to realize his original perspective was rooted in an outdated paradigm, and that has shaped his work at Seed Company ever since.
That first year in Papua introduced Justin to national colleagues whose commitment and sacrifice, in his words, were “astounding.” He watched Indonesian believers carry translation work forward with a depth of dedication that reframed everything he thought he knew about missions. “I went from having a vision of ‘I want to become a translator,’ to ‘I want to help train others who are better equipped for the task,’ he says. Then he thought, What if I could help train Papuans who want to get involved in Bible translation? A seed was planted, but it would be another two decades before it grew to maturity.
Medical complications kept Justin’s family stateside for the next several years. He continued supporting Wycliffe’s work from home until 2016, when he then joined Seed Company to train the Field Operations Team. A year later, a field project manager (FPM) role for Indonesia opened up. Justin took it, and in 2018, his family moved back overseas, this time for five years of language study and hands-on FPM work alongside Indonesian partners and colleagues.
Today, Justin serves as the field operations program coordinator on Seed Company’s Field Operations Services Team. He’s the “12th man” which supports the organization’s regional teams with training, reporting, and the systems that keep translation programs running well.
Justin’s years living in Indonesia give him something no training manual can replicate: an intuitive read on culture. When a Global Translation Leader (GTL) from Indonesia recently prepared for a call with a supporting investor, Justin was able to explain to him what many Westerners would miss. For example, Indonesian culture tends to be hierarchical, and a GTL from this area speaking with a funding partner in the United States would likely feel the weight of several layers of deference at once. Understanding that context does not just prevent awkwardness; it helps everyone show up prepared, and it reminds American colleagues that a Zoom call in English is rarely as simple for our partners as it is for us.
This is the quiet, essential work of our Field Operations Team. Behind every translation project are a group of folks listening closely, not just to what is said but to what is left unsaid, ready to ask one more gentle question when a partner leaves the door cracked. FPMs carry the trust of national partners and the accountability of Seed Company at the same time, and that balance takes years of building relational equity.
Justin’s story is a reminder that Bible translation is not something “done for” Bible-less communities. It is their work carried out by their national leaders, and Seed Company’s role is to walk alongside them, supporting their important work.
