Meet Dr. Doug McIntosh
Dr. Doug McIntosh’s introduction to world missions happened while he was playing basketball. “Between my senior year of college and first year of seminary, a group of us college players got together and decided to go and do basketball evangelism around the Pacific Rim,” he says.
Basketball and Bible Translation
“We played local teams in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Thailand, all the way to Japan. During half times we would sing a song in the local language and speak to the crowds—if necessary through translators—presenting our testimonies and the gospel. Then we’d offer the players, coaches and fans a free Bible correspondence course in the national language.”
On that trip McIntosh realized for the first time that hundreds of cultures were without a Bible in a language they could understand well. “I was in a lot of different cross-cultural situations and saw the difference that the gospel was making in some of those cultures. By the time the tour was over, I had a clearer vision for the needs of that part of the world. It seemed to me that Bible translation should be one of the great priorities of the gospel project. That’s a conviction that has only deepened through the years.”
A Pastoral Advocate
After college and seminary, McIntosh co-founded Cornerstone Bible Church in Lilburn, Georgia. Now in his 34th year as pastor, he makes sure the church stays informed about the state of Bible translation in the world. From his perspective as a Wycliffe USA board member, he personally summarizes direction and progress when he returns from meetings. And, during annual missions conferences, the congregation hears reports about Bible translation efforts from people who work with Wycliffe.
“Our church actively supports missionaries,” he said. “We consider it a moral necessity to attend to their physical and emotional needs, especially when they are on furlough. Periodically, I go and minister to them overseas as well.”
Of course, not everyone can go to the mission field, even for a short visit. McIntosh encourages individuals who can’t go themselves to find people who are going and join their support team by giving and praying. McIntosh also encourages Christians in his church to pray for government barriers to fall. “Much of the world is officially closed to penetration by the gospel because of government resistance or outright persecution,” he said.
Vision 2025 and World Evangelism
More than 2,500 languages still need a translation project started. McIntosh is convinced that this need is one of the most critical factors in the progress of world evangelization. “Wherever Bible translation is done, churches emerge and grow,” he said. “Give someone a copy of the Gospel of John, have them read it in their ‘thought’ language, and you can expect something wonderful.”
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