ICMT 2025Collaborative Information for the Bible Translation Movement
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Chapter 1

Introduction to the ICMT 2025 Project

How the project organizes, interprets, and shares information about the Bible translation movement in Brazil.

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Turning data into missionary action

The ICMT Project gathers collaborative information about language groups, translation projects, and Scripture availability. Its purpose is to support leaders, organizations, missionaries, and mobilizers in understanding the Bible translation landscape in Brazil.

  • Collaboration
  • Strategic information
  • Missionary action

1.1 Alliance for Bible Translation — APTB

The Alliance for Bible Translation — APTB — was created in 2018 with the mission of strengthening collaboration among organizations involved in the Bible translation movement in Brazil and mobilizing the Brazilian church for this purpose.

APTB promotes

  • sharing of knowledge;
  • tools;
  • best practices;
  • cooperation between organizations;
  • reduced duplication of effort;
  • mobilization so that God's Word reaches every language group in the language of its choice.

Mission

To strengthen collaboration and help ensure that God's Word reaches, with quality and as soon as possible, the language groups that do not yet have it in the language of their choice.

International integration

APTB is part of the international collaboration network of the Wycliffe Global Alliance — WGA. This network encourages the formation of collaborative spaces known as Roundtables. In Brazil, APTB represents the National Roundtable.

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1.2 Brazilian Association of Cross-Cultural Missions — AMTB

The Brazilian Association of Cross-Cultural Missions — AMTB — brings together organizations committed to today's cross-cultural mission challenges.

AMTB acts as a bridge between

  • sending churches;
  • mission agencies;
  • global movements;
  • field missionaries;
  • communities interested in taking part in the Great Commission.

Uniting to Strengthen

AMTB fosters lasting alliances and practical cooperation among its members.
APTB is part of AMTB as one of its strategic fronts, contributing specifically to advancing the Scripture translation movement in Brazil.
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1.3 Data Management Thematic Group

APTB's Data Management Thematic Group supports member organizations in collecting, organizing, and providing strategic information for the Bible translation movement in Brazil.

Turning data into practical knowledge

The group seeks to promote transparency, collaboration, and more assertive decisions.

Facilitator

Coordinates meetings and ensures the continuity of the work. The role rotates every two years.

Representatives

Appointed by member organizations. They adapt the data to local needs and help circulate information.

Advisors

Connect APTB to national and international data management initiatives.
Examples cited in the content: Ethnologue, the Wycliffe Global Alliance, and the Joshua Project.

Facilitator in 2025

Rodrigo Tinoco

Informational contact, part of Chapter 1's historical text.

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1.4 The ICMT Project

The Collaborative Information for the Bible Translation Movement Project — ICMT — was born from the need to offer the Brazilian missionary movement reliable data, in Portuguese, about:

  • language groups;
  • location of communities;
  • translation projects;
  • Scripture availability;
  • gaps and opportunities for collaboration.

Objective

To support decisions and inspire new translation projects.

Annual update

A new version of the report is prepared annually, usually in October, as a result of collaboration among different organizations affiliated with APTB.

ICMT's four products

Full Report

Gathers detailed data and analyses for leaders, researchers, and organizations.

Coming in a future release

Executive Report

Presents the main highlights in a condensed version for managers and leaders.

Coming in a future release

Simplified Snapshot

An introductory, visual version suited for quick presentations and a broader audience.

Coming in a future release

DataViz

A set of charts, maps, images, and visualizations that communicate trends and indicators.

Coming in a future release

Who is ICMT for?

ICMT was designed primarily for people who need to understand the Bible translation landscape, even without specialized academic training in linguistics or statistics.

  • organization leaders
  • missionaries
  • mobilizers
  • researchers
  • managers
  • partners of the translation movement
The language aims to avoid overly technical terms without reducing the importance and variety of the information.
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1.5 Common criteria for collaboration

Parameterization means establishing common criteria so that different organizations can describe, compare, and discuss the progress of translation projects.

What it doesn't do

Parameterization does not replace each organization's internal concepts, methods, or processes.

What it offers

A common language for comparing data, aligning expectations, and planning actions together.

Parameters used by ICMT

These parameters reduce ambiguity and enable decisions based on comparable information.
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1.6 Where does the data come from?

The report uses its own dataset, built and updated by ICMT since 2016.

  • field visits
  • interviews with translation teams
  • dialogue with missionaries
  • consultations with organizational leaders
  • monitoring of printed and digital publications
  • listening to indigenous leaders
  • listening to community representatives
  • exploratory surveys
  • updates provided by partner organizations

Technical research and collaborative construction

The data results from a combination of research, observation, dialogue, and relationships with the participating communities and organizations.
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1.7 Collaboration Tools — IdC

The Collaboration Tools are resources created to encourage participation, feedback, and alignment of information.

IdC1 — We want to hear from you

Users can record comments, observations, corrections, and suggestions to contribute to future versions of the data.

IdC2 — Progress indicator

Celebrate and advance

  1. 1NT — New Testament available

    An achievement to celebrate

  2. 2NT — NT project underway

    Work in progress

  3. 3NT — No active NT project

    Opportunity for collaboration

  4. 4NT — No information

    Requires research

  5. 5NT — Not applicable

    Out of scope

1NT represents an achievement to celebrate; the other statuses help identify the next step. The indicator is not a value judgment about the community: it is a data organization tool.

IdC3 — Language code and country code

ISO 639-3

International code used to identify languages.

  • por — Portuguese
  • spa — Spanish

ISO 3166-1

International code used to identify countries.

  • BRA — Brazil
  • MEX — Mexico

UF

Codes for Brazilian federative units (states), such as AM, PA, MT, and RR.
These codes make it easier to compare and share information.
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1.8 How to interpret the data

ICMT's assumptions are not academic or normative in nature. They serve as common references to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among organizations.

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1.9 Three views for interpreting the data

Different perspectives on the same data

The same number can be interpreted differently depending on experience, organization, and context.

669
The same symbol can be read as 6 or as 9, depending on the observer's position.

Individual reading and collaborative reading

A piece of data can support one organization's decision and also contribute to the Alliance's joint planning.

Each visualization answers a question

Maps, charts, and tables should not exist in isolation. Each visualization needs to make clear which question it seeks to answer.
Data are tools for supporting decisions, encouraging dialogue, and fostering collaboration.
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1.10 Frequently asked question

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What you need to remember

  1. ICMT is a collaborative project.
  2. The data serve to support missionary decisions.
  3. Common criteria help different organizations engage in dialogue.
  4. Language groups, ethnic groups, translation, and church planting are not equivalent concepts.
  5. Every chart, map, or table should answer a question.

Source: ICMT 2025 Project — Collaborative Information for the Bible Translation Movement, Brazil.

Content adapted from the ICMT 2025 Report for a digital, mobile-friendly experience.

The information and visualizations are intellectual property. When sharing or using this content, please cite the source appropriately.