Current Projects

Building the foundation for effective missions

DMI’s current projects include:

  1. Establish and Develop the Ward School of Filipino Languages
  2. Develop and Translate DMI and ThirdMil Curriculum
  3. Prep Work for Update of Maranao Bible Translation
  4. Cebu Graduate School of Theology – Islamic Courses

#1 — Establish and Develop the Bob and Mariel Ward School of Filipino Languages

One of the hardest and most burdensome challenges of a missionary’s training is the need to learn the language of the people. Most often this happens haphazardly, and takes 3-5 years. By doing the hard work of building up formal and semi-formal language programs, DMI, through its Bob and Mariel Ward School of Filipino Languages will enable future missionaries to cut that timeline in half and do it in a far less stressful process… This directly will lead to far more effective missions while reducing burn-out.

This effort includes:

1. Development of the software and website for Online-In Person Hybrid Language Learning Program

Bob and Mariel Ward School of Filipino Languages — Flashcards App

2. Cataloging, systematizing, and recording native Maranao and Sinama languages

From a Filipino standpoint to optimize learning by Filipino students.

Language fieldwork with native speakers Recording session with native speakers

Pictures blurred to protect the participants’ safety.

Since 2025 DMI staff have been teaming up with Christians or Christian friendly Maranao and Sinama people to learn the languages, document the languages, and record the native speakers as training materials for future missionaries. This is our biggest, most expensive, and most complex project. Contact us if you are interested in more information on this project.

3. Developing Staff skills in Language training with Graduate level degrees and certificates

In order to ensure effective language teaching program, our staff are pursuing advanced degrees and certifications in TESL as we have found this to be a simple route to linguistics qualifications.

  • One staff member is completing an MA in Language Teaching online at Liberty University
  • One staff member is completing a Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching online with Arizona State University

#2 — Develop and Translate DMI and ThirdMil Curriculum

In order to ensure the future effectiveness of missions training, we are developing and translating full curriculum packages into Filipino language. This includes the ThirdMil Seminary program, the Bible Fluency series, the Books Five Solas by Derek Parfan, and John Owens Mortification of Sin Adapted by Arron Renn.

Additionally, we are developing courses in house to include a full Bible Narrative course and in partnership with Cebu Graduate School of Theology we are developing Islamic Apologetics and Polemics Courses.

#3 — Prep Work for Update of Maranao Bible Translation

Bob and Mariel Ward translated the Bible to Maranao. To this day it is the only fully translated Bible in a language of a Filipino Muslim people group. However, many have stated that as time has gone on, the language used by the younger generations has changed much and the text is difficult to understand. Furthermore, some translation choices used by Bob Ward resulted in groups of verses that are combined under a single heading. This makes it difficult to export to an app. For this reason we are starting work to update the Maranao Bible.

Tito (Titus) — Multilingual Greek Interlinear mapping tool

The first step we are now working on is to map the Maranao Bible to gateway Filipino languages (Cebuano and Tagalog) and from there to English and the original languages. We are using AI with human review for this step. The next step is to train up a team of Bible Translators thru our Bible Translation Fellowship. We expect this to produce effective Translators who can use the advanced tools that are being developed with AI, along with the interlinear we are now developing, and the Maranao church to produce a fully updated Maranao Bible. Furthermore, we will take this experience and use it for translation of the Bible into other Filipino Muslim languages.

#4 — Cebu Graduate School of Theology — Islamic Courses

In order to build up the church for the purpose of missions to Muslims, DMI is partnering with Cebu Graduate School of Theology with elective Islamic introductory, Apologetics and Polemics courses.

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