What Helps or Hinders Generosity for Bible Translation in Latin America – A Missional Mixed Methods Exploration Using Complex Systems Framework

This study explores the challenges and opportunities in fundraising practices within the Latin American Bible Translation Movement, a complex network of over 200 organisations dedicated to making the Bible accessible in minority languages. Despite the growth of the Protestant church, the movement has not seen equivalent levels of financial generosity, and existing research often lacks a perspective from the Global South. Addressing this gap, the study applies complex systems theory to offer a Latin American perspective on generosity in Bible translation, aiming to inform missional practice. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study examines the factors influencing financial generosity within the Protestant church in Latin America by engaging leaders and organisations seeking resources for Bible translation. It also situates contemporary practice within historical trajectories, including the development of almsgiving and tithe traditions, as well as the economic strength of Protestant mission societies in Great Britain and the United States. Findings reveal three dynamics that hinder local generosity: a historical path dependency on foreign funding, limited visibility of Indigenous giving efforts, and inward-focused local theologies. This study contributes a perspective on generosity, highlighting the influence and interrelationship between theology, history and culture. It argues that the movement’s adaptive capacities reveal potential changes through strategic levers shaped by interdependent agents and contextual variables.