“Bible translation—within the context of excellent language-based development—may be one of the most strategic and yet most misunderstood expressions of the Church in our generation,” suggests Ruth Hubbard, who currently serves as a Senior Vice President (SVP) for Wycliffe USA. “Those with passing familiarity with Bible translation are likely to say that it’s all about linguistics, exegesis and printing a book. I’ve learned that the heart of Bible translation is relationship—the incarnation of God into a community and the subsequent extension of the Church.”
Ruth joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and took her first assignment in Wycliffe USA’s Communications department in 2002, serving first as a graphic designer and then as the Director of Integrated Marketing before becoming the Vice President for Communications in 2005. Currently, Ruth's leadership portfolio includes marketing, public relations, community and government relations, and Wycliffe’s diversity initiative as she continues to serve with the senior leadership of the organization in her role as an SVP.
A graduate of Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a degree in graphic arts and journalism, Ruth loves to use her communications skills to move people toward understanding and action, describing her passion as “facilitating the ah hah! experience for students of all ages.”
“At least one of the reasons I Twitter (rdhubbard) and blog (ruthhubbard.wordpress.com) and am active on Facebook is that those venues give me opportunity to engage a broad and diverse community beyond the encounters my day to day role affords. I truly love these conversations, through which our horizons are broadened and possibilities come into focus.”
Ruth did not take a predictable career path from her undergrad work to her role as a designer with Wycliffe. Before serving with Wycliffe, she taught American literature, New Testament, art and yearbook at a growing Christian high school in Indianapolis. She then served as the Director of Children’s Ministry at Faith Missionary Church, also in Indianapolis.
Ruth will be the first to tell you that those seasons of ministry were not in any way detours. “When God’s Word says that we should trust the Lord with every aspect of our lives, and that He will make our paths ‘straight,’ that’s not about trajectory so much as purpose. Every one of those twists and turns has been His doing.”