Christian, Foreign, and Multilingual: Holding On to Your Faith Across Languages and Cultures in Johannesburg

If you are a Christian expat in Sandton or anywhere in Johannesburg — and you have been quietly wondering how to keep your faith alive in a language that is not your mother's tongue — this post is for you. The Bible is not silent on this. The Bible is full of people who held on to their faith across languages, across cultures, across empires. The Bible honours the Christian who holds on.

Why This Conversation Matters for Johannesburg Christian Expats

Johannesburg is one of the most multilingual cities on the continent. Families tend to worship in Mandarin, in Cantonese, in Korean, in Yoruba, in Igbo, in Shona, in Ndebele, in Lingala, in Swahili, in Dinka, in Amharic, in Afrikaans, in Zulu, in Xhosa, in Sotho, in Tswana, in Pedi, in English, in Hindi, in Gujarati, in Tamil, in Telugu, in Portuguese, in French, in German. The Christian expat in Johannesburg in 2026 is often caught between two languages, two cultures, two Christian traditions, two cities, two homes.

Many Christian expats in Johannesburg have been quietly wondering: Should I worship in English now, or in my mother tongue? Should I attend the international church, or the local church, or both? Should my children be raised Christian, or English-speaking, or both? What happens to my faith when the language of my faith is no longer the language of my daily life?

This post is an attempt to answer those questions carefully, honestly, and biblically. The post is not a defence of one approach over another. The post is an attempt to lay out what the Bible says about faith across languages, what multilingual Christian community can look like, and how a Christian expat in Johannesburg can hold on to their faith without being torn between two worlds.

What the Bible Actually Says About Faith Across Languages

1. The Bible Was Written in Multiple Languages

The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Bible that you hold in your hand is already a translated text. The Bible has always moved across languages. The Bible has always been translated for the people who would read it.

2. Acts 2 — The Multilingual Church at Pentecost

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent storm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing believers and visitors to the festival from many nations. And when this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was bewildered because each one heard their own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages!'"

The first Christian community was multilingual. The first Christian community was multicultural. The first Christian community was a community in which every language was honoured. The Christian in Johannesburg in 2026 who has come from another language is not an anomaly. The Christian in Johannesburg who has come from another language is part of the original pattern of what the church was meant to be.

3. Revelation 7:9 — Every Nation, Tribe, People and Language

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."

The Bible ends with a vision of every language, every tribe, every nation gathered before God. The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has come from another language is part of that vision. The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has come from another language is one of the languages that the Bible will use to praise God forever.

4. 1 Corinthians 9:22 — To All People, I Became All Things

"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that, by all possible means, I might save some."

The Apostle Paul adapted to different audiences. The Apostle Paul translated the gospel into different languages and cultures. The Apostle Paul did this not because he was ashamed of his Jewish heritage, but because the gospel is for everyone. The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has adapted to the English-speaking church has not betrayed their language. The Christian expat has done what Paul did.

5. Philippians 1:27 — Whatever Language, Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel."

The language does not determine the Christian life. The faith determines the Christian life. Whether the Christian is worshipping in English, in Mandarin, in Zulu, in Yoruba, in Korean, or in any other language, the Christian is called to live a life worthy of the gospel.

What a Multilingual Christian Community Can Look Like

The Christian expat in Johannesburg is encouraged to find a community that honours both the language of their faith and the language of their daily life. The Christian is encouraged to find a community that does not force the Christian to choose. The Christian is encouraged to find a community that is comfortable with multilingual faith.

1. Worship in Two Languages

Some Christian communities in Johannesburg have services in two languages. The Christian can attend a service in English, then attend another service in their mother tongue. The Christian can read the Bible in two languages. The Christian can pray in two languages. The Christian can sing in two languages. The Christian can be bilingual in faith.

2. Children in One Language, Adults in Another

Many Christian expat families in Johannesburg choose to raise their children in English, but to keep their own prayer language in their mother tongue. This is a wise and biblical approach. The Christian parent can pray in their mother tongue at home. The Christian parent can read the Bible in their mother tongue. The Christian parent can teach their children the mother-tongue hymns. The Christian parent can raise their children bilingual in faith.

3. Keep Your Mother Tongue Hymn Book

The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has been quietly singing in English for years can be encouraged to keep the mother-tongue hymn book. The Christian can sing the hymns they grew up singing. The Christian can teach the hymns to the children. The Christian can listen to the hymns in the car on the way to work. The hymn book is a small but powerful way to keep the mother tongue.

4. Find a Community That Supports Your Linguistic Identity

The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has been made to feel that their language is not as good as English has been hurt by an unhealthy community. The Christian expat is encouraged to find a community that honours the language the Christian brings. The Christian expat is encouraged to find a community that does not require the Christian to hide who they are.

5. Read the Bible in Your Mother Tongue Too

The Bible in your mother tongue is not a lesser Bible. The Bible in your mother tongue is the same Bible. The Bible in your mother tongue is the word of God in the language of your heart. The Christian expat is encouraged to read the Bible in their mother tongue at least once a week. The Bible in the mother tongue often speaks in a way that the Bible in English does not.

What the Bible Says About the Foreigner in the Land

1. Exodus 22:21 — Do Not Mistreat the Foreigner

"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."

The Bible commands the Christian not to mistreat the foreigner. The Bible commands the Christian community not to mistreat the foreigner. The Bible commands the Christian community to welcome the foreigner. The Christian expat in Johannesburg is a foreigner. The Christian community is called to welcome the foreigner.

2. Leviticus 19:34 — The Foreigner Is to Be Loved

"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

The Christian is commanded to love the foreigner. The Christian is commanded to treat the foreigner as themselves. The Christian expat in Johannesburg is called to be loved by the Christian community, not just tolerated.

3. Hebrews 13:2 — Do Not Forget to Show Hospitality to Strangers

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

The Christian is called to show hospitality to the stranger. The Christian expat in Johannesburg is the stranger. The Christian community is called to show hospitality.

How a Christian Expat in Johannesburg Can Hold On to Their Faith

After ten years of running a Wednesday Bible study in Parkmore, we have learned that the Christian expat who holds on to their faith is the Christian who does six things.

1. Find a Bible Study Group That Meets in Your Language or Bilingual

The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has been quietly attending an English-speaking Bible study is encouraged to find a Bible study group that meets in their language. We host a bilingual Bible study on Wednesday evenings in Parkmore — English with Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Shona, Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Yoruba, and other languages welcome. We do not require you to commit to a particular language. We do not require you to commit to the church. We only require you to commit to the Bible.

2. Keep the Bible in Your Mother Tongue at Home

The Christian expat is encouraged to keep a Bible in their mother tongue at home. The Christian is encouraged to read one chapter a week in their mother tongue. The Christian is encouraged to pray in their mother tongue. The Christian is encouraged to teach their children the Bible stories in their mother tongue.

3. Stay Connected to Your Home Church Online

The Christian expat in Johannesburg is encouraged to stay connected to their home church online. The Christian can watch the livestream on Sunday morning. The Christian can listen to the recordings during the week. The Christian can stay connected to the home church without being physically present.

4. Build a Multilingual Faith Network

The Christian expat in Johannesburg is encouraged to build a multilingual faith network. The Christian can have a Bible study group with friends from different countries. The Christian can pray with friends in different languages. The Christian can be a bridge between cultures.

5. Be Patient With Yourself and With Your Children

The Christian expat is encouraged to be patient with themselves and with their children. The Christian is encouraged to allow the children to be bilingual in faith. The Christian is encouraged to allow the children to grow up Christian in two languages. The Christian is encouraged to be patient with the slow work of faith formation.

6. Trust That God Speaks Every Language

The Christian expat in Johannesburg who has wondered whether God can hear their prayer in their mother tongue is invited to know that God hears every language. The Christian is invited to know that God has always been multilingual. The Christian is invited to know that the Spirit gives gifts in every language.

A Closing Word to the Christian Expat Who Has Been Tired

If you have been tired. If you have been tired of pretending. If you have been tired of explaining yourself. If you have been tired of being the foreigner. If you have been tired of being the one who does not quite fit in — the Bible is for you. The Bible is the book of the foreigner. The Bible is the book of the exile. The Bible is the book of the Christian who has had to leave their home.

Psalm 137:1-4 — "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion!' How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"

The Christian in Johannesburg in 2026 can relate to the Psalmist in Babylon. The Christian in Johannesburg in 2026 can relate to the longing for home. The Christian in Johannesburg in 2026 can relate to the desire to sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land.

And the answer is: you can sing. You can sing in your mother tongue. You can sing in English. You can sing in any language. The God of the Bible is the God who hears every language. The God of the Bible is the God who knows your name in any language.

A Prayer for the Christian Expat

Father, you are the God of all languages. You are the God of every tribe and every nation. You are the God who hears the Mandarin prayer, the Yoruba prayer, the Zulu prayer, the Shona prayer, the Korean prayer, the French prayer, the Portuguese prayer, the Hindi prayer, the Tamil prayer, the Telugu prayer. We pray for the Christian expat in Johannesburg who has been tired. We pray for the Christian expat in Sandton who has been lonely. We pray for the Christian expat in Randburg who has been longing for home. We pray for the Christian expat in Soweto who has been working three jobs. We pray for the Christian expat in Fourways who has been hiding their faith. We pray for the Christian expat in Midrand who has been translating the Bible for their children. We pray for the Christian expat in Roodepoort who has been wondering if God can hear them. Lord, in your mercy, hear them. Speak to them in their mother tongue. Comfort them with the Psalmist. Walk with them through the foreign land. Bring them home — to the home that you have prepared, where every language will be heard. We ask this in the name of the one who spoke in many languages, who knew the foreigner, who loved the stranger. Amen.

Johannesburg Bible Study Church meets online every Wednesday at 7:30pm for a Bible study that is intentionally bilingual — English is the medium of worship, and Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Shona, Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Yoruba, and other languages are welcome. The Bible study is free, open to anyone, and free to join or to leave. Call Mr. Sim on +27 77 487 1295 or Ms. Dora on +27 67 442 4461, or message Mr. Leo on +27 79 259 2607 if you would prefer Chinese.