Faith Comes By Hearing

I had a voicemail at church the other day, telling me that I could get a free audio New Testament for every adult and teen in my church…and a children’s version for all the kids. All I had to do was call a certain number to let them know I was interested. So, of course, I called the number!

Apparently, this organization, called “Faith Comes by Hearing” has made it their mission to get the audio Bible translated into as many languages as there are people without Bibles. If you partner with them, you do get the free audio New Testaments they promised. I must admit, the phone call seems slightly shady, in retrospect—but it did get me to call them and they didn’t really lie (they just left out vital information, i.e. that you need “sponsor” some of the Bible translation). With all the mail and phone calls churches get about ministries, programs, and products, I guess you have to do something to set yourself apart.

I was really impressed by what they do. They translate the whole New Testament into an audio version, into languages that have no access to Scriptures (because nothing has been translated into that language). It is similar to what Wycliffe Bible translators do, but this is an audio version. And, they have this amazingly cool thing called “The Proclaimer” that they give to people. Some stats about the Proclaimer:

• The Scriptures are programmed on a microchip already installed and will not erase or wear out from frequent playing.
  The battery will play 15 hours and can be recharged enough times to play the entire New Testament over 600 times.
  The Proclaimer has a built in generator and solar charger to charge the battery.
  The solar charger, in addition to charging the battery, will run the Proclaimer even without battery power as long as there is sunlight. In other words, as long as there is a sun in the sky the Proclaimer will play the Son’s Words.
  The sound is digital quality and loud enough to be heard clearly by groups of 300.

Apparently, there are approximately 6,600 unreached people groups—no one knows for sure how many people that is, but this particular organization figures it at 1.7 billion people. An unreached people group can be defined as: “a group of people among which there is no viable indigenous church movement with sufficient strength, resources, and commitment to sustain and ensure the continuous multiplication of churches”. Most of these groups have no Bible in their own language. Imagine that! I can drive 10 minutes to the local Christian bookstore and choose from hundreds of different Bibles: in a multitude of translations, colors, with various maps, devotionals, and other helpful resources. Imagine not having any copy of the Bible in your language…how awful would that be?!

Faith comes by Hearing (http://www.fcbh.org/) allows churches the opportunity to sponsor a whole audio NT in a particular language…or you can sponsor one book of the Bible (which is roughly $950…but that includes all the translation, the technology, and getting it to the people). I think the whole thing is pretty amazing…especially considering that just because a Bible is translated into a certain language does not guarantee that people are literate and will actually be able to read it. “Faith Comes by Hearing” has statistics on their site about Americans and their literacy levels. I can imagine, in contrast to a nation which considers itself highly educated, that things might be a lot worse (in terms of literacy) in other parts of the world. These statistics are part of the organizations rationale for the need of AUDIO, rather than print, New Testaments.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Only 40% of Americans know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

• Fewer than half of American adults can name all four Gospels.

• Adults under the age of 30 and people who attend small churches express greater difficulties with Bible knowledge than older adults.

• People who attend small churches express greater difficulties with Bible knowledge than members of large churches.

• 43% of American adults function at or below basic literacy levels – making them incapable of meaningful Bible reading.

• People who are functionally illiterate process information differently than people who are literate – they require story telling and dialog, not exposition, to understand and retain information.

• Only 54% of Protestant adults read the Bible each week.

• 65% of adults who identified themselves as Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament.

• In a survey of more than 500 pastors, 47% cited “lack of time” as the main reason more Christians don’t read the Bible.

• Americans spend, on average, 2 ½ hours in the car each day.

• There are now 75 million unchurched Americans.

• More than half of unchurched people consider themselves Christian.

• By the year 2010, an estimated 10% to 20% of Americans will obtain religious information exclusively or primarily through the Internet.

• 85% of American adults own at least one type of personal computer.

• Apple Computer Inc. has sold over 42.2 million iPods since introducing the product in October 2001.

• By 2009, total iPods sales in the U.S. are expected to top 65 million.

• 40% of people born between 1984 and 2002 own mobile music players such as iPods.


It is interesting food for thought. It makes me grateful for the privileges I have had in my life. I am a Christian today because of the Scriptures. It is the Gospels that led me into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. My heart breaks for people who do not have access to the only Message that will give LIFE.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
~Hebrews 4:12