Partnering to Bring God’s Word to the Poor and

Illiterate

““Go and make disciples of all nations Go and make disciples of all nations …” (Matt. 28)…” (Matt. 28)

“God intended His Word for ordinary people.”

The Willowbank Report, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, 1978. Used by permission.

Missionary Missionary ImperativeImperative For Then and For Then and NowNow

ALL “nations” Ethnos : Ethnic, language, people, kind of people or tribe 6,809 “nations” in the world We must reach “EVERY NATION”

“The seed is the Word of God.”

- Jesus

But how can people from every But how can people from every tribe, nation and tongue become tribe, nation and tongue become Christ's disciples when half of the Christ's disciples when half of the world's population does not read? world's population does not read?

• 6.5 billion people in the world• 2/3rds of the world are “oral” communicators• 3.1 billion are poor – less than $2.00 a day• 50% of world is illiterate• 5 of 6 African Christians will die having never owned their own Bible

Did You Know?Did You Know?

It all starts with the Word of God.It all starts with the Word of God.

Wycliffe Bible Translators, Bible Societies, the Seed Company and other translation agencies dedicate years to translating the Bible into the heart languages of the world.

Workers spend years mastering the language and crafting the Bible into the heart language of the people.

“God ordained that saving faith come by hearing the word of Christ.”

28 Recording Centers, 46 Recording Teams Highly-trained Specialists Goal to record 200 languages every year 2,000 Languages by 2016 97% of the world’s population Working side-by-side with translation team Word-for-word dramatization with sound effects & music 25 National speakers do 180 voice parts 6 months to record, edit, mix and master Final master put on Proclaimer, internet and other tools

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Baker Publishing. Used by permission.

Recording God’s Word in the Heart Recording God’s Word in the Heart LanguageLanguage

• Over 300 New Testament recordings• National workers employed to work with pastors to start FCBH programs• FCBH Listening programs in over 90 countries • Groups listen minimum 30 minutes a week, followed by time of discussion

John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Baker Publishing. Used by permission.

Local Church Uses Heart-Language Local Church Uses Heart-Language Audio BiblesAudio Bibles

“His whole redemptive plan for the universe hangs on the success of his word.”

• People discipled by hearing Mt 1 - Rev. 22 in mother tongue • Average - 90 listeners per program• People discipled, Lives are transformed• By simply hearing God’s Word

Local Pastors Local Pastors Reach Their Reach Their Own PeopleOwn People

Steven C. Hawthorne, Acts of Obedience, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement, Third Edition. Used by permission.

“Every creative device should be examined. No mother tongue should be left unlearned or untranslated if it will mean that God’s Word will fail to gain a heart-hearing.”

Audio Bibles Versatile and Leave Audio Bibles Versatile and Leave Deep ImpactDeep Impact

• villages• homes• schools• prisons • hospitals• factories • community trees.

Our primary focus is starting FCBH listening programs in churches and then:

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”

Abraham Lincoln

Scripture Use and Scripture Use and Scripture ImpactScripture Impact

“The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It never needs a furlough, is never considered a foreigner.”

Cameron Townsend [Hefley, J., & Hefley. (1974). Uncle Cam (p. 182) Waco, Tx: Word]

““This is what we have been This is what we have been dreaming of for so long.” dreaming of for so long.” Ugandan PastorUgandan Pastor““I am very overcome with I am very overcome with happiness. One of the happiness. One of the limitations we have is to get the limitations we have is to get the word of God across. It’s the word of God across. It’s the inability of the people to read or inability of the people to read or write. So, normally they depend write. So, normally they depend on the sermons I preach and the on the sermons I preach and the teachings I bring to them.” teachings I bring to them.” Zambian PastorZambian Pastor

““I am so glad that the Proclaimer will be I am so glad that the Proclaimer will be there to read the Bible for us, especially when there to read the Bible for us, especially when groups will meet where none among us can groups will meet where none among us can read. The Proclaimer will say the Word of God read. The Proclaimer will say the Word of God for us.” African believerfor us.” African believer

Together we can fulfill the Great Commission in this generation!

Together we can fulfill the Great Commission!