USA (MNN) — A Bible translation organization and a famous family are working together to promote Bible translation.
The Seed Company, which claims to be the fastest growing Bible translation organization in the world, has officially released an online faith-based game with the Duggar family, the famed family with 19 kids and counting.
MakaziVille has been created for children ages 5 and up. Throughout multiple levels that include more than 400 mini-games, children problem-solve as they earn points, currency, and other resources to help the Makazi people build their virtual Tanzanian village from the ground up, including homes, churches, schools, clinics, markets, and infrastructure. Beyond spiritual and faith-enhancing benefits, the game encourages creativity, sharpens decision-making skills, and increases knowledge of geography, agriculture and diverse cultures.
Developed in partnership with the Duggar family and The Seed Company's OneVerse initiative, the goal of the game is to instill a greater awareness of people groups around the world and to show how sharing God's Word in local languages can change individual lives, families, and entire communities.
"We were thrilled to be a part of the creation of MakaziVille," said Jim Bob Duggar, father of TLC's "19 Kids & Counting." "In today's society, children are often consumed with computer games that have violence, teach wrong behavior, or just are time wasters. MakaziVille presents a fun, safe way to learn about another culture, and more importantly, how the Gospel's powerful message can transform lives. Our children love playing it, and it is also an ideal conversation starter for parents and children to discuss Bible truths."
During MakaziVille's pre-launch period, more than 8,300 people signed up for the game, which illustrates the interest among families for a constructive, positive gaming experience.
"Parents are constantly challenged to find ways to engage their children from a biblical perspective," said Roy Peterson, president and CEO of The Seed Company. "Many don't realize that more than 350 million people around the world don't have access to God's Word in their own language. MakaziVille is a fun way to learn about this and discover how the translated Bible can effect tremendous positive change for a people group."
MakaziVille can be accessed free of charge by registering at MakaziVille.com.
