Kenya (MNN) — Kenya is largely Christian, but many believers don’t have access to Bibles. And even if they do, not all of them can read. Approximately 22 percent of Kenyans are illiterate.
That makes solar-powered audio Bibles invaluable since people can listen to God’s Word in their heart language. Kenya Hope sends teams to distribute solar-powered audio Bibles and Joy Mueller with Kenya Hope says it’s very emotional.
(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)
“When we go into the villages, we give out hundreds of Bibles. And you know what? We’re driving away every time with people still saying, ‘I didn’t get one! Where is mine?’ There are just literally thousands of people who don’t have God’s Word.”
Each of Kenya Hope’s audio Bibles is about the size of a cell phone, making it very portable. On the back, a solar panel powers the device without the need for electricity. And each audio Bible is pre-loaded with Scripture in the community’s heart language.
“In Kenya alone, there are over 42 languages and we can’t personally learn all of them,” Mueller says. “But we just find that by giving out the audio Bibles, it’s kind of like a little evangelist…. Even after we leave that community for that trip, that little evangelist just keeps proclaiming God’s Word.”
Because they don’t always have enough audio Bibles to go around, Kenya Hope teams try to distribute the devices primarily to those who can’t read or who prefer oral communication.
(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)
The stories they come back with are powerful.
“One of the women we gave [an audio Bible] to, she came back to us and she said, ‘This isn’t working!’ She had literally worn the buttons off on her audio Bible listening to it so much. It wasn’t damaged, it was just she had worn it out,” Mueller says.
“Another young man we had given it to, I came back the next year and I said, ‘How many times have you listened to the Bible?’ And he goes, ‘…I’ve listened to Matthew enough that I almost have the whole book memorized.’
“And this last year, this gentleman came up to us and…he said, ‘I just want to tell you I live alone. I’m all by myself and last year, you gave me this Bible. It has become my very best friend. I love Jesus and I have learned so much through this gift of the audio Bible.’”
In every story, Kenya Hope sees the truth of Isaiah 55:11 lived out, which says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)
It doesn’t cost much to send a solar-powered audio Bible to Kenya — just $38. You could cover that just by giving up your twice-weekly latte for a month.
If you would like to give to Kenya Hope’s audio Bibles, click here!
“Many are still waiting to hear God’s Word and it’s such a simple thing,” Mueller says. “I know that when you give out one, that one Bible reaches 20 to 30 people because they sit around in a group and listen to it.”
Please pray for Kenya’s Christians to grow deep and strong roots into God’s Word. Ask the Lord to use the Kenyan Church as a beacon of His truth and grace. And pray for Kenya Hope to be encouraged as they reach the nation with Christ’s love.
Header photo courtesy of Kenya Hope.
