The Proclaimer

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? — Romans 10:17 It's interesting that the Greek word for "preacher" literally means "one who proclaims good news." Needless to say, our friends at Faith Comes By Hearing in Albuquerque knew that when they developed one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced audio Bible devices on the planet, that is currently being used all over the world to proclaim the gospel message in 1,145 languages. They are the largest distributors of audio Bibles in the world! This testimony from Guatemala tells a typical story of how God is using this technology to reach the world: "Maria started listening to the Proclaimer when she worked outside on her patio. The Proclaimer is a digital player dedicated to playing God's Word in her local language. An installed microchip contains the Scriptures in the local language of Quiché and three other languages or dialects relevant to the area. The chip will not erase or wear out from frequent playing. The battery will play for 15 hours and can be recharged enough times to play the entire New Testament more than 1,000 times. The Proclaimer even has a built-in hand crank generator as well as a solar panel to charge the battery. The solar panel will run the Proclaimer even without battery power as long as there is sunlight. The sound is digital quality and loud enough to be heard clearly by groups as large as 300. In many areas that is a whole village! Well, Maria didn't know it at the time, but her neighbors were listening to her Proclaimer, too. A few days later, they came over and asked if Maria needed help with her work. They explained they wanted to hear God's Word, and were willing to help so they could listen together. Maria welcomed them and soon began taking the Audio Bible to a neighbor's house once a week. Now, five families from the neighborhood gather to hear and discuss the Gospel weekly."* God made an outstanding promise about His word through the prophet Isaiah in regard to those who would proclaim it: "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 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." — Isaiah 55:11 God is sending His word not only to Guatemala, my friends, but all over the world, and His church continues to grow. Praise His Holy name. Maranatha! *Faith Comes by Hearing, Partner Report, January 3, 2014