MORE ON THAT DISCOURAGED BIBLE TRANSLATOR

The more I reflect on what I shared about that discouraged Bible translator, the more I feel the need to say more.

I have a feeling that I found myself visiting with a man who was having a “down day.” I suspect it was a day when he was, as it were “down in the dumps.” Some very good people have an occasional day like that. Not pleasant for people who may have those kinds of genes. And this is a challenge for each of us to be an encourager of others.

I doubt that this man had many days like that. Anyone who gives seventeen of the best years of his life to translating the New Testament, is someone of a deep personal faith who is highly motivated as a servant of Christ.

Perhaps the lesson we need to take to heart from this is that family members, colleagues at work and just plain friends, need our words of encouragement—especially when we sense someone is discouraged and may be “in the dumps.”

And it is good for us all to remember God’s many promises to those who believe. This verse is among my favorites: “I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13 So let us faithfully uphold one another in prayer.

To learn more about Talking Bibles visit www.talkingbibles.org or just call 1-800-318-7262. With thanks to God!

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

I ONCE MET A DISCOURAGED BIBLE TRANSLATOR

Nearly thirty years ago, Lavina and I included Papua New Guinea in our itinerary in East Asia.. While there I visited with a missionary who had spent seventeen years translating the entire New Testament into a vernacular language. Let me explain why he was discouraged, or in farmland vernacular, “down in the dumps.”

He said that almost nobody was interested in reading it. Parents wanted their children to read well in the trade language with no interest in learning to read the vernacular. He explained that Pidgin was the trade language and was the language taught in the schools. He said that parents were eager for their children to do well in Pidgin because this would create opportunities to get ahead. Etc.

This was still the era of the cassette. I tried to motivate him to have his New Testament audio recorded on the cassette. Based on my own experience with cassettes, I assured him that his people would eagerly listen to his translation in audio. I left that conversation with a heavy heart. I wasn’t sure I had persuaded him. And, I have never learned whether he took my advice or not.

Were I to meet such a person today, my advice would be the same. Only, this time I would say, “Audio record it and we will make it into a Talking Bible.” No Bible translator need ever be discouraged in our time.

“Bible translators, yours is an essential, foundational task. Press on hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year until your great work is ready to be printed.”

This is our opportunity and challenge today: Every translated New Testament can and must now be made available in audio. To me, as a former Bible translator, it seems unthinkable that we would not do this, Pray for the few audio Bible ministries working diligently to make it happen without delay.

Pray for God’s people in our churches and for entire congregations to learn more, to catch the vision and become engaged with prayer and finances. This is our great calling in our time. May God be honored and praised.

Learn more. Visit www.talkingbibles.org or call 1-800-318-7262.

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

ENCOURAGING OUR BIBLE TRANSLATORS

Bible translators have made great sacrifices to give people the Bible in needed languages. Some of the early English Bible translators were burned at the stake. They were prepared to die because they were persuaded that people needed their English translation to truly know the God of the Bible.

Translating the Bible, and especially the New Testament, as part of the global missionary movement got a great impetus from Cameron Townsend. He was challenged by the comment of a vernacular speaker in Mexico who chided Cameron, saying, “If your God is so smart, why doesn’t He speak my language.

That challenge led to the formation of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, SIL , heading up a global effort to translate the New Testament in every language. Whereas once only people who learned to read had access to their costly, sacrificial effort extending over a period of ten or fifteen years, every translation can now be made available in a matter of weeks as an audio Bible.

Our experience with Talking Bibles is that wherever they go, the Talking Bible communicates the essential message accurately and powerfully. The careful work of the Bible translators makes the oral communication readily understood. Wherever Talking Bibles go with a translated New Testament inside speaking in the listener’s language, lives are changed. Existing believers grow strong in their faith and love for Christ. Entire families listen together. Neighbors join in. Someone goes with a Talking Bible to a distant village or friend. New converts are made. New churches are planted.

Bible translators, take heart. Press on. Your painstaking effort makes the audio Bible ministries possible. Be assured that your translations will make an Eternal difference as the several audio Bible ministries make your work available to everyone – once limited to readers only, but now to all who have ears to hear. Thanks be to God.

To make it happen, we all need to catch the vision and be involved with prayer and financial support. Tell the story among your friends and in your church. Pray for a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit among us all to enable tens of thousands to receive digital listening devices like Talking Bibles with a translation of the New Testament in their languages. Learn more at www.talkingbibles.org or call 1-800-318-7262.

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

“HERE COMES THE MAN WITH THE TALKING BIBLE.”

Yesterday I wrote about the impact this book shaped listening device that looks like a Bible has in the homes of families privileged to have one.

This listening device that looks like a Bible has another distinct advantage. When someone visits another village, he’s most likely identified as “the man with the Talking Bible.” Of course, they say this in their own language.

Having lived among non-literate, oral culture people as many years as we did in Africa, I think I have a pretty good sense of how they respond to the distinctive features of a Talking Bible that speaks the Word of God to them in their language.

A person going out with a Talking Bible will soon have children and young people following him. Others who are older will often do the same. They want to be there when this man sits down among the people and invites folks to listen to his Talking Bible which speaks the new word about Jesus. It speaks “good news”, i. e. the gospel and they want to hear it.

The oral communication of God’s Word via a Talking Bible is powerful. Listeners are persuaded because the Holy Spirit attends the hearing of God’s inspired Word. We have recognized that wherever a Talking Bible is used like this, many listeners become believers and are baptized. House churches are planted.

Oh, that we had unlimited additional numbers of Talking Bibles. “The fields are white unto the harvest, but the laborers are few.” i. e. the mechanical missionaries, Talking Bibles, are too few.

Praise God for our many faithful partners in mission. Pray with me for the Lord to enable and lead many more to partner in the Talking Bible ministry with prayer and finances. Visit the website, www.talkingbibles.org. And feel free to call the office, 1-800-318-7262. Thanks be to God.

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

“IT EVEN LOOKS LIKE A BIBLE”

Sunday morning, after the service, several of us were enjoying a cup of coffee together in what our church calls “its little café.” Our conversation turned to speaking about our Talking Bible.

I had one in my pocket and brought it out to demonstrate how it worked. When I pulled it out of my pocket, one of the men exclaimed, “It even looks like a Bible.” He saw its book-like shape and its appearance as a Bible as a real plus. From what he said, I realized that he felt the Talking Bible’s appearance gave it an additional communicative impact.

That brief conversation re-enforced for me what I have been feeling all along. Knowing how families listen together each day for their Bible study, their Talking Bible by its very appearance promotes an attitude of reverence and respect. It reminds me of the respect we had for the Bible as I was growing up, when my dad would take the Bible from its special place on the small shelf to read to us after each meal. Even before, he opened it we had a respect and reverence for it as being a Holy book in which was God’s Word.

I believe that in many homes in places like Africa or India, in a similar way, the Talking Bible conveys a similar message by its shape that it is a Holy listening device which has in it the very Word of God.

I’m so grateful that when Mark and Paul designed that world’s first listening device in which there was an entire New Testament, that they were led to make it so that it looked like a black and gold Bible. And they trademarked its name to be “TALKING BIBLE.” Anyone receiving a digital listening device by that name, can be assured that it has in it the translated Scripture. And those who listen soon sense that it is the inspired Word of God having Holy Spirit power to bless those who listen. Let God be thanked and praised!

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

TALKING BIBLES WIN FAMILIES TO CHRIST

The recent issue of Mission Frontiers focuses on bringing entire families to faith in Christ. They are right on target. Having lived and worked among oral-culture people most of my adult life, I saw and continue to see many entire families becoming Christian. In Africa, I saw heads of families bring all of their family members to embrace the Christian faith. I saw families where multiple wives were involved. all being baptized as the head of this household came to faith in Christ.

In more recent years, I have observed how the Talking Bible brings entire families to become Christian. The head of the family receives a Talking Bible. His entire family joins in listening. Frequently the neighbors invite themselves to join in listening. The Talking Bible fits right in with the way they interact in the home and with their neighbors. Not just an individual, but an entire household and beyond that, a household of neighbors become Christians when someone receives a Talking Bible in their language.

No wonder I keep praying for and calling on God’s people to partner with the Talking Bible Ministry. And it’s why I keep calling for churches to observe an annual Talking Bible Sunday.

Learn more. Visit www.talkingbibles.org or give them a call at 1 800 318 7262. Every gift means someone gets a Talking Bible who will otherwise go without. And do be strong in prayer.

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: AN ANNUAL TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.

ADD TALKING BIBLES TO DEED MINISTRIES

When I read of the many different kinds of DEED MINISTRIES, I find myself saying, “I wish they would also include giving those people Talking Bibles in their language."

People are blessed when someone arrives to drill a well to give them good clear water. Giving this wonderful service creates an opportunity to leave behind the message of God’s salvation in a Talking Bible.

There are many other kinds of caring ministries meeting human needs. Each of these ministries creates the opportunity to provide them with Talking Bibles too.

I long for this to happen because I hear how everywhere Talking Bibles go, among the listeners many come to faith in Christ, lives are changed and the church is planted. I urge all who dig wells, provide goats or needed food etc. to include providing an appropriate number of Talking Bibles in the right language.

I know of doctors and dentists going out for short periods. How wonderful if they also had with them a few Talking Bibles.

I hope folks going out on special missions will check out possibilities by calling the office at 1-800-318-7262 or by visiting the website, www.talkingbibles.org.

Because they need to hear,
Harvey Hoekstra – harvey@talkingbibles.org
www.talkingbibles.org

Goal: A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES LEARNING MORE AND TAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING TO PROVIDE TALKING BIBLES FOR NON-READERS AND THE BLIND.