Audio Bible Ministry Demonstrates Digital Discipleship

Faith Comes By Hearing, the world's foremost Audio Bible ministry, is joining with other global ministries to support Internet Evangelism Day, a campaign to encourage believers to share the Gospel through the Internet.

"These days, when people are looking for answers about life, the Internet is the first place many search," said Tony Whittaker, Internet Evangelism Day founder and organizer.

"Ministries need to be ready to help answer those questions with their biblical resources," said Troy Carl, Faith Comes By Hearing's national director. "We have to meet people where they are and bring them the Gospel message."

"Faith Comes By Hearing offers many ways to get engaged in online Bible listening and then reach out to others," Carl said.

Audio Bible Downloads

For starters, visitors to FaithComesByHearing.com can download an entire Audio Drama New Testament in more than 350 languages using a revolutionary Bible distribution application—the Audio Bible Ambassador.

The Audio Bible Ambassador is an interactive application, which allows users to not only download the entire New Testament in their own language but also reach others around the world with the online Bible.

"After people install the software, they can opt to become an Audio Bible Ambassador and have their computer serve as an online Bible distribution center for those searching for the Bread of Life," said Carl.

This revolutionary application is interactive, tracking how many people have downloaded the Bible and then graphically displaying a world map that shows general locations of those impacted with Word of God.

"Through this outreach, you can make a difference for Christ without ever leaving your home or office," he added. "By becoming an Audio Bible Ambassador, you will help thousands get the pure Word of God in audio in their heart language."

Online Bible Streaming

Also, FaithComesByHearing.com currently offers free online Bible listening in 10 languages. In only three clicks, users can start listening to the Word of God in one of the world's major languages.

All 359 of Faith Comes By Hearing's Audio New Testaments are being processed for this new Bible listening program and will soon be available.

"In many parts of the world, people may not have Internet connection speeds fast enough to download the entire New Testament. But, they will be able to listen to the Bible while in an Internet café or through their mobile phone," said Carl.

Scripture Engagement and Technology

"Listening to the Bible is very biblical," said Carl. "Throughout the Bible, you hear of great revivals—times when people turned back to following God—after hearing someone read from the Word."

"Bible listening is also very relevant to today's lifestyle," said Carl. "After surveying hundreds of pastors, they overwhelming reported that people claimed they didn't have the time to read the Bible."

"But the truth is we've all been given the same amount of time. Everybody's been given 24 hours in a day. It's how we redeem that time that makes the difference," Carl said. "Instead of watching that TV show or surfing the web, take 28 minutes and listen to the New Testament in only 40 days."

Global Online Bible Outreach

In addition, Faith Comes By Hearing has an impressive global outreach, providing Audio Bible downloads to people around the world. Through hundreds of internationally-based websites, Faith Comes By Hearing offers free downloads of the Audio Bible.

"God is using the Internet to spread His Word," said Carl. "Right now, thousands of people are downloading free Audio Bibles in their own language from websites we've created and promoted in dozens of countries. It's really amazing to see the demand for God's Word in countries which are not traditionally Christian."

Online Outreach and Internet Evangelism Day

"Every believer with a computer and access to the Internet can easily share their faith and God's Word," said Carl. "Internet Evangelism Day is a rallying call to encourage and unite believers to use technology to introduce people to Christ."

"So, who can you reach out to today?" asked Carl. "What are you waiting for?"

Other ministry partners are also involved in Internet Evangelism Day, such as American Bible Society; Campus Crusade for Christ, International; and Trans World Radio.

"Faith Comes By Hearing continues to innovate and will stay on the cutting edge of technology development for digital discipleship," Carl added.

This Albuquerque, New Mexico-based ministry now has 424 Audio Scripture recordings available in 359 languages. Nearly 400 of these Audio Bibles are available online for free download.

Carl said visitors to FaithComesByHearing.com can also subscribe to Audio Bible podcasts, listen to stirring stories and testimonies and watch videos about God's Word at work around the world.

From the urban poor and rural villages to Internet cafés and U.S. megachurches, Faith Comes By Hearing's vision is to disciple people from every nation, tribe and tongue by recording and using dramatized Audio Bibles.

This Albuquerque, N.M.-based ministry has a goal to record the New Testament in 2,000 languages and to start 2 million Bible listening groups by 2016 to reach the 50% of the world who cannot read and live in deep poverty.