Audio Bibles for the People of Peru

Testimonies

Age Doesn't Matter to God

"I used to attend the church in Ayacucho, but now because of my age, I am not able to attend on a regular basis. Even the pastor was no longer able to help me. But the Lord continued working in my life by giving me vision for spiritual service. It was during these difficult times that the FCBH program arrived for me. As I listened, God was speaking to me directly and I felt encouraged and started to pray to the Lord. He gave me strength to start a prayer group. We started with three persons listening to the Proclaimer, even though I don't know how to read or write. Today my shack is a place where brothers and sisters can come from all the surrounding areas.

"The Word of God is changing many because it is in Quechua, our mother tongue. We listen every day in my shack with those that come. They always leave very grateful because God heals the sick. Even though I am old, I am preparing myself for the work God has for me to do.

"We fast and the Lord has been answering our requests. Each day new persons come and when they leave they are renewed and changed. This is the way in which God is working, giving me strength to serve, by merely listening to the Proclaimer. People are being converted in this place because the Word is ready in each moment to be heard. I am encouraging and helping them to give their lives to God.

"Being old, I rejoice that I can help them and share what God has done in my life, especially how he saved me during a period of terrorism when I encountered the Shining Path 20 years ago. They asked me to cooperate with them and if I refused, they said they would kill me. I refused by God's strength and with the truth in my hand, and He protected me.

"The guerrilla leader was very rebellious, equipped with many weapons and grenades, and carried a sword. But God turned the tables on them. Later I met two groups of soldiers, some Christians. I told them what had happened, and they immediately went to the place, and found the chief dead, burned with all his weapons and ammunition. Who did this? God alone. I am grateful to God because he saved me and had a purpose for my life. Even though I am unable to read he uses me by His power. Thank God I was able to listen to the New Testament in those difficult days when Rómulo Sauñe had united the church. Today there is none like him. I cried much over his death. For many years I had not heard the Audio New Testament but today I can listen again to the Word of God in Quechua when I am old and in need. It always brings me comfort and encouragement. The Word always produces results, and even a drug addict was saved."

Radical Change

"Thanks to my pastors who arranged for this valuable device called the Proclaimer® to come to us-and in my own mother tongue, where, continually listening, I am understanding the Word of God and correcting my erroneous doctrines. Also, I have left my sarcastic language behind. There is a radical change in my house with my wife and kids-there is happiness. Now I am making all my clients listen in my small tailor shop, and already two of them attend the church itself. Thanks to our great Creator for His patience and for making me understand His blessed Word." -- Carlos

The Word of God in a Mother Tongue

"I attended the Evangelical Church from the time I was a child because my parents were evangelicals, but I understood very little of the teaching because it was all in Spanish. I only went because it was expected of me, and my parents made me attend. One day the Proclaimer® arrived in my mother tongue, Quechua. What a blessing!

"The Word of God became clear to me and little-by-little I began to understand and little-by-little God worked in my heart changing the hate and rebellion that I had for the murderers of my father. God changed my life and gave me peace, love, and forgiveness. The Word of God in my mother tongue has had impact on my life and has changed me. Before, I was a bitter fatherless child and young person at 16 years of age, trying to help my mother raise my younger brothers and sisters. In my family, we went through terrible times of need because of my father not being there. God is helping my mother. She is humble, poor, and illiterate and couldn´t do anything to help us. But thanks to the Word of God, it not only has transformed our lives, but has also helped us to escape poverty."

"God governs my life"

"My life was really in confusion because I didn't understand God's Word. I attended church and considered myself religious, but often sat there without understanding anything because it was in Spanish. I am so thankful that one day we received the blessed Proclaimer®. The pastor began to play it so that we could listen and we heard our own mother language. I was finally able to understand that God loves me and wants me to live according to His Word. Since that moment, my life began to change and get better. Not just my personal life, but also that of my family and my community. This is a tremendous waking up for me to the knowledge of the greatness of God and his mandates. Now it is God who governs my life and that of my family. We started a new family listening group in my house."

Healing Through the Gospel

Ricardo, the son of the local curandera (witchcraft healer), took over his father's practice. Then a Quechua Proclaimer® came into his life.

"After listening to it for three months with my family and neighbors, I understood that witchcraft was a sin. What it says in the Acts of the Apostles changed my life. It was like a dagger to all my sinful ways.

"Now, I have been born again thanks to God. People come to me for healing and I preach the Gospel to them. Already, three of the families in my neighborhood have given their lives to Jesus."

The Word of God: Life for All!

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10).

Julio, a 56-year-old Quechua Huaylas man says, "The Proclaimer^® is a new way to listen to the Word of God in our native language. Now God's message is understandable to us. We had never had this opportunity before. It helps us greatly because we can use it at the church, in homes, and when our Quechua brothers are out on the farm."

"Taking the Word of God around has not been easy," Julio said. "I have been met with favor and disapproval. People have shut their doors in my face; but now, having the Proclaimer^®, the people always want more. They aren't satisfied with listening once a week because now they understand the Word of God."

Julio remembers one time when he took the Proclaimer^® to neighboring areas. He says, "I asked the bus driver if I could turn the Proclaimer^® on for all the passengers to listen to the Audio New Testament. At first, he told me no because he was listening to music. I insisted, and he let me do it for just five minutes. Those five minutes turned into more than an hour, and the driver and the people wanted to continue listening to the Word of God. When it was time for me to get off, many of the people asked me where they could buy the Audio New Testament. I told them that by attending one of several churches they would have the opportunity to listen to the Word of God."

"God has given me confidence to carry his Word!"

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord . . . are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:14

Maria is a 49-year old woman who evangelizes and disciples people using the Proclaimer^® in Huaylas Quechua. She is married and has a family to care for, but she is one of the women who has been emboldened to "become confident and bold" to tell the message since the Proclaimer^® arrived in her hands.

"I like the Proclaimer^®," Maria says, "because it allows me to listen to the Word of God in a way that I understand. Before, I couldn't understand it. Now that I have the Proclaimer^®, I have learned more about what God says, and I can explain it to my people. They like to listen. Now that we use the Proclaimer^®, people pay attention when we tell them that we want to talk to them about Jesus. Before, it wasn't like this. Now, everyone spreads the word to attend the meetings to listen to the Bible on the Proclaimer^®. We need more Proclaimers^® in our region because many families want to have a Proclaimer^® in their house so they can listen to the Word of God."

Maria travels many hours carrying the Word of God, the Word that brought light to her life, that brought love and hope, and which she is convinced can bring peace to the hearts of her people.

His Word Brings Peace

Many Ayacucho Quechua, forced from their homes by terrorists, formed a new community in the central mountainous region of Peru. Maribel, who now lives in this community, lost both of her sons at the hands of the terrorists before settling here. After hearing God’s Word through the Proclaimer, she says, "I began to feel new strength and peace in my heart." Her grief has transformed into the joy of being alive and with the Lord."

 

"Now I am a new creature in Christ Jesus"

Lucia, a 50-year-old Quechua woman, was a devout believer who worshipped in the traditional way, but did not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.

When Lucia became ill, she went to the sorcerers, doctors, and hospitals, but was not healed. A pastor visited her during her time of illness and brought a device called the Proclaimer, which played God's Word in Quechua Ayacucho.

Lucia had heard that God is the great Helper and says, "I believed God could heal me. I accepted the Lord and He healed me. Now I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. My healing and change in character have impacted my entire family and they have given themselves to the Lord, too. Now we hope to reach our neighbors so they too can know the Lord."

A Man Reconciled To God and His Family

Brother Augusto says this of his life prior to listening to the Quechua Ayacucho Audio Bible:

"I had been a believer since an early age. That is, I thought I was a believer, but my life had not changed. I attended church services, as well as parties, got drunk, and mistreated my wife and three children both physically and psychologically. And in this manner, I began moving away from the church little by little.

"Some months ago, a pastor invited me to listen to the Audio Bible. This interested me very much, because up until then, I had never heard the Bible in audio format, nor in Quechua, which is my mother tongue. As I listened, I realized that I had not been obeying God's Word. Now, I am grateful because I have understood the Word of God in its depth, and I ask the Pastor to explain what I don't understand. I am serving and will continue serving my God and my family, who are very grateful for the change in my life. I no longer drink or mistreat my family. This change in me has offended my drinking and partying friends and now they don't want to see me; however, other friends congratulate me. Thank God!"

Thanks to Runa Simi

Brother Barthalome is a father and a husband and has been a believer for many years. The town he lives in is isolated and the church has not had a pastor for a long time, thus church services are performed only two or three times a year.

As a result, the lives of the believers were, according to him, as other commoners “without any changes in our lives” still fighting and drinking, as it is the norm in this area of the country.

Brother Bartolome says, “I am grateful to God for the Runa Simi Ministry, for sending us a Proclaimer. We are now listening to the Word of God in our own language on a weekly basis and our lives have changed. There is peace in my family and with my neighbors. Instead of fights, there is harmony and understanding. Moreover, I have been named Pastor of the church, and church attendance is increasing week after week. Our brothers are converting to true believers because, through the Proclaimer, God is all powerful.”

The impact will be seen even more in the coming months and years.

A Former Sorcerer

Brother *Tito lives in a small town with his wife and five children.

Brother Tito was a sorcerer (a witch) who dedicated his time casting spells against his enemies, and serving all those who solicited spells against people with whom they were displeased.

One day, he heard the Faith Comes by Hearing program for the first time through the loud speaker that a Pentecostal church was playing for the entire community. The Word of God, in his own mother tongue (Quechua), touched his heart. Moreover, he attended a church service on a Sunday, in order to learn more about the Word of God. While listening to the plan of salvation and to the invitation made by the pastor, Tito was touched and gave his life to the Lord. God radically changed his life. He left his life of sorcery behind in exchange for a life of obedience unto God and of love. As a result, his wife and children also became interested in the Word of God, and accepted the Lord. The change in his life was so obvious that his clients and neighbors took notice.

Presently, his entire family continues listening to God’s Word in Quechua through the Proclaimer, and they are reaching their neighbors and their community.

*Name changed.

A Widow Touched By the Word of God in Audio

Sister *Luisa lost her husband when he was murdered by robbers. During that time of void in her life, she came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord. Even though she went to church every Sunday, she did not understand the Gospel message, and therefore, her life had not changed. She felt hatred toward mankind and resentment towards God.

She says, "One day my pastor brought a device called the Proclaimer, and he makes us listen to it every Saturday. Just recently I finally understood what the Christian life is all about. I have now forgiven those who murdered my husband, and all those who have treated me wickedly. Although I live alone, since my children are adults, I have peace and joy. If it were up to me, I would listen daily, but I have to submit myself to the pastor's wishes. I am now praying for my neighbors and my children, so that they all can come to know the Lord. I want to be able to share God’s Word with them."

*Name changed.

Virtuous Woman

Sister Juanita is an 84-year old virtuous, Proverbs 31 woman. She has taken on the challenge to take the Word of God to everyone with the Audio New Testament. She says, “It is a blessing to be God’s daughter.”

Sister Juanita’s son is a very devout young man for the things of our Lord. She says of him, “The church’s youth conference was coming up and my son was very enthused about it because he would be singing. After the last rehearsal, my son came home very happy and said to me, ‘Mom, this rehearsal was as if we were in heaven. I felt very near to God.’

“The following morning at 11:00, I said goodbye to my son as he left for the event. At 12:00 I was informed that my son was hit by a moving vehicle and was dead. When I went to identify my son’s body, I said to him, Son, now you are singing to our Lord.

<p>“I felt such a peace, peace, as the Word says, which surpasses every understanding. To lose a son is very painful, but you know what is even more painful – to not have a God like the one we have.

A Light in the Darkness

Alex is like any other 19 year-old boy – happy and friendly – and he serves God with enthusiasm despite his health problems and lack of sight. He lives with his 11 siblings and alcoholic father in a very poor neighborhood of Huánuco.

He says, “For a long time I wanted to have a Bible and to know the Word of God. As I listened to my pastor preach, the desire to preach grew in me. I realized that I needed “to read” the Bible, but owning a Braille Bible is a luxury.  I began to pray for God to help me.

“I was told that I could get one of the books of the Bible free of charge. To my surprise, I received an entire New Testament from Faith Comes By Hearing; now I could “listen” to the Word of God. He lovingly answered my prayers.

“I lost my sight because of the Marfan syndrome. This disease has also caused damage my heart and makes my bones weak. Listening to Faith Comes by Hearing is a great experience; I am encouraged to believe the promises of God and to look at things that are not as if they are. I am grateful to serve God with the talents and gifts He has given me.  At the church, I serve as the youth leader and teach those who want to learn to play percussion instruments, and I will do this to the day that the Lord calls me.