Audio Bible Peru

God's Word in Audio - Testimonies

Faith Comes By Hearing associates gather information and testimonies about what God is doing in and through Audio Bible listening programs in heart languages around the world.

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.

Huamalies Quechua Project, a Partnership with Wycliffe

The Huamalíes Quechua live in the mountainous northwestern Huánuco region of central Peru. Even though their language is the official language of the region, literacy is less than one percent. When the Audio Drama New Testament arrived in 2005, we knew lives would be changed — and Franklín is living proof! He was a known outlaw and robber: the local people feared him, and in turn he feared the police or vigilantes whom he knew would kill him some day. Passing by an outdoor gathering one day in Chullay, Peru, Franklín heard God’s Word in his own language and was unmistakably drawn to it. Within four days, he had chosen to give up his life of crime, and today is a follower of Jesus!

Pastor Wendel arranged for the Audio Drama New Testament to be played on the local radio station. One morning, an elderly woman came to his door with a sack full of beans and oats.

“Pastor, I have brought you something so that you may help yourself,” she said. “Last night I heard the Word of God in my own language. Please do not stop playing them.”

This woman gathers her relatives and neighbors for an hour in her home for every radio broadcast of the Scriptures!

Peru’s Mountain Pastors Welcome Audio Scripture

Peru — In 2006, the launch of the Proclaimer, a digital device which can play the Scriptures many times over, was a significant landmark in the efforts of Audio Scripture ministry Faith Comes By Hearing, a partner of the United Bible Societies. This brought God’s Word in a user-friendly format to people who were unable to access it in written form.  While audio cassettes are relatively fragile and cassette players require expensive batteries, the Proclaimer can play for 15 hours at a time and can be recharged – enough to play the entire New Testament 600 times – by built-in solar panel.

Ambitious target

Eager to bring the benefits of digital technology to the people of Peru, [Faith Comes By Hearing] shipped 700 Proclaimers in August 2006. The Ayacucho pastors were the first ones to receive them in the field, and Rogerio, Faith Comes By Hearing field coordinator in Latin America, saw first hand how warmly it was received by pastors from rural areas around Ayacucho, capital city of the northern province of Huamanga. 

“The pastors were excited and wanted to see the devices as soon as they arrived, but first they needed to learn what the Faith Comes By Hearing program is about and how to use the Proclaimer. I told them that they are the first group in the whole world to have the privilege of using the Proclaimer! Their smiling faces told what they were thinking: ‘Is this blessing really for us? Finally, God is giving us something that no-one else in the world has. I want a Proclaimer.’

“The pastors have strong hands with thick fingers that are only used to cultivating and planting. It was a great moment when they picked up the Proclaimer very gently to learn how to use it. They all shouted ‘Alleluia’ when it began playing in their language—Quechua Ayacucho. You can really feel their love for you and it is a special experience to embrace these old and young pastors from the mountains. I would not change this experience for anything, because I feel like they are saying, ‘Thanks to God for your love, for your Word, for the Proclaimer.’ All the pastors are happy with the Proclaimers and, most important, they are happy with God. Eighty-one Proclaimers were distributed on the first day, eighty-two on the second day.”

This article was previously published by the United Bible Societies, August/Sept World Report.
    

Huberlinda – A Victory Story

Huberlinda, a pastor’s daughter, lives in Dos de Mayo Province, Huanuco, Peru. After her mother died, her dad remarried and one of her stepmother’s cousins abused her when she was 15 years old. Even though her father alerted the authorities, Huberlinda’s emotional damage could not be repaired. Thus, she grew up feeling empty, without hope, and rejected by the community. No young man wanted her for a wife. Although Huberlinda has never gone to school, she does go to the church where her father is pastor. But this did not offer her any hope or happiness.

One day the Quechua Huamalies Audio New Testament arrived at the church and she began attending the listening sessions. While listening to the Beatitudes, she felt Jesus speaking to her about loving and forgiving our enemies instead of seeking revenge. Sadly, she remembered all that had happened to her, but Jesus helped her get through it. That night she became a brand new woman by forgiving the one who damaged her; she was liberated of the burden she carried for so many years. When the colporteur came to follow up on the Faith Comes By Hearing listening program, Huberlinda ran to his arms and thanked him for the Audio Bible that had brought her so much peace and joy.

School Programs in Peru

Fiorella, a FCBH promoter in Peru, reports:

"In one of the visits I made for the Faith Comes By Hearing Audio Gospel listening program, I came across a very interesting testimony in a school. The principal of the school was the wife of a pastor whose church had been participating in the Faith Comes By Hearing program. Once the pastor had completed the whole New Testament in the church, his wife, principal of the school, asked him to allow her to have the Audio New Testament to work with the students at the high school level. 

"The principal started the promotion for two consecutive weeks during the devotionals with the children from the elementary and high school levels.  When the high school students, 12 to16 years old, began listening in their classrooms, the younger children would put their ears to the door so they could listen and they would ask,

'What is this?  We too want this.'

"And so, initially, they asked the teachers to show them what the older kids were listening to. 

'We want to listen to what the older ones have.' 

The teachers would not allow the younger children to come into the classrooms of the older ones, so the children began knocking on the principal’s door, saying,

'We want to listen to what the older ones have! We want to listen!' 

Therefore, the principal gave the order to allow the younger children, the 6- to 9-year-olds, to listen to the Audio New Testament. 

"Many of the teachers began to play the Audio New Testament once a week, during the religion class. They would emphasize the passages of our Lord Jesus’ miracles and the parables.  They would play it and then explain it. 

And it happened that in one of the classrooms, a little 7-year-old boy, Raul, was listening, as were his little friends. But when he listened in his class about the miracle that Jesus did when he healed the woman with the issue of blood, he asked the teacher,

'Miss, is it true that Jesus healed that lady who had blood coming out? Did Jesus heal her for real?'

"'Yes!'  said the teacher, 'Jesus healed her.'

"And then the boy asked the teacher if she was sure. The teacher affirmed that, yes, Jesus healed the woman.

"Then the boy asked, 'And this is the same Jesus to whom we pray every day?' 

"The teacher told him, 'Yes, he is the same Jesus to whom we pray every day. He is powerful, He is grand and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.'

"This was the explanation the teacher gave him.  Then the boy said, 'Well, if He is the same, He can also heal my sick mom.'

"As a result of this dialog, it was birthed in the heart of the teacher the desire to have a prayer request box. The children were given a blank sheet of paper, and at the end of each story the teacher would say

'Very well, what would you like to pray for, what problem is going on? If your dad is sick, if your mom or you yourselves are sick, please write it down so that we, the teachers, can pray.'

"It so happened that many of the children would write down their prayer requests and put them in this box. When the principal saw this, she said,

'How beautiful! So indeed we have to pray for all these requests, for they cannot stay written only on paper; we need to pray.' 

"Therefore, she gathered all the teachers and asked them to stay ten or fifteen minutes after classes were over to pray for all those prayer requests. The principal recounted their reaction, 

'When I told the teachers this, they threw a fit!  Because, as you know, when one teaches from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the first thing the teacher wants to do is go home because by that time he/she is very tired. In the classroom, you don’t have just one or two children, but 30 or 35 children at times, and so at the end of the day you are very tired and all you want is to go home!'

"In the end, they agreed to stay a few minutes extra to pray.  The result was that God answered many of the prayers. The Lord restored homes.  The Lord healed. For example, when I asked the principal about Raul’s mother’s sickness, she said,

'She had uterine cancer, and this caused her to hemorrhage, and this is how the little boy associated his mother with the woman with the issue of blood. He had said, 'My mom issues a lot of blood, and is always moaning and she is always in pain.' Therefore, the boy associated those family images with Jesus’ miracle.  And his mom was healed; a miracle happened. And in the same manner many other prayers were answered.

 

 

"She said to me, 'We teachers have been Christians for many years, and all my teachers are believers. Sometimes, just like the children, we fall victim to the routine. Every day we taught the Bible to the children. We had devotionals with them. However, when they heard the miracles of Jesus, they would then say,

'But is it true that that miracle was done by the one to whom we pray daily?'

"And so the principal continued, 'In the same manner, how many times we put up obstacles, and we fall into the same routine, and it makes us religious. We go and sit at church, we know of Christ, but we do not experience or see the miracles Jesus does in our own lives. That is to say, the routine, the religiosity makes us know Christ by memory, but it does not allow us to perceive with joy the things that Jesus does in our lives daily.'

"She continued, '“We have been impacted; we have grown in our faith.  Now we can say that we know in Whom we, and the children, have believed!'"