Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Launches Audio Bible Listening Campaigns

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), a fellowship of more than 1,800 Baptist churches across the country, will officially kick off You’ve Got The Time this month.

You’ve Got The Time is a nationwide Bible listening initiative launched by Faith Comes By Hearing, the world’s foremost Audio Bible ministry. Almost 14,000 churches have participated and more than 3 million Audio Bibles have been provided free to churchgoers.

Participating churches listen to the Audio New Testament 28 minutes a day for 40 days. National research polls indicate nearly 70 percent of American believers have not read the New Testament and many do not read their Bible on a regular basis.

Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is encouraging all 1,800 churches in the fellowship to participate.

“We place high value on Scripture,” said Vestal.

Bo Prosser, CBF’s coordinator of congregational formation writes, “The You’ve Got The Time Bible listening initiative is gaining momentum and we’re feeling the excitement and affirmation.”

In fact, more than 200 CBF churches signed up and half of these finished listening before the close of 2009.

For those listening to the Audio Bible, Prosser said he anticipates personal and congregational spiritual growth as people engage in serious conversations centered around Scripture. He also expects engaging in the Scriptures will encourage support of global missions.

CBF plans to sponsor Audio New Testament recordings for people who, due to poverty and illiteracy, don’t have access to God’s Word. Offerings received by CBF churches are slated for recording the Bible in audio for the most neglected people groups where CBF personnel work.

Half of the world’s population is functionally illiterate and lives on less than $2 a day. Faith Comes By Hearing has seen how God’s Word in audio breaks through poverty and illiteracy barriers, giving everyone the opportunity to hear God’s Word.

“We will be transformed by listening to God’s Word, reflecting on it, discussing it, and sharing it with others,” said Vestal. “It will create greater desire to study and share Scripture as we open ourselves to the Spirit by hearing the Word of God.”

Your church or parish can also get involved in the You've Got The Time Bible listening campaign. Sign up here or call Faith Comes By Hearing at 1 (800) 545-6552.

Faith Comes By Hearing has recorded the New Testament in 412 languages, with the goal to record 2,000 languages by the year 2016.