Bible Group Challenges Churches to Listen First, then 'Get the Word Out'

By Victor Anderson / Christian Post Contributor

An organization that specializes in audio Bible distribution to the illiterate has partnered with the American Bible Society to reach one billion Bible-less people and to disciple 150 million believers in faith through two million audio Bible distribution and discipleship campaigns.

Its latest campaign is challenging the Albuquerque, N.M., population to listen to the entire New Testament and involves over 50 local churches.

“’You’ve Got The Time Albuquerque’ is off to a great start,” stated Jerry Jackson, founder and president of Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), in a recent report. FCBH has distributed over 8,500 audio Bibles in Alburquerque since mid-December.

“The launch has been very successful with many churches beginning their Audio New Testament listening right after Christmas,” said Jackson. “Every week, more and more churches are getting scheduled to do their Bible saturation program.”

Addressing illiteracy, one of the five “global giants” identified by megachurch pastor Rick Warren, is the major motivation for FCBH’s organization to press forward with their programs. While Warren’s proposed solution to the illiteracy problem is to educate the next generation, FCHB is helping address the giant in a different way.

“You can’t give out what you haven’t received,” said Pastor Larry Moss, a local Albuquerque church pastor, in a report.

According to FCBH, 65 percent of Christians have never read the entire New Testament. In America, 43 percent of the adult population functions at or below basic literacy levels, “making them incapable of meaningful Bible reading,” the organization concluded.

Rather than making people literate to fight this battle, FCHB allows illiterate people to receive the Word by listening in their native tongue, catering to auditory learners.

At the end of the 40-day listening challenge, congregations participate in fund-raising to support worldwide FCBH donations of audio Bibles and programs. Those who are touched by the audio Bible are encouraged to help give back.

“You’ve got to get the Word in and then get the Word out,” Moss said, referring to his church’s opportunity to support global outreach.

The offerings gathered at the end of “You’ve Got the Time Albuquerque” will help support FCBH listening programs and recordings for the poor and illiterate, currently available in 260 languages other than English. The organization has partnered with several other Christian groups including CCCI, with whom they have set the goal to begin two million new listening programs in ten years. Listening groups will form after the showing of the JESUS Film, which is available in 840 languages and which has reportedly been viewed by four billion people.

Progress toward these goals has started in Albuquerque, where the organization is most heavily staffed. Area businesses, leaders, and churches are supporting this community-wide effort.

“We are really going to push Bible listening hard for the next 40 days,” said Moss.

“You’ve Got the Time Albuquerque” is challenging more than the illiteracy “giant.” Last year, about 6 in 10 Christians worldwide said that it was "often" or "always" true that "the busyness of life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God," according to a five-year study. Moreover, 47 percent of pastors reported “lack of time” as the major reason why Christians don’t read the Bible, according to FCBH. “You’ve Got the Time” was designed in hope that the local population will find the time to listen to the Word.

“The act of hearing the Word of God is such a powerful thing,” Moss commented.

The challenge to listen to the New Testament audio Bible for an average of 28 minutes per day over the course of 40 days will continue throughout 2008. So far, more than 55,000 churches have participated in FCBH listening programs in the United States alone, with eleven more Albuquerque churches presenting the challenge to their congregations this past Sunday.