Nigeria (MNN) ― There are 24 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria and Niger, along with another 15 million who speak Hausa as a second language. In these areas, many non-readers are coming to Christ through the audio Gospel. However, that is creating a need for more grounding in the Old Testament.
Audio Scripture Ministries' Chad VandenBosch says they're addressing this with the help of a partnering group called Theovision. "Church growth is being stifled by illiteracy and the lack of access to the Scriptures and the truths found in those Scriptures. So they asked us, specifically, if we could go in and record the Old Testament, to have that available as well as the New Testament."
For the many who do not read, an audio copy of the Old Testament will be their only way to hear of God's work through the ages. VandenBosch says the project will cost $16,000. The team is about halfway there.
Here's how a typical project goes. Teams go on location to record the project. A period of about 4 weeks is spent on the recording of the New Testament and 12 weeks on the Old Testament by two technicians.
According to TheoVision, during recording, readers are scheduled to come to an improvised studio to read their portions. A local committee comprised of translators, clergymen and notable people in the community is set up to oversee the recording when the technicians get to the recording location. Much work is done with the help of these locals, who check for good pronunciation of words and good dramatization of the reading of the script. Generators are used in areas where there is no power supply.
It's a vital part of discipleship and evangelism. The audio Old Testament supports missionaries working with the Hausa because, "It gives a biblical background that you don't get through the New Testament. It gives a lot of basis for what they're able to hear through the New Testament recordings, or are able to read in the New Testament. It just gives them a broader picture of the Scriptures."
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