Reaching the Illiterate With Technology

As technology advances in the 21st century, great evangelistic advances are being forged. Today more illiterate people are being reached with the gospel thanks in part to a hand-held solar-powered digital audio Bible called the “Ambassador.” Smaller than a cell phone it is capable of playing 10 hours of the Bible in any language. “The device is unlike any other evangelistic tool in history,” said Jim Subers, executive director of MegaVoice (www.megavoice.com), the Kansas-based company producing the devices. “When you give people access to the Word of God, it’s not just words, it is the power of God; it is living and active.” Currently there are more than 1 billion illiterate people in the world, many of whom have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. In an effort to reach them, MegaVoice has distributed more than 50,000 devices worldwide. “We’re getting testimonies from every part of the globe—from Muslims … to Hindus to Buddhists [who come to faith] through the audio Scripture delivered on these devices,” Subers said. Missionary Heidi Baker said the Ambassador has helped expand her ministry. Baker, who co-founded Iris Ministries with her husband, Rolland, has distributed 1,000 devices to people in Mozambique. “It’s like the bread of life is offered to them verbally so they can understand it.” She hopes her ministry will be able to distribute 6,000 more devices. “We’re working with groups that used to be unreached. … We’re reaching them now,” Baker said. —Suzy A. Richardson