But they can’t. At least, not yet…
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you already have the Bible in your language. (We hope so.) You may even have several versions to choose from. But have you ever wondered what your life might be like without the Bible? Think about how God’s Word speaks to you when you read it. What if the Bible were available in your language… but you couldn’t see? Or you didn’t know how to read? It’s estimated that 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired,1 and that 775 million adults (~17%) cannot read or write.2 How will they discover all that God wants to say to them through His Word?
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Bible societies are bringing God’s
Word to everyone. You can help.
In just the last three months, generous Bible society partners have introduced 25 new audio versions to the Bible App, offering new opportunities to connect with the Bible, for people who may never have had it before. Half of the world’s population now has a mobile subscription (up from just one in five 10 years ago).3 Anywhere a mobile device can go, God’s Word can be there. This freedom changes lives:
“I am totally blind. The Bible App is invaluable! I can read the Bible anywhere, anytime. Now I can truly study the Bible. As my husband has some difficulty with reading, this app is also invaluable to him!”
—Bible App User from Australia
As liberating as audio Bibles are, they’re just a small part of all that Bible societies are doing to change the world. During that same three months, they introduced 23 new Bible texts to the Bible App. Together, these contributions represent 38 new languages! (The full list is below.)
The day is coming when every person on earth will have the opportunity to experience God’s Word, because passionate people have dedicated their lives to bringing this vision to life. Of the 7,000 languages in active use today, the complete Bible has been translated into 550, and the New Testament into 1,300.4 While many language groups remain to be done, Bible societies are translating for the largest groups first. In addition, easier travel and new communication technologies have exponentially increased their capacity.
Don’t miss your chance to take
part in what God is doing in the world.
Your contribution to bringing God’s Word to Myanmar could transform a child’s life:
(That’s thanaka on her face, a traditional cosmetic paste made from tree bark.5)
In Southeast Asia, where this girl lives, more than 32 million people speak Myanmar (Burmese), mostly within their country’s borders. Still classified as “unreached” by the Gospel, most of Myanmar’s population is Buddhist. Although some projections estimate that as much as 9% of Myanmar’s people might be Christians, it’s difficult to know for certain.6 People who profess any religion other than Buddhism are socially ostracized, and often violently persecuted. For these reasons, most Christ followers in Myanmar keep their faith secret.7
But their story is just beginning. In recent elections, the people of Myanmar united to overthrow years of government corruption and violence. Now mobile service providers are introducing technology there designed to advance health care, and even to help people conduct financial transactions.8 When these positive changes began sweeping across the nation, Global Bible Initiative was ready, bringing their New Testament Myanmar Standard Bible to Myanmar’s Bible App users. Now, thanks to their work, even if Christians in Myanmar can’t share their faith openly—yet—they can still remain connected to God’s Word.
Aided by new technologies, Bible societies now have the chance to bring God’s Word to every person in the world, no matter where they live, what language they speak—or even what physical challenges they face. An opportunity like this has never existed before in human history. And we get to be here. You get to be here. You were made for such a time as this.
Now that you know,
what will you do?
Join us. Click below and learn what our Bible society partners are doing. Find one whose vision inspires you—and commit to support them. All of creation is waiting in eager expectation to see what we will do.9
Newest Audio Bibles
Newest Versions and Languages
Sources:
- “Visual Impairment and Blindness,” World Health Organization.
- “Statistics on Literacy,” UNESCO.
- Report: GSMA Mobile Economy 2015, Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association.
- “Why Bible Translation?,” Wycliffe.
- “Thanaka,” Wikipedia.
- “Country: Myanmar (Burma),” Joshua Project.
- “#23 on the World Watch List (of persecuted Christians),” Open Door.
- “2.3.1 Mobile Money, [mHealth, and 2.4.1 Connected Women,” GSMA Mobile Economy 2015.
- Romans 8:19.
