Monday, May 5, 2008

TO MANUFACTURE THOSE TALKING BIBLES



They urgently need to manufacture a new supply of Talking Bibles. Pray for the Lord to move among us. People who cannot read are waiting for their Talking Bibles. The need is urgent and immediate.

If each of us pitches in the way folks have been supporting their political candidates, they will soon have the needed funds.

Total cost is an estimated $100,000. Contributions can be made on-line or via the post. Just say, "For Manufacturing." Snail mail address:

Talking Bibles International, 419 East Grand Ave., Escondido, CA, 92024


With many small gifts and a few really large gifts the needed money will be met on time.

Thank you for sharing this info with your friends and the mission folks in your church.

May the Lord be honored and praised by how we let Him use us to help meet this need.

Please bathe this important, essential effort with your fervent prayers.

Harvey Hoekstra harvey@talkingbibles.org - my blog: http:audiobibles2.blogspot.com

Because they need to hear

A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES BEFORE SUMMER

www.talkingbibles.org

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra

Monday, April 28, 2008

--------- THERE IS STILL TIME TO DO IT ----------



Time to do what? To hold a Talking Bible Sunday in your church
before Summer.

A Talking Bible Sunday will inform and inspire your people.

A Talking Bible Sunday gives your people the opportunity to experience
the joy of giving someone a Talking Bible who will otherwise not get one.

The original supply of Talking Bibles has all been distributed. They've brought blessing and growth in the Lord to thousands in Africa, India, and elsewhere.

But, this also creates a critical need for funds to manufacture the next batch without delay. This is why the special offering taken on a Talking Bible Sunday is of such crucial importance at this time.

A Talking Bible Sunday before summer in hundreds and hundreds of churches will
enable the manufacturing of these wonderful listening devices, Talking Bibles.

Pray with me and ask God to show you what your church can do. On behalf of all who will receive God's Precious Saving Word in audio in their languages, I say for them, "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We praise and thank God for enabling us to have Talking Bibles in our languages."

Harvey Hoekstra harvey@talkingbibles.org -- my blog: http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com/

because they need to hear

A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES BEFORE SUMMER

www.talkingbibles.org

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra

Thursday, April 24, 2008

------ THAT MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION ------




Anybody ever asked you why no one has given you a million dollars so you can provide Talking Bibles to people who do not read? Someone just raised that question with me. Listen to what he said:

"I read recently of someone who gave around $70 million dollars to Oral Roberts University to keep that place afloat. That may or may not be OK, but I keep wondering why there hasn't been someone to provide a significant investment to promote the Talking Bible ministry." (end of quote)

I've pondered this same question more than once. Can you imagine what Talking Bibles International could do with those kinds of gifts?

It happens that a million dollar gift is needed right now so they can manufacture the next batch of Talking Bibles. Their current supply is nearly exhausted. Praise God. They urgently need the money up front to manufacture thousands more. A million dollar gift -- why not? With God all things are possible.

Let this be the blog in which I ask you to pray with me for the Lord to lead someone to make that million dollar gift. Perhaps someone reading this blog is the person God will lead and enable to make such a million dollar gift. Why not?

Harvey Hoekstra harvey@talkingbibles.org My blog: http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com

Because they need to hear

"ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD -- EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD"

www.talkingbibles.org


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

BIBLES THAT SPEAK GOD'S WORD IN AUDIO


A tiny memory chip in this technical, "information age" has given us the Talking Bible.

Every authentic Bible translation can now be made into a Talking Bible. This is a doable task. It is your and my responsibility and privilege to be sure it is done. We must not fail.

A Talking Bible will speak God's Saving Word in any language.

The Talking Bible will give millions of non-reading Christians the same access to God's Word as we have who read. It is a possibility I could never have envisaged during those dozen years I was translating the New Testament into that language in Africa.

Making Talking Bibles of every authentic, Bible translation is a doable task. It will happen when people in our churches understand, catch the vision and get behind the effort.

That's why I keep calling for churches everywhere to observe a Talking Bible Sunday.
Let people in our churches learn about the challenge, opportunity and responsibility we now have in this "information age.

We who are blessed to have printed Bibles must do our part in putting Talking Bibles in the hands of non-readers. We can do it with prayer and the contributions of God's people.

Every time a church takes a special offering to provide Talking Bibles for non-readers someone gets a Talking Bible who would otherwise not get it.

Pray with us and work with us to help make this happen. Do what you can to have it happen in your church. I appeal to you on behalf of those who need their Bibles in audio because they cannot read. Your church can make an essential difference!

I praise God and thank you on their behalf!

Harvey Hoekstra - harvey@talkingbibles.org - my blog: http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com

P. S. Many of you reading this blog can make a personal contribution to give someone a Talking Bible. Why not call the office and say, "I want to give someone a Talking Bible." Tel: (760) 745-8105 or 1-800-318-7262 or contact: info@talkingbibles.org

Because they need to hear

A Talking Bible Sunday in Every Church before Summer

www.talkingbibles.org

disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra

Monday, April 21, 2008

TESTIMONIALS FROM PEOPLE IN AFRICA


This insightful report comes from Negash who interviewed village people in his country. Here is from what he told us:

Speaking about his Talking Bible, one old fellow said, “It sounds like a bird singing in the morning.”

No one wanted to have the Bible read to them any more by someone else in the village. They said, “It is more believable than listening to someone reading. If someone is reading the Bible to me, sometimes I think that they are wrong.”

Someone else said, “Now I can know what the truth is, so now I can talk boldly about faith.”

As the people came forward one at a time for the interview, Negash watched some of them kiss the Talking Bible, something that they do with the printed copy to show respect. The whole village changed. Slowly, as they listened in their homes and among their friends, they came to understand God better and the love He has for them and for their neighbors. People started acting differently.
By their engaging with scripture, behavioral change took place which, in turn, impacted the society and the Church at large. Listening made for good social contact and it really improved the way neighbors saw each other.
One person said, “We become happy as we listen to the Talking Bible. It helps us to come together around God’s Word with our family and neighbors.”

Others said similar things like, “My heart fills with joy and hope when I listen to it. It encourages me to pray and go to church. It helps me to forgive and reconcile with my neighbors and others.”

And still others said, “Since I cannot read, this is my opportunity to have a contact with the Word of God. When the Talking Bible speaks, it helps me to meditate on the idea of God. To lead me to know the truth.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can understand why I keep appealing to churches to hold a Talking Bible Sunday. Churches doing this learn more and are blessed as they take a special offering to help give Talking Bibles to those who cannot afford to buy one. I renew my appeal for your prayers and contributions to support this wonderful ministry.
Contact the office: (760) 745-8105 or 1-800-318-7262

Harvey Hoekstra - harvey@talkingbibles.org -- my blog http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com

Because they need to hear

Hold a Talking Bible Sunday with a special offering in your church

www.talkingbibles.org

disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra




Monday, April 14, 2008

SOMETHING EVERY CHURCH SHOULD DO

Every Church should hold an annual Talking Bible Sunday. I know I have said this before, but it bears repeating.

Every church that holds a Taking Bible Sunday is giving someone a Talking Bible who will otherwise not have it.

I can hardly imagine that a church would not want to do that.

The office has all the help any church needs to have a wonderful Talking Bible Sunday.

Their information packet has everything needed for someone in a local church to make the presentation.

This information packet also includes a Talking Bible to demonstrate on that Sunday.

Then, they invite the participating church to keep it for their own care-giving ministry among church members who may be hospitalized or ill.

I hope you wont put it off. Do it because you love the Lord and you want His people living in oral cultures who do not read to have their Bibles in their languages in audio.

They will learn more about Christ by hearing God speak to them from their Talking Bibles. They need Talking Bibles to become true and strong disciples of Christ.

Please know how deeply grateful I am for the churches who have already had their Special Talking Bible Sunday or have committed to have one -- even before summer.

My heartfelt love and thanks to each of you in His precious and powerful, saving name.

Harvey Hoekstra, Founder of the Talking Bible Sunday Movement

Contact: info@talkingbibles.org -- my blog: http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com

because they need to hear

AN ANNUAL TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN EVERY CHURCH

www.talkingbibles.org


disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra

Monday, April 7, 2008

DRAMATIC CHANGES IN WORLD MISSION


DRAMATIC CHANGES IN WORLD MISSION

The number of traditional missionaries from the West has been declining dramatically. But, the number of missionaries from countries like Korea, India, Africa and China are more than making up for that loss.

Tens of thousands of previously unreached peoples are hearing the gospel and professing their faith in Jesus Christ.

The evangelists and missionaries from non-western churches are now begging us for tools they need to shepherd these new believers.

Among the tools they want most, is the Bible in audio. It has to be in audio because thousands of new believers do not read. They are people of an oral culture.

Evangelists visiting these new believers tell of the incredible blessing our Talking Bible is in their ministry.

Village Christians literally dance for joy when they hear their Talking Bible speaking the words of God in their own languages.

That's where you and I come in. They will have those wonderful Talking Bibles only if you and I in thousands of churches make a donation to give these non-reading brothers and sisters in Christ the Talking Bibles they so urgently need to grow strong in their faith.

That's why I keep calling on you and your church to hold a Talking Bible Sunday. Yes, we need Talking Bible Sundays just like, and in addition to, the well known Gideon Bible Sunday.

If you have a heart to do it, Talking Bibles has everything you need to make an effective presentation on your church's Talking Bible Sunday.

I'm praying God will lead someone in every church to do this. Might it be you who read this blog? Why not make it happen before summer? God will bless.

Harvey Hoekstra - harvey@talkingbibles.org

my blog: http://audiobibles2.blogspot.com

because they need to hear

A TALKING BIBLE SUNDAY IN YOUR CHURCH AND MINE BEFORE SUMMER

www.talkingbibles.org

disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are the personal views of Harvey Hoekstra