by Tim Strauss

A GRN Center leader relayed this story to me about a partner using our material in their restricted-access country:

They set up a bit late in the day as people from the village gather around. They started to play the audio programs   story by story for these people in their own dialect. After several programs were played, it was getting dark, so, the team started to shut down and pack up for the night. How-ever, the people started shouting at them to not stop. Even though they had seen the Jesus Film before, it had been in their trade language and not their heart language. This was the first time they heard the stories of the Bible and Jesus in the language that spoke to their heart, and they were not about to let the team pack up when there was so much more they wanted to hear!  

I have over 20 English Bible translations, multiple commentaries, and Bible training resources of every kind available at my fingertips. Yet there are still so many people who do not yet have the basic story of Jesus available in a language that speaks to their heart. Jesus gives me hope, fills me with love for others, and provides a solid foundation of truth. I want to be a part of making sure everyone has the opportunity to hear about Jesus. That is why I am so excited to have the privilege of working together with the GRN worldwide network as the new Inter-national Director.

We have much to be thankful for in GRN. We have recorded the story of Jesus in 6,447     languages. That is the most diverse language database in the world! We have 21 independent centers around the world united together in our passion to make sure everyone has the story of Jesus available to them in their language.

As we look ahead, much is changing. With the advent of smart phones and readily available mp3 players, we no longer need to design, develop, and maintain our own hardware
distribution devices. For those with smart phones, the 5fish app puts the Gospel in over 6,400 language varieties at their fingertips.

However, there are still many languages and dialects in the world with people who have little to no means to hear the story of Jesus in a language that speaks to their heart. I look forward to seeing a renewed emphasis on identifying languages with the greatest need and putting together teams to do those recordings. My dream is to see multi-cultural teams reaching into new areas making the story of Jesus known among those with the least access to hear the Good News of Jesus.

As we carry this vision forward, we need healthy centers and a healthy network. This isn’t easy across so many countries, ethnicities, and cultures. It is only in Christ, that we become one and these cultural walls break down. That unity across our diversity is a light to the world.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
[John 17:20–21, The New International Version (2011), Zondervan.]

May we glorify God, lifting the name of Jesus, as we work together in love and unity to make His story known to every nation, tribe, people, and language!