Elimu is Bring God's Word into Tanzania's Public Schools!
In Tanzania, many young people face overwhelming challenges—without guidance and without Jesus in their lives. Elimu, a passionate volunteer, had a powerful vision that shaped his mission. Twice, he dreamed of standing before a group of students, trying to share God’s Word, but something vital was missing. The students had no shepherd to guide them.
Compelled by this vision, Elimu knew that God was calling him to share the Gospel and introduce them to their true Shepherd—Jesus Christ. Today, he answers this call by ministering to Tanzania’s youth through Religious Education Classes in public schools.
While Tanzania’s schools are allowed to offer religious classes and students are eager to attend, fewer than 20% of schools are currently providing this crucial opportunity to hear God's Word.
The majority of students—those who desperately need the guidance of the Gospel—are being left behind.
Elimu is determined to change this. Every day, he travels three to four hours across the city to teach the Bible. Yet, when he finally reaches the schools, the challenge remains—how to capture the hearts of these students and help them encounter Jesus?
Despite long hours and limited resources, Elimu and his small team pressed on.
He teaches at three high schools and five elementary schools each week, but they were only reaching a fraction of the students who needed guidance. “We are prayer warriors,” Elimu says. “We leave a lot of room for the Holy Spirit.” Even with their prayers and passion, they knew the task was too great for just a few volunteers to meet.
Then something incredible happened—God provided the resources they needed when they received Kiswahili Talking Bibles. For the first time, the students were fully engaged. The audio Bibles captured their attention in a way nothing else had. At first, they only caught bits and pieces, but soon they were drawn in, truly listening.
After just one month, the transformation was undeniable! The students became respectful and eager to hear more. They stopped playing around and even started encouraging their classmates to listen. The entire class atmosphere changed as students were captivated by God's Word.
Attendance in Elimu’s classes has now grown to between 70 and 150 students. "In Tanzania, people prefer to listen rather than read," Elimu explains. "The Talking Bible is very helpful."
These young people, many of whom would never have opened a Bible, are now actively retelling Bible stories and applying its lessons in their daily lives. They’re not just hearing the Gospel—they’re living it out!
But there’s a challenge. Elimu and his team have only a few Talking Bibles, which they must carry from school to school. His new dream is to leave these Bibles behind, so students can continue their discipleship journey even outside of class. And we have a way to make this dream a reality!
With the Tanzania School Initiative, we have the opportunity to place Talking Bibles into the hands of thousands of volunteers, like Elimu, who can guide students during Religious Education classes. Your support can help these students hear God’s Word and find their Shepherd.
Will you sponsor a school for just $150?
This will equip a public school with three Talking Bibles of its own, giving volunteers and teachers like Elimu an easy way to share the life-changing message of God’s Word with hundreds of students every day!
More Changed Life Stories
October 1, 2025
From Rocks to Redemption: A Family Transformed by a Talking Bible In a rural village, a well-respected judge and his wife were known for opposing Christians. When a pastor walked past their home, his wife would shout—and sometimes even throw rocks—to drive them away. Everything changed the day the judge overheard a Talking Bible playing in Gamo, his own language. Curious, he asked to borrow it. Weeks later, the pastor returned to find him still listening intently. “The Talking Bible opened his heart before I ever spoke a word,” the pastor recalled. At first, the judge feared that following Jesus meant isolating himself from his community. But with patient guidance, he learned it meant turning from sin and walking in truth and freedom. Two months later, he stood in front of the church and gave his life to Christ. Even his wife, who had once shouted and avoided all contact, had been secretly listening—and she too came to faith. “Listening to the Talking Bible led me to Christ. He changed everything—the fear, the sickness, the darkness—it’s all gone. Now our home is filled with peace,” she said. Even people who may never step inside a church can experience the life-changing truth of Jesus through a Talking Bible.
September 1, 2025
He’s a Mechanic. Now He’s Learning the Bible Like One. In the heart of a bustling city in India, Vinay runs a full-service mechanic shop—a family business started by his father back in the 1950s. His father valued education, making sure Vinay could read and write so he could one day manage the garage well. That education helped him succeed in business. But when it came to understanding the Bible, Vinay still felt lost. “Every Sunday I go to church and hear the words from my pastor, but there are many distractions,” Vinay shared. Then everything changed. His pastor—knowing his struggles—gave him a Talking Bible. An audio Bible designed for those who cannot easily engage with Scripture on the page, it opened a whole new way for Vinay to connect with God’s Word. “After returning home and alone, I can listen and learn more that way with a focused mind,” he said. Now, while tuning engines and fixing cars, Vinay listens to the Bible for one to two hours every day. Stories he has known since childhood—Peter, Zacchaeus, Paul—are coming alive with new depth and clarity. “I’ve spent decades learning how cars work—every part, every sound,” Vinay said. “Now, with the Talking Bible, I’m starting to understand the Bible the same way—deeply, piece by piece.” And Vinay isn’t the only one listening. He has ten employees—most of whom do not yet know Jesus. But as they work beside him, the Word of God fills the garage. Scripture is quietly working its way into their hearts… just like it did with Vinay. Each Tuesday night, Vinay and his wife reopen the shop—not for repairs, but for neighbors to gather and listen to the Talking Bible together. About twenty people come—many uneducated, spiritually hungry, and searching for a way to grow. Vinay understands their struggle. He remembers what it felt like to hear Scripture on Sunday and forget it by Monday. But now, as God’s Word plays in his garage and in his home, he sees transformation happening—piece by piece, heart by heart.
July 1, 2025
What happened after Evelina gave up her brewing business? Evelina always called herself a Christian—it was part of her culture. But her life told a different story. She brewed pombe, a homemade millet beer, and sold it out of her home. Every night, intoxicated customers came and went. Drunken fights broke out. Evelina’s children watched as chaos filled their house. And her heart broke as the conflict spread beyond her home and into her entire community. Then one night, God spoke to her. She had a dream. In it, she saw herself reading Ephesians 6—the passage about the armor of God. The next morning, she tried to read the passage. But Evelina struggles to read. She couldn’t understand it. So she turned to a young man in her village who knew the Scriptures. As he explained it, Evelina saw something she had never seen before: Jesus is her warrior, fighting for her. And in that moment, she understood her need for salvation. That day, Evelina chose to follow Christ—not just in word, but in action. She gave up her brewing business, even though it made her husband furious. She walked away from the income—because she had found something greater: hope in Jesus. And as Evelina grew in her faith, everything began to change. Peace replaced chaos. Her home, once filled with drunkenness and shouting, became a place of safety and prayer. She began to attend church every week. But Evelina’s story didn’t end there. She had a deep desire to grow closer to God—and she longed for others in her church, especially those who couldn’t read, to hear God’s Word like she had. So she prayed. And God answered. Her church received a Talking Bible in the Chikogo language. Now, every Sunday, Evelina and her church family gather around it. They listen. They learn. They grow in Christ—together. “I thank God that the Talking Bible is in the Chikogo language,” Evelina says. “It is a blessing to hear the Bible in our own tongue.” Evelina’s transformation—from cultural Christianity to a life fully surrendered to Jesus—was made possible because she heard God’s Word. But there are still many like her...People who can’t read the Bible—but are desperate to hear it. Will you help us reach them with God’s Word? Your gift will help place Talking Bibles into the hands of non-readers—people like Evelina—so they can finally hear about the hope of Jesus in a way they understand.
May 29, 2025
From Hopelessness to Healing – One Talking Bible Changed a Family—and a Village Walking for days . . . desperate to find peace—only to discover the gods she served could not answer. This was Eesha’s life. She and her husband, Ananda, poured their hearts into rituals, visiting temples, and seeking favor from gods they sought. But when Ananda's kidneys failed and he was on the brink of death, Eesha reached the end of herself. And then something miraculous happened. In that dark moment, Eesha encountered the true and living God . He revealed to her that she and Ananda were sinners in need of repentance—and He promised to never leave them if they chose to follow Him. By God’s mercy, through prayer and by faith, Ananda was healed. He and Eesha were baptized and began their walk with Jesus. Our Father works in many ways to reach His children. People who cannot read must hear His Word. For Eesha and Ananda, God’s way came through a Talking Bible. Though Eesha could not read, the Talking Bible allowed them to listen to God's Word together twice a day. It brought them closer to Jesus and deepened their understanding of His love. This gift didn’t stop with them. Eesha was excited about her new faith. She invited others to listen to the Talking Bible too. Today, six neighbors regularly gather to hear God’s Word. What began as a story of healing has become a story of transformation—a family, a village, changed through the power of God's Word.
More Changed Life Stories
October 1, 2025
From Rocks to Redemption: A Family Transformed by a Talking Bible In a rural village, a well-respected judge and his wife were known for opposing Christians. When a pastor walked past their home, his wife would shout—and sometimes even throw rocks—to drive them away. Everything changed the day the judge overheard a Talking Bible playing in Gamo, his own language. Curious, he asked to borrow it. Weeks later, the pastor returned to find him still listening intently. “The Talking Bible opened his heart before I ever spoke a word,” the pastor recalled. At first, the judge feared that following Jesus meant isolating himself from his community. But with patient guidance, he learned it meant turning from sin and walking in truth and freedom. Two months later, he stood in front of the church and gave his life to Christ. Even his wife, who had once shouted and avoided all contact, had been secretly listening—and she too came to faith. “Listening to the Talking Bible led me to Christ. He changed everything—the fear, the sickness, the darkness—it’s all gone. Now our home is filled with peace,” she said. Even people who may never step inside a church can experience the life-changing truth of Jesus through a Talking Bible.
September 1, 2025
He’s a Mechanic. Now He’s Learning the Bible Like One. In the heart of a bustling city in India, Vinay runs a full-service mechanic shop—a family business started by his father back in the 1950s. His father valued education, making sure Vinay could read and write so he could one day manage the garage well. That education helped him succeed in business. But when it came to understanding the Bible, Vinay still felt lost. “Every Sunday I go to church and hear the words from my pastor, but there are many distractions,” Vinay shared. Then everything changed. His pastor—knowing his struggles—gave him a Talking Bible. An audio Bible designed for those who cannot easily engage with Scripture on the page, it opened a whole new way for Vinay to connect with God’s Word. “After returning home and alone, I can listen and learn more that way with a focused mind,” he said. Now, while tuning engines and fixing cars, Vinay listens to the Bible for one to two hours every day. Stories he has known since childhood—Peter, Zacchaeus, Paul—are coming alive with new depth and clarity. “I’ve spent decades learning how cars work—every part, every sound,” Vinay said. “Now, with the Talking Bible, I’m starting to understand the Bible the same way—deeply, piece by piece.” And Vinay isn’t the only one listening. He has ten employees—most of whom do not yet know Jesus. But as they work beside him, the Word of God fills the garage. Scripture is quietly working its way into their hearts… just like it did with Vinay. Each Tuesday night, Vinay and his wife reopen the shop—not for repairs, but for neighbors to gather and listen to the Talking Bible together. About twenty people come—many uneducated, spiritually hungry, and searching for a way to grow. Vinay understands their struggle. He remembers what it felt like to hear Scripture on Sunday and forget it by Monday. But now, as God’s Word plays in his garage and in his home, he sees transformation happening—piece by piece, heart by heart.
July 1, 2025
What happened after Evelina gave up her brewing business? Evelina always called herself a Christian—it was part of her culture. But her life told a different story. She brewed pombe, a homemade millet beer, and sold it out of her home. Every night, intoxicated customers came and went. Drunken fights broke out. Evelina’s children watched as chaos filled their house. And her heart broke as the conflict spread beyond her home and into her entire community. Then one night, God spoke to her. She had a dream. In it, she saw herself reading Ephesians 6—the passage about the armor of God. The next morning, she tried to read the passage. But Evelina struggles to read. She couldn’t understand it. So she turned to a young man in her village who knew the Scriptures. As he explained it, Evelina saw something she had never seen before: Jesus is her warrior, fighting for her. And in that moment, she understood her need for salvation. That day, Evelina chose to follow Christ—not just in word, but in action. She gave up her brewing business, even though it made her husband furious. She walked away from the income—because she had found something greater: hope in Jesus. And as Evelina grew in her faith, everything began to change. Peace replaced chaos. Her home, once filled with drunkenness and shouting, became a place of safety and prayer. She began to attend church every week. But Evelina’s story didn’t end there. She had a deep desire to grow closer to God—and she longed for others in her church, especially those who couldn’t read, to hear God’s Word like she had. So she prayed. And God answered. Her church received a Talking Bible in the Chikogo language. Now, every Sunday, Evelina and her church family gather around it. They listen. They learn. They grow in Christ—together. “I thank God that the Talking Bible is in the Chikogo language,” Evelina says. “It is a blessing to hear the Bible in our own tongue.” Evelina’s transformation—from cultural Christianity to a life fully surrendered to Jesus—was made possible because she heard God’s Word. But there are still many like her...People who can’t read the Bible—but are desperate to hear it. Will you help us reach them with God’s Word? Your gift will help place Talking Bibles into the hands of non-readers—people like Evelina—so they can finally hear about the hope of Jesus in a way they understand.
More Changed Life Stories
October 1, 2025
From Rocks to Redemption: A Family Transformed by a Talking Bible In a rural village, a well-respected judge and his wife were known for opposing Christians. When a pastor walked past their home, his wife would shout—and sometimes even throw rocks—to drive them away. Everything changed the day the judge overheard a Talking Bible playing in Gamo, his own language. Curious, he asked to borrow it. Weeks later, the pastor returned to find him still listening intently. “The Talking Bible opened his heart before I ever spoke a word,” the pastor recalled. At first, the judge feared that following Jesus meant isolating himself from his community. But with patient guidance, he learned it meant turning from sin and walking in truth and freedom. Two months later, he stood in front of the church and gave his life to Christ. Even his wife, who had once shouted and avoided all contact, had been secretly listening—and she too came to faith. “Listening to the Talking Bible led me to Christ. He changed everything—the fear, the sickness, the darkness—it’s all gone. Now our home is filled with peace,” she said. Even people who may never step inside a church can experience the life-changing truth of Jesus through a Talking Bible.
September 1, 2025
He’s a Mechanic. Now He’s Learning the Bible Like One. In the heart of a bustling city in India, Vinay runs a full-service mechanic shop—a family business started by his father back in the 1950s. His father valued education, making sure Vinay could read and write so he could one day manage the garage well. That education helped him succeed in business. But when it came to understanding the Bible, Vinay still felt lost. “Every Sunday I go to church and hear the words from my pastor, but there are many distractions,” Vinay shared. Then everything changed. His pastor—knowing his struggles—gave him a Talking Bible. An audio Bible designed for those who cannot easily engage with Scripture on the page, it opened a whole new way for Vinay to connect with God’s Word. “After returning home and alone, I can listen and learn more that way with a focused mind,” he said. Now, while tuning engines and fixing cars, Vinay listens to the Bible for one to two hours every day. Stories he has known since childhood—Peter, Zacchaeus, Paul—are coming alive with new depth and clarity. “I’ve spent decades learning how cars work—every part, every sound,” Vinay said. “Now, with the Talking Bible, I’m starting to understand the Bible the same way—deeply, piece by piece.” And Vinay isn’t the only one listening. He has ten employees—most of whom do not yet know Jesus. But as they work beside him, the Word of God fills the garage. Scripture is quietly working its way into their hearts… just like it did with Vinay. Each Tuesday night, Vinay and his wife reopen the shop—not for repairs, but for neighbors to gather and listen to the Talking Bible together. About twenty people come—many uneducated, spiritually hungry, and searching for a way to grow. Vinay understands their struggle. He remembers what it felt like to hear Scripture on Sunday and forget it by Monday. But now, as God’s Word plays in his garage and in his home, he sees transformation happening—piece by piece, heart by heart.
July 1, 2025
What happened after Evelina gave up her brewing business? Evelina always called herself a Christian—it was part of her culture. But her life told a different story. She brewed pombe, a homemade millet beer, and sold it out of her home. Every night, intoxicated customers came and went. Drunken fights broke out. Evelina’s children watched as chaos filled their house. And her heart broke as the conflict spread beyond her home and into her entire community. Then one night, God spoke to her. She had a dream. In it, she saw herself reading Ephesians 6—the passage about the armor of God. The next morning, she tried to read the passage. But Evelina struggles to read. She couldn’t understand it. So she turned to a young man in her village who knew the Scriptures. As he explained it, Evelina saw something she had never seen before: Jesus is her warrior, fighting for her. And in that moment, she understood her need for salvation. That day, Evelina chose to follow Christ—not just in word, but in action. She gave up her brewing business, even though it made her husband furious. She walked away from the income—because she had found something greater: hope in Jesus. And as Evelina grew in her faith, everything began to change. Peace replaced chaos. Her home, once filled with drunkenness and shouting, became a place of safety and prayer. She began to attend church every week. But Evelina’s story didn’t end there. She had a deep desire to grow closer to God—and she longed for others in her church, especially those who couldn’t read, to hear God’s Word like she had. So she prayed. And God answered. Her church received a Talking Bible in the Chikogo language. Now, every Sunday, Evelina and her church family gather around it. They listen. They learn. They grow in Christ—together. “I thank God that the Talking Bible is in the Chikogo language,” Evelina says. “It is a blessing to hear the Bible in our own tongue.” Evelina’s transformation—from cultural Christianity to a life fully surrendered to Jesus—was made possible because she heard God’s Word. But there are still many like her...People who can’t read the Bible—but are desperate to hear it. Will you help us reach them with God’s Word? Your gift will help place Talking Bibles into the hands of non-readers—people like Evelina—so they can finally hear about the hope of Jesus in a way they understand.
May 29, 2025
From Hopelessness to Healing – One Talking Bible Changed a Family—and a Village Walking for days . . . desperate to find peace—only to discover the gods she served could not answer. This was Eesha’s life. She and her husband, Ananda, poured their hearts into rituals, visiting temples, and seeking favor from gods they sought. But when Ananda's kidneys failed and he was on the brink of death, Eesha reached the end of herself. And then something miraculous happened. In that dark moment, Eesha encountered the true and living God . He revealed to her that she and Ananda were sinners in need of repentance—and He promised to never leave them if they chose to follow Him. By God’s mercy, through prayer and by faith, Ananda was healed. He and Eesha were baptized and began their walk with Jesus. Our Father works in many ways to reach His children. People who cannot read must hear His Word. For Eesha and Ananda, God’s way came through a Talking Bible. Though Eesha could not read, the Talking Bible allowed them to listen to God's Word together twice a day. It brought them closer to Jesus and deepened their understanding of His love. This gift didn’t stop with them. Eesha was excited about her new faith. She invited others to listen to the Talking Bible too. Today, six neighbors regularly gather to hear God’s Word. What began as a story of healing has become a story of transformation—a family, a village, changed through the power of God's Word.
