Pastor John and Pari are real people, but those aren’t their real names. The stories that we publish on our website are about real people, and the photos show some of the actual people in the story. Some of these people live in areas where it is unsafe to be a Christian. For this reason, we blur faces, change names, and do not specify exact locations for some of the Christians in our stories. Now enjoy the true story below!
Have you ever been beaten for sharing your faith? We hope not. Is sharing the Good News worth a beating? Yes it is!
Thank God most of us are not called to take a beating for being a Christian and wanting to share our faith. But there are some who are!
Pastor John has been beaten so others can hear about Jesus. He is one who has been called to suffer and be beaten for the Gospel’s sake.
John is a missionary. He did not grow up in the villages where he is working. He is a stranger who has come with the Good News, but not everyone thinks the message he brings is good news.
Four years ago, God called John to a task few would want to do. John packed up his wife and family and moved into a remote area in India where the name of Jesus was yet to be heard.
God blessed John with a small group of believers. Soon they built a church and started singing praises to God.
Then one day, 500 or more people rushed toward the church. They came with torches. They shouted to have the missionary killed. The mob went wild. Within minutes, the church was burned to the ground and John was being dragged down the street with a tire around his neck.
John was hauled down the street to the police station where he was beaten. There John stayed alone for four days before he was released.
Did John give up? Did he go back to where he came from? No. John sent his family back to safety, but he has been called to bring the Good News to people living in that area of India. That is where John wants to stay until he has accomplished the purpose for which God has sent him.
Now the new believers have no place to worship. How can John disciple them? Many are afraid to gather together for fear of the mob.
That is where the Talking Bible has been a real blessing for Pastor John. The new converts can each take a Talking Bible home and listen to it. Then when they are able to safely gather, they can discuss what they have heard.
One of the new converts, a woman named Pari, has difficulty gathering with the others. She had been beaten by her husband for believing the Good News. When she tried to go to church, her husband beat her. When she tried to meet with Pastor John, her husband beat her again and attacked the pastor. She cannot read or meet with other believers to grow in her faith, but she has a great longing to know more about God. The hostile environment in her home prevented this from happening until she got a Talking Bible.
Pastor John was able to give Pari a Talking Bible. For now, she hides it in her house. When her family is away, she listens to it in secret. God’s Word is a wonderful encouragement to her and her faith is growing. When he is able, Pastor John is continuing to disciple her in her faith and Pari is becoming a strong believer who can stand in the face of persecution by her own family.
This is common in many areas of India. Young Indian missionaries with the burning desire to reach their own people with the Good News are willing and ready to go into a remote area to share the Good News. They are willing to endure hardship and persecution to share their faith.
Not just India! In many areas of the world, people are routinely brutalized, jailed, and even killed for their faith in God. Being able to listen to God’s Word and receive comfort, strength, and hope is a huge encouragement to those who live in areas where persecution is common.
With the Talking Bible, these pastors and missionaries are able to teach non-readers right from the Bible what the truth is about God and His Son Jesus Christ. For the first time, they hear about a living God who loves them very much.
Your partnership with Talking Bibles International is helping to place Talking Bibles into the hands of people who have no other way to learn about God. They can’t read. They can’t meet regularly together. Without a Talking Bible, they are alone and have no way to learn about God’s love for them. A Talking Bible gives them knowledge, hope, and assurance of eternal salvation.
Please help us continue to place Talking Bibles in areas where Christians are persecuted. Together we can help Pastor John reach those who have no other way to learn about God and grow in their faith.
More Changed Life Stories
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.
May 1, 2025
Music Drew Sylvester to Church—God’s Word Changed His Life Sylvester loves to sing! His journey to faith began with a love for music, not Scripture. As a child, he was forced to attend church by his parents, but he had no real interest in Christianity. It wasn’t the sermons that captured his heart—it was the choir. Singing with others was the only part of church that resonated with him. Years later, after getting married, that same love for music drew him back to church, and he rejoined the choir. Spending time in church and among believers, his faith began to grow. His wife noticed the change, and soon she followed him. Sylvester admits that before returning, he lived a worldly life, but as his faith deepened, he left many of his old ways behind. Yet, despite his love for worship, Scripture still felt distant. Reading had never come easily to him, and during sermons, he often felt lost. But just as music stirred his soul, so did God’s Word —once he had the chance to hear it. Everything changed when Sylvester received a Talking Bible. “When I first heard the Gospel on the Talking Bible, it opened my heart in a way I never imagined. The words that were once just words on a page now came alive to me. That’s when my life truly began to change.” For the first time, Scripture spoke to him personally . The Gospel wasn’t just something he heard in church—it became part of his daily life. Naturally, Sylvester wanted to share his gift with others. He started a small listening group at his church, where 15 people gather every Friday to hear Scripture together. The group, which includes both literate and illiterate members, benefits from the Talking Bible’s inclusivity— everyone, regardless of their ability to read, can listen and grow in faith together. Through these weekly gatherings, lives are changing. Some members, who once rarely attended church, are now active members. Others have found strength to overcome harmful habits. Now, Sylvester sings for the Lord with a heart transformed by faith . His love for music led him back to church, but it was hearing God’s Word through the Talking Bible that changed his life forever. Now, he dreams of every member of his group having their own Talking Bible so they can continue growing in faith beyond their weekly meetings. Will you help make this dream a reality? P.S. Your gift is more than a donation—it’s equipping someone with the life-changing power of God’s Word.
More Changed Life Stories
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
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.
May 1, 2025
Music Drew Sylvester to Church—God’s Word Changed His Life Sylvester loves to sing! His journey to faith began with a love for music, not Scripture. As a child, he was forced to attend church by his parents, but he had no real interest in Christianity. It wasn’t the sermons that captured his heart—it was the choir. Singing with others was the only part of church that resonated with him. Years later, after getting married, that same love for music drew him back to church, and he rejoined the choir. Spending time in church and among believers, his faith began to grow. His wife noticed the change, and soon she followed him. Sylvester admits that before returning, he lived a worldly life, but as his faith deepened, he left many of his old ways behind. Yet, despite his love for worship, Scripture still felt distant. Reading had never come easily to him, and during sermons, he often felt lost. But just as music stirred his soul, so did God’s Word —once he had the chance to hear it. Everything changed when Sylvester received a Talking Bible. “When I first heard the Gospel on the Talking Bible, it opened my heart in a way I never imagined. The words that were once just words on a page now came alive to me. That’s when my life truly began to change.” For the first time, Scripture spoke to him personally . The Gospel wasn’t just something he heard in church—it became part of his daily life. Naturally, Sylvester wanted to share his gift with others. He started a small listening group at his church, where 15 people gather every Friday to hear Scripture together. The group, which includes both literate and illiterate members, benefits from the Talking Bible’s inclusivity— everyone, regardless of their ability to read, can listen and grow in faith together. Through these weekly gatherings, lives are changing. Some members, who once rarely attended church, are now active members. Others have found strength to overcome harmful habits. Now, Sylvester sings for the Lord with a heart transformed by faith . His love for music led him back to church, but it was hearing God’s Word through the Talking Bible that changed his life forever. Now, he dreams of every member of his group having their own Talking Bible so they can continue growing in faith beyond their weekly meetings. Will you help make this dream a reality? P.S. Your gift is more than a donation—it’s equipping someone with the life-changing power of God’s Word.
