Pastor John and Pari
September 1, 2016
DONATE NOW!
Pastor John and Pari
September 1, 2016
DONATE NOW!
Pastor John and Pari
September 1, 2016
DONATE NOW!

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.

DONATE NOW!

More Changed Life Stories

March 1, 2025
Bharathamma’s family is growing in faith and sharing God’s love with others. “ I can learn the Word of God from the Talking Bible,” says Bharathamma. “Personally, I’m getting encouraged every time I listen. ” Bharathamma’s story is one of transformation and hope. Living in a small farming village in India, she never had the opportunity to go to school. Like many women in her community, she spent her life raising children and working in the fields. Fourteen years ago, when she became a follower of Jesus, she longed to read the Bible. But unable to read, she relied on her pastor’s Sunday sermons, memorizing scripture as best as she could. Her pastor often repeated Bible stories just so she could retain every word. A year ago, everything changed. Bharathamma’s pastor gave her a Talking Bible. For the first time, she could hear the scriptures in her own home, not just on Sundays. She began listening to God’s Word for an hour every day with her son and daughter-in-law. The results have been life-changing. Her daughter-in-law, who had previously professed faith but stopped attending church, and her son, who had been distant from the faith, started listening with her. Over the course of a year, the scriptures began to work in their hearts. Now, the entire family attends church together every week. “ Easily I can understand now,” Bharathamma says. “It’s really good to have the Talking Bible in my family. I keep it safe so that I can use it for a long time. ” Stories like Bharathamma’s are happening across India, where millions of people cannot read but long to know God’s Word. A Talking Bible opens the door for individuals and families to experience the life-changing power of scripture —bringing hope, faith, and renewal. With your help, stories like Bharathamma’s are possible. Your generosity brings the Word of God into homes where it can inspire transformation and hope. Will you join us in placing a Talking Bible in the hands of someone like Bharathamma? For just $50 , you can help provide a Talking Bible to someone in need. Your gift will help transform not only an individual’s life but their entire family and community. The need is urgent. There are millions of non-readers in India who, like Bharathamma, are eager to hear God’s Word and share it with their loved ones. Together, we can equip them with Talking Bibles— a tool that helps them grow in faith and bring others to Jesus. Your gift will make an eternal impact , allowing families like Bharathamma’s to grow in faith and share God’s love with others. Thank you for helping bring God’s Word to those who need it most.
December 27, 2024
Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. As believers, we know the profound importance of introducing children to the love and teachings of Jesus Christ . Yet, countless children worldwide are still eagerly waiting for this life-changing encounter. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (NIV). These words inspire our mission in Tanzania’s public school classrooms, where God is at work in incredible ways. This fall, we have been working tirelessly to provide Talking Bibles for Tanzanian public school classrooms. Why? Because God has opened a doo r, and the results have been remarkable! Pictures and stories show children sitting and listening intently to God’s Word. They hear about Jesus, and their lives are being transformed. Sengerema , a dedicated teacher, has been teaching religious education classes in five different schools—one each day, Monday through Friday. Initially, she used a print Bible and struggled to engage her students . Tanzania is deeply rooted in an oral culture, where learning and sharing knowledge are passed down through listening and storytelling. The children weren’t interested in reading quietly, and she struggled to project her voice loud enough for them to follow. Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. When she received her first Talking Bible, everything changed . She immediately began using it for all her classes, and something miraculous happened: the children started to truly understand the Gospel! They began supporting one another and growing in ways they’d never known before and her class sizes grew significantly as the other students became curious. “The Talking Bible makes our work of teaching very easy in different ways,” Sengerema says. The Talking Bible is much louder than her voice, and the children respond better to hearing stories. Over the years, as Sengerema continued teaching, she developed personal connections with many of her students and witnessed remarkable transformations in their lives. Children who were once disruptive and unruly have become attentive and respectful in her classes. These changes have not gone unnoticed, as other teachers have also observed significant behavioral improvements. With heartfelt conviction, Sengerema declares, “We need the Talking Bible for children!” Through Talking Bible listening, committed volunteers and teachers like Sengerema can easily share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ right in public school classrooms. These classes give students the opportunity to hear about Jesus and provide them with a new community of believers. The Talking Bibles are kept and cared for by the local churches, giving the church and the entire community access to God’s Word.  Each Talking Bible distributed not only reaches students but impacts families and communities as God’s Word spreads.
November 21, 2024
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!
By Market America WebCenters November 1, 2024
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More Changed Life Stories

March 1, 2025
Bharathamma’s family is growing in faith and sharing God’s love with others. “ I can learn the Word of God from the Talking Bible,” says Bharathamma. “Personally, I’m getting encouraged every time I listen. ” Bharathamma’s story is one of transformation and hope. Living in a small farming village in India, she never had the opportunity to go to school. Like many women in her community, she spent her life raising children and working in the fields. Fourteen years ago, when she became a follower of Jesus, she longed to read the Bible. But unable to read, she relied on her pastor’s Sunday sermons, memorizing scripture as best as she could. Her pastor often repeated Bible stories just so she could retain every word. A year ago, everything changed. Bharathamma’s pastor gave her a Talking Bible. For the first time, she could hear the scriptures in her own home, not just on Sundays. She began listening to God’s Word for an hour every day with her son and daughter-in-law. The results have been life-changing. Her daughter-in-law, who had previously professed faith but stopped attending church, and her son, who had been distant from the faith, started listening with her. Over the course of a year, the scriptures began to work in their hearts. Now, the entire family attends church together every week. “ Easily I can understand now,” Bharathamma says. “It’s really good to have the Talking Bible in my family. I keep it safe so that I can use it for a long time. ” Stories like Bharathamma’s are happening across India, where millions of people cannot read but long to know God’s Word. A Talking Bible opens the door for individuals and families to experience the life-changing power of scripture —bringing hope, faith, and renewal. With your help, stories like Bharathamma’s are possible. Your generosity brings the Word of God into homes where it can inspire transformation and hope. Will you join us in placing a Talking Bible in the hands of someone like Bharathamma? For just $50 , you can help provide a Talking Bible to someone in need. Your gift will help transform not only an individual’s life but their entire family and community. The need is urgent. There are millions of non-readers in India who, like Bharathamma, are eager to hear God’s Word and share it with their loved ones. Together, we can equip them with Talking Bibles— a tool that helps them grow in faith and bring others to Jesus. Your gift will make an eternal impact , allowing families like Bharathamma’s to grow in faith and share God’s love with others. Thank you for helping bring God’s Word to those who need it most.
December 27, 2024
Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. As believers, we know the profound importance of introducing children to the love and teachings of Jesus Christ . Yet, countless children worldwide are still eagerly waiting for this life-changing encounter. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (NIV). These words inspire our mission in Tanzania’s public school classrooms, where God is at work in incredible ways. This fall, we have been working tirelessly to provide Talking Bibles for Tanzanian public school classrooms. Why? Because God has opened a doo r, and the results have been remarkable! Pictures and stories show children sitting and listening intently to God’s Word. They hear about Jesus, and their lives are being transformed. Sengerema , a dedicated teacher, has been teaching religious education classes in five different schools—one each day, Monday through Friday. Initially, she used a print Bible and struggled to engage her students . Tanzania is deeply rooted in an oral culture, where learning and sharing knowledge are passed down through listening and storytelling. The children weren’t interested in reading quietly, and she struggled to project her voice loud enough for them to follow. Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. When she received her first Talking Bible, everything changed . She immediately began using it for all her classes, and something miraculous happened: the children started to truly understand the Gospel! They began supporting one another and growing in ways they’d never known before and her class sizes grew significantly as the other students became curious. “The Talking Bible makes our work of teaching very easy in different ways,” Sengerema says. The Talking Bible is much louder than her voice, and the children respond better to hearing stories. Over the years, as Sengerema continued teaching, she developed personal connections with many of her students and witnessed remarkable transformations in their lives. Children who were once disruptive and unruly have become attentive and respectful in her classes. These changes have not gone unnoticed, as other teachers have also observed significant behavioral improvements. With heartfelt conviction, Sengerema declares, “We need the Talking Bible for children!” Through Talking Bible listening, committed volunteers and teachers like Sengerema can easily share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ right in public school classrooms. These classes give students the opportunity to hear about Jesus and provide them with a new community of believers. The Talking Bibles are kept and cared for by the local churches, giving the church and the entire community access to God’s Word.  Each Talking Bible distributed not only reaches students but impacts families and communities as God’s Word spreads.
November 21, 2024
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!
SHOW MORE

More Changed Life Stories

March 1, 2025
Bharathamma’s family is growing in faith and sharing God’s love with others. “ I can learn the Word of God from the Talking Bible,” says Bharathamma. “Personally, I’m getting encouraged every time I listen. ” Bharathamma’s story is one of transformation and hope. Living in a small farming village in India, she never had the opportunity to go to school. Like many women in her community, she spent her life raising children and working in the fields. Fourteen years ago, when she became a follower of Jesus, she longed to read the Bible. But unable to read, she relied on her pastor’s Sunday sermons, memorizing scripture as best as she could. Her pastor often repeated Bible stories just so she could retain every word. A year ago, everything changed. Bharathamma’s pastor gave her a Talking Bible. For the first time, she could hear the scriptures in her own home, not just on Sundays. She began listening to God’s Word for an hour every day with her son and daughter-in-law. The results have been life-changing. Her daughter-in-law, who had previously professed faith but stopped attending church, and her son, who had been distant from the faith, started listening with her. Over the course of a year, the scriptures began to work in their hearts. Now, the entire family attends church together every week. “ Easily I can understand now,” Bharathamma says. “It’s really good to have the Talking Bible in my family. I keep it safe so that I can use it for a long time. ” Stories like Bharathamma’s are happening across India, where millions of people cannot read but long to know God’s Word. A Talking Bible opens the door for individuals and families to experience the life-changing power of scripture —bringing hope, faith, and renewal. With your help, stories like Bharathamma’s are possible. Your generosity brings the Word of God into homes where it can inspire transformation and hope. Will you join us in placing a Talking Bible in the hands of someone like Bharathamma? For just $50 , you can help provide a Talking Bible to someone in need. Your gift will help transform not only an individual’s life but their entire family and community. The need is urgent. There are millions of non-readers in India who, like Bharathamma, are eager to hear God’s Word and share it with their loved ones. Together, we can equip them with Talking Bibles— a tool that helps them grow in faith and bring others to Jesus. Your gift will make an eternal impact , allowing families like Bharathamma’s to grow in faith and share God’s love with others. Thank you for helping bring God’s Word to those who need it most.
December 27, 2024
Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. As believers, we know the profound importance of introducing children to the love and teachings of Jesus Christ . Yet, countless children worldwide are still eagerly waiting for this life-changing encounter. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (NIV). These words inspire our mission in Tanzania’s public school classrooms, where God is at work in incredible ways. This fall, we have been working tirelessly to provide Talking Bibles for Tanzanian public school classrooms. Why? Because God has opened a doo r, and the results have been remarkable! Pictures and stories show children sitting and listening intently to God’s Word. They hear about Jesus, and their lives are being transformed. Sengerema , a dedicated teacher, has been teaching religious education classes in five different schools—one each day, Monday through Friday. Initially, she used a print Bible and struggled to engage her students . Tanzania is deeply rooted in an oral culture, where learning and sharing knowledge are passed down through listening and storytelling. The children weren’t interested in reading quietly, and she struggled to project her voice loud enough for them to follow. Sengerema needed something to truly reach her students. When she received her first Talking Bible, everything changed . She immediately began using it for all her classes, and something miraculous happened: the children started to truly understand the Gospel! They began supporting one another and growing in ways they’d never known before and her class sizes grew significantly as the other students became curious. “The Talking Bible makes our work of teaching very easy in different ways,” Sengerema says. The Talking Bible is much louder than her voice, and the children respond better to hearing stories. Over the years, as Sengerema continued teaching, she developed personal connections with many of her students and witnessed remarkable transformations in their lives. Children who were once disruptive and unruly have become attentive and respectful in her classes. These changes have not gone unnoticed, as other teachers have also observed significant behavioral improvements. With heartfelt conviction, Sengerema declares, “We need the Talking Bible for children!” Through Talking Bible listening, committed volunteers and teachers like Sengerema can easily share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ right in public school classrooms. These classes give students the opportunity to hear about Jesus and provide them with a new community of believers. The Talking Bibles are kept and cared for by the local churches, giving the church and the entire community access to God’s Word.  Each Talking Bible distributed not only reaches students but impacts families and communities as God’s Word spreads.
November 21, 2024
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!
By Market America WebCenters November 1, 2024
Talking Bibles for Tanzania’s Public Schools!
SHOW MORE
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