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!

Talking Bibles for Tanzania’s Public Schools!

Jharana is Breaking Down Barriers! The Talking Bible provides a non-threatening way for everyone to engage with God’s Word! Sharing the Gospel in places where cultural barriers are a challenge can seem impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible. Jharana has always loved helping others and wanted to share the Good News of Jesus. Although she doesn’t have formal theological training, her deep care for people and her experience in teaching more than make up for her lack of education. Understanding the importance of building trust, Jharana started a tailoring class for 13 women in her village. Through these classes, she formed strong connections with the women but faced cultural barriers and resistance to her sharing about Jesus. In her village, Christians are often viewed with suspicion, making it hard for her to talk openly about Jesus. A few months ago, Jharana received a Talking Bible and saw a new opportunity to reach the women in her community. When she played it for the first time, the women were willing to listen. Slowly, their interest grew, and they began discussing what they heard. The Talking Bible spoke to their hearts, providing a safe way to hear and engage with the Gospel. Now, the women are asking questions about the Bible and making prayer requests—something they never did before. Before the Talking Bible, the women had little interest in learning about Jesus due to their cultural beliefs. But with a Talking Bible, they began to experience Scripture in a direct and personal way, sparking a desire to know more. Jharana understands that spiritual growth takes time. She now plays the Talking Bible three times a week, offering a consistent and private way for the women to explore Christianity at their own pace . "Listening to the Word of God is more important than reading," Jharana says, grateful that the Talking Bible has opened doors that were once closed. She also notes that seven of the 13 women in her class cannot read, making the Talking Bible even more valuable for them. What once seemed impossible is now a reality with the Talking Bible, bringing the Word of God into homes and communities where traditional literacy is low and skepticism is high, making the Gospel accessible to all.