Grateful listeners tuning in to God's Word

SOLOLÁ — Many Kaqchikel Mayans have been listening to God’s Word in their own language, calling to thank their local radio stations for playing it.

One radio station receives four to five calls from listeners every time they play the dramatized Kaqchikel audio New Testament, according to Victor, a worker at the station. The station plays Scriptures four times a week at 6 p.m. Each program lasts 30 minutes, and they have already reached the Gospel of Luke.

Brother Isidro and I visited six radio stations yesterday, checking to see how things are going where we had given copies of the audio Scriptures about a month ago. Listeners have said that hearing the Word helps them grow in understanding God’s Word.

The first station was the stand-out. Others told us they are playing the Scriptures, but they play them at irregular times. One station owner’s answer left us doubting whether he’s played the recording yet or not, but we hope he will in the future.

Folks here at Viña Studios recorded the audio Scriptures for Faith Comes By Hearing, a ministry based in Albuquerque, N.M., shortly after the New Testament was published in 1996. But few people know about the audio or printed translation. We’re hoping airplay will change that and spark interest in God’s word.

At another station, where the station owner’s wife was operating the controls, she phoned him to tell him we had arrived. This apparently caused a bit of panic because he thought we were going to take the audio Scripture CDs with us. Through his wife, he asked if we could make him a copy of the two-CD set and leave it for the station. It makes me smile, but that wasn’t our intent. Later, I told Isidro, “He obviously values the recording, since he got so worried about us taking it with us.”

That man seemed to have a real heart for the Lord and for ministry. Each week, he does a youth radio program, reading from a book, “Escape For Your Life.” The book addresses problems facing young people. He received two calls from young people, thanking him for the radio program, saying it stopped them from committing suicide.

Isidro suggested the radio station owner play some of the audio Scriptures as part of his program, and the owner’s wife seemed to think this was a good idea. At least that would put the Scriptures on the air at a regular time and people could look forward to it.

We experienced a bit of a delay midway in our journey when Isidro’s rickety old Toyota pickup decided to take a nap. I suggested we read some Scripture while the pickup napped. Wouldn’t you know, I picked the passage in I Peter 1, which reads, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.” It wasn’t a very grievous trial, however. I enjoyed the break, actually. It was raining while I read. When the rain slowed up about 10 minutes later, Isidro hopped out and poked around under the hood. Fortunately, the motor responded.

The last station we visited apparently has technology problems. They don’t have the equipment to play the recording. Please pray for these stations and the people ministering to their community. If you’re interested in helping the last station update its technology let me know.