A Vast NeedMore than half (perhaps 4.5 billion) of the world's population of eight billion prefer to learn by oral (rather than textual) means -- either because they can't read, don't have a written language, or are part of an oral culture.1 Even in highly-literate societies, oral methods are the choice of many.How, then, are they to hear the Gospel? While direct person-to-person communication is always desirable, recorded audio also plays a crucial role and can be effective for:
What, then, are the options for delivering audio Gospel content? Option 1: Cell Phones |
|
| There were 5 billion unique mobile subscribers globally (2/3 of global population) in Q2 2017. By 2020, nearly 75% of the global population will be connected.2 Perhaps more than half of the world's population has ready access to a mobile phone with a memory card slot or is able to access wireless or Bluetooth downloads. For this group, ministry organizations can provide content with a MicroSD card, or through a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transmission. Where public proclamation is possible, mass-distribution of follow-up cards with download instructions may be an effective tool. |
 
|
Option 2: Gospel Radio |
|
| Organizations like the Far East Broadcasting Company (transmitting in 110+ languages), Galcom (solar-powered radios, studio and broadcasting equipment), Trans World Radio (broadcasting in 230+ languages), and many others provide content, stations, and receivers to effectively reach many areas of the world with Gospel radio content. With the equivalent power of a light bulb, a small radio station can reach an area of many square miles. Radio is also anonymous -- important in areas where governments track internet usage or downloads. |
|
Cell phone and Gospel radio approaches are being widely pursued, and effectively used, all over the world by many agencies and individuals. However, there is another option -- dedicated audio devices -- also in broad use, but within which we believe a particular opportunity has not been well-exploited. |
|
Option 3: Dedicated Audio Devices |
|
| There are audiences where a dedicated audio device may be particularly appropriate: | |
Among Potential Cell Phone Users |
|
|
Among the download-eligible audience, some cell users may not follow through on visiting the provided link, or may face prohibitive connection charges, or may be wary or blocked from visiting non-approved websites. Among those receiving microSD cards, while these slots have been ubiquitous on non-Appletm phones, they may become less available in the future as phone manufacturers push internal memory.3 Some users may also be reluctant to displace the memory card they are already using for their own content, or may repurpose a Gospel memory card for personal videos or music. For all cell users, there is the constant competition of other apps and calls and texts, that may distract from the regular use of Gospel content. |
|
Among Potential Radio Users |
|
Some factors that may limit the reach of Gospel radio content include:
|
|
Among the Indigent |
|
| The poor may lack access to a phone, or lack resources or access to charge the phone ("pay to charge" is common in many areas) for extended listening sessions. They may not have access to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or be unable to afford high data charges. |
 |
Among the Blind |
|
| Braille is a remarkable communication medium that has given, and will continue to give, great independence to many blind persons. However, less than 10% of the US blind population reads Braille; in the UK, the figure is less than one percent; in developing nations the percentage of Braille readers is vanishingly small. Braille literacy can increase the number of readers, but providing this training to the world's 39M blind is a daunting task. This is a Braille Bible -- about the size of two mini-fridges -- expensive to print, ship, and store. While many blind people learn to use a cell-phone with screen-reader navigation, this fraction is probably a minority of the world's blind (far fewer than the general population). |
  |
Among Students |
|
| In some communities, a mobile phone may be available only to older members of the family. School distributions sometimes offer an efficient means of reaching entire families. |
 |
Among Other Unique Groups |
|
| Prisoners are often not be permitted to have mobile phones. Soldiers may be restricted from phones or radios, either by military policy, or by size or charging constraints. There is a need for easily-operated devices in hospitals, for shut-ins, and in hospice care. In remote areas, whole communities lack cellular service and sometimes phones. |
 |
Conclusion |
|
All of these distribution methods and approaches are critical, effective tools that are each needed and fill unique niches. We ought to deploy them wisely, appropriately, and in a complementary fashion.
NextDoes Scripture suggest how we might think about Gospel audio distribution? |
|