Two dollars a day and no Bible. And without the ability to read one anyway.
And how many of them have more joy than I do?
So read this info and recount the blessings you have.
Seven billion people in the world in two years
Half the world lives on less than $2 a day. Right now, that’s more than three billion people, but new research suggests the population will hit the seven billion mark within the next two years.
Researchers with the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) also found that the least developed regions, like Africa, Asia and Latin America, are projected to double in population by 2050. PRB, one of the most trusted sources for world population information, recently released these statistics in their 2009 World Population Data Sheet.
International Director for Faith Comes By Hearing Morgan Jackson said that these new figures are troubling because billions of people may never hear the message of hope and truth in God’s Word.
“Already, the world’s poorest of the poor are cut off from the Bible,” said Jackson. “Half of the world’s people are illiterate and too poor to afford a Bible. Five of six African believers will never own their own Bible. And when people don’t have Scripture in a format they can use and understand, the results can be devastating to villages and whole countries.”
[…]
“Small bits of Scripture may be the only truth they have. They just don’t know any different,” said Jackson.
“But modern technology is helping overcome centuries-old barriers of poverty, distance, language, illiteracy, and culture. For the first time in history, we have the tools to reach every person in the world with the Word of God — no matter where they are,” said Jackson.
One of these tools is the Proclaimer, a self-powered audio player that can be used in the most remote and rugged locations. The Proclaimer’s embedded microchip is pre-loaded with the Audio Drama New Testament in the heart languages of the world. Indigenous believers take these life-changing Audio Bibles into their villages and towns and start listening groups. Villagers in groups up to 300 gather around to listen and then discuss what they’ve heard. By interacting with the Word of God, people come to know and follow the God of the Bible.
Currently, New Testament recordings in more than 397 languages are being used in Bible listening programs in 150 countries.
Learn more about The Proclaimer.
I’m thankful to know how to read. In two languages. And to have Bibles in both. And to earn far more than two dollars a day.
Disclaimer: It appears the Mission Network News article comes from a post at the Faith Comes by Hearing site.
To us it is a difficult situation: seeing so many still in need of the gospel in their own language, but also recognizing that many of the groups reaching out with items such as these (“The Proclaimer”) are offering a half-hope, or a mixed gospel, at best. With a Bible — the gift of eternal life and the key to truly happy life here on earth! — in one hand, and their other hand often bringing with it a mixture of heresy, worldliness in life and teaching, and a dependence upon man’s system (a church welfare attitude of being dependent on “rich” westerners, etc.).
This is why we Plain need to support AMA and CAM (and any other Plain ministries) which provide not only Bibles, but also lifestyles and preaching that underline the whole truth of the gospel.