MP3 Player usage in Evangelism
From SPARK
Contents |
Summary
500 MP3 players have been deployed in partnership with a U.S. based ministry with efforts in SE Asia. This is a follow-on program based on the results of a pilot program with 80 MP3 players.
Introduction
To share the gospel in group settings, MP3 players were chosen along with portable FM transmitters. These easily customize and tailor the content to use, based on needs in a given situation. They allow easy addition of content in different languages. They depend upon two factors. The geographic location of the people groups being reached, and new testimonies recorded while in the field.
What was done
In a South East Asian country, 500 MP3 players, 200 FM transmitters, 50 solar battery rechargers, and 700 rechargeable batteries, were delivered. In addition, two USB Condenser mics were also delivered. The two notebook computers needed for the project were purchased while in the country. Audacity was installed as the recording software. God's Story was chosen as a key piece of content. It is also valued because it is licensed for unlimited distribution in five languages.
A technical coordinator was chosen among a group of church planters and assistants. This person had been trained for a few years by this ministry. The coordinator managed the distribution of content needed in the various languages. Training included the use of Audacity and new mics to record testimonies. Notebook computers were chosen for their portability. This allowed testimonies to be recorded anywhere in the country. In addition, content could be distributed without the need for Internet, or even electricity.
The MP3 players, FM transmitters, and solar battery rechargers were assigned to pastors, pastoral assistants, and pastors' wives. (The wives were attending training on how to support their husbands in the ministry.) The pastors were trusted to use the devices for evangelism only. Because of their trustworthy track record, they were asked to take care of them.
The purpose was to accelerate the program of evangelism, even though efforts and results had already been good.
Results
Eighty MP3 players and FM transmitters were sent with some of the training attendees months before. As a result, over 14,000 individuals had heard the Gospel. This gave confidence to the ministry to move forward with this more formal program. Additional results will be added to this document as reports come in from the 500 players.
Over 160 trained leaders were trusted with these devices and the control of their usage. They were not handed to people in their congregations. However, exceptions were made for those assigned formal tasks by the pastors for evangelism. Over time, we expect other deployments of this technology in this country. It should assist new converts in their discipleship, training content and spiritual growth.
