Audio Bible Allows Fulani to Hear God’s Word for the First Time

Hearing God’s Word Through Audio Bibles in Nigeria

Sitting with nearly 60 other former Muslims in a room connected to a VOM safe house, Isaac waited eagerly to hear his name called.

Before coming to the safe house in early 2017, his brothers had tied his hands to his ankles, whipped him with wires until his back bled and beat him until one eye swelled shut. That was his punishment for expressing a desire to grow in his new Christian faith.

After Isaac’s sister found him and untied his hands and ankles, he eventually made his way to the VOM safe house, with an increased yearning to know Jesus. But spiritual growth came slowly for Isaac because he didn’t have access to a Bible in Fulfulde, the Fulani language he spoke.

Everything changed the day Isaac heard his name called at the safe house and walked up to joyfully receive his own audio Bible in the Fulfulde language.

He finally had everything he needed to grow closer to Christ.

“I am very happy,” he said with a smile after receiving his audio Bible. “This is a very good thing.”

In Nigeria, where 40 percent of the population can’t read, audio Bibles in the various tribal languages are able to reach people that print Bibles can’t. Many who received a Bible that day treasured theirs for that very reason. They also knew it would help them further develop their new faith.

“It is interesting to note that many of them cherish this Bible more than Christians who grew up in the faith,” a VOM worker said. “For these believers, it is the one thing that they cherish most because they have seen the other side and know the cost of living a life without Christ.”

Another family living at the safe house said the audio Bible makes it easier for them to have family devotions and discussions about the Bible now that both the husband and wife have their own copy.

“This will certainly change our walk with God,” the husband said.

Even a young child received his own audio Bible. Adamu, a 4-year-old boy who came to the safe house with his parents, nearly cried when his father told him the devices were only for adults. But his face lit up with a smile when a worker insisted on giving him his own audio Bible at the end of the distribution.

“His smile was so adorable, and his joy in having a player along with the men and women around him showed on his face,” a worker said. “He cannot read or write yet, so this MP3 player will help him know the Bible just by listening. In his shy little words, he said ‘I am very happy.’”