You are probably familiar with the benefits of Zúme. Animated videos, statistic maps, a downloadable guidebook, a podcast—all designed to equip people to effectively train disciples who make disciples. Ten free lessons available in over forty different languages to anyone with an internet connection.
But what about the people without an internet connection? What about the one in ten people in the world who don’t even have electricity? How can illiterate people in places beyond the reach of electricity access Scripture and basic training like Zúme?
Renew World Outreach has this problem in their sights. Since 1998 in the Amazon jungle, they have been working to develop technology that can bridge the gap so that those without access to internet or electricity can still access audio Bibles, discipling movies, and training content. Their current offerings span a range of complexity from simple Micro SD cards to solar-powered audio Bible/lantern/portable battery hybrid devices.
These technological tools are a huge piece of the puzzle in the network of missions: they are the distribution method. Without tools like these, resources like Zúme would have a much narrower reach.
Josiah, a software developer at Renew, shared his thoughts with us about the uses of new technology. “It can almost be a bit scary for people or even feel unnecessary,” he admits, but he also encourages us to think of these tools as resources provided by God to reach the nations.
Innovation, Josiah suggests, is “core and central to the kingdom of God.” It’s not about “trying to do new things just for the sake of doing new things”—instead, it’s a reflection of the creativity of our Creator. This constantly changing world keeps us humble by “never letting us systematize things down to . . . a checklist that will always work.” It’s not all about the one “right” system or method of evangelization that will work anywhere, but more about using our creativity to reach people in vastly different contexts and bring God’s Word to them in ways they can understand.
Learn more about ministries like Renew on our podcast, where you can hear stories of people around the world using our resources and sharing new ones. How can you use your own indwelt creativity to advance the Kingdom?