A detailed report from Ghana, Africa, by Morgan Jackson about the dramatized New Testament on tape project among the Konkomba people in Ghana, Africa.

Morgan Jackson is International Director of Faith Comes By Hearing, an organization which sponsors the recording and distribution of the dramatized New Testament on tape or CD in vernacular languages.

Konkomba is a language spoken by approximately 450,000 people, primarily in Ghana, West Africa. This project has become a model for others. The setting is northern rural Ghana. The Konkombas are primarily farmers and traditionally animistic in their beliefs.

Used by permission. Thank you, Faith Comes By Hearing.

Konkomba Faith Comes By Hearing Project: What We Have Learned

The Dramatized New Testament on Tape Produces Remarkable Results

The Konkomba Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) project (2003) has 2200 New Testaments on tape in use by 4,000 listening groups in the Konkomba language area in Ghana, West Africa. The majority of these listening groups are in churches, but we have also begun several in literacy classes. Many of these groups have formed into churches. Some churches have used their casettes to plant new churches in surrounding villages. We are planning to send an additional 1,000 sets of Konkomba cassettes in the coming months. Most of the new outreach being done is in an area which is primarily unreached.

The majority of the listening groups have now listened through the entire New Testament, and all but ten have started to listen through a second time. When we say they have listened through the New Testament once, this does not imply that they have only heard the New Testament one time, since most will listen to each section repeatedly before moving on. It is normal for a group to listen to a section of Scripture three to four times as they hear and discuss the New Testament.

Conversion and Renewal

In every village we visited that has been doing FCBH, the people openly admitted that before the cassettes of the New Testament in Konkomba came, they regularly participated in traditional practices: going to soothsayers and fetish priests, offering sacrifices and participating in the village fetish dances, ceremonies and sacrifices. Most said they did not see this as wrong, and others said that they were afraid of death, sickness or rejection by family if they stopped.

When they heard the cassettes, they saw clearly that they could not be Christian and practice these things. This seemed to be quite a surprise to them. They became convinced that if they did not change, they could not go to heaven. They also saw that Jesus has the power to protect them if they put their confidence in Him (yet there will be persecution.) They need to be prepared to suffer and even die for Christ. The people testified that they had stopped these traditional practices and God had protected them, blessed them, and given them joy and peace.

The Scriptures

The people normally do not quote a Scripture verse, but quote by chapter since chapter references are on the cassettes. Below is a selection of the Scriptures and their impact on people, based on testimonies that I heard repeatedly in the 30+ villages I visited personally over the past two years:

Matthew 5: Being the salt of the earth is important. Adultery and fornication are wrong. Forgiveness is right.

Matthew 10: Do not fear him who can kill the body, but fear Him who can cast body and soul into hell. A man's enemies may be of his own house and may even deliver him up to death. Death (that is, martyrdom) is possible; they should commit themselves to Christ even if it means death.

Matthew 25: The story of the Ten Virgins is one of the most popular Scriptures. Many reported coming to Christ and repenting after hearing this story. This story motivates people to make sure that they are prepared and fully committed to Christ before He returns.

Luke 8: The story of the storm on the lake and of the demoniac. This has great impact because it clearly shows Christ’s power over nature and over the legions of demons. There was no battle, but simply a word from Christ, and the storm was stilled and the man was delivered. It also impresses them because they see that one person, who has no value humanly or socially speaking, has greater value than 2,000 pigs in God’s eyes. This shows the supreme value Christ places on a person’s soul.

John 3:16: The point that stands out is that Christ came for the world—and this includes them. After hearing this chapter, many who listen (whether from inside or outside the church) make decisions for Christ.

Acts: This book as a whole is mentioned because both the miracles and the sufferings of Paul and the apostles are described. It inspires hope and confidence, and a commitment to stay faithful despite persecution and suffering. It amazes the people to see the disciples singing in prison and rejoicing when beaten.

Galatians 5: This seems to be one of the Scriptures of greatest impact. Paul makes it very clear that those who practice witchcraft, idolatry, drunkenness, sexual immorality and hatred will not enter into the Kingdom of God. This shocks the people and causes repentance, and then they refer to the rest of the chapter as their guide for how to live. After listening to this section, many give up their traditional practices, burn their fetishes and become committed believers. Many had thought that they only had to go to church to be saved before they heard this Scripture.

Revelation: The people say that this book presents the need to be fully committed to Christ and prepared. Trouble is coming! For those who are not fully committed to Christ and prepared, this will be horrible.

As the cassettes are being played in the church or village, listeners join the group at different stages. They listen and repent upon hearing different Scriptures, but with the same message. The resounding messages are: you cannot serve two masters, simply going to church is not enough and you must be fully committed to Christ and be prepared to suffer and die for him. Other messages include: Christ has the power to heal, deliver, and protect, and they have permission to ask, and when they do, God answers and provides.

Hearing in the Mother Tongue

Hearing the Scriptures in their mother tongue has great impact and the people react with surprise. They are surprised that:

• Jesus speaks Konkomba
• Jesus addresses them directly
• Jesus does not need a translator to talk to them, and they do not need a translator to talk to Him; Jesus is Konkomba!
• The pastors and leaders were not making things up, but the stories they were telling them were really in the Bible

These are fairly normal reactions from around the world. But there were some other reactions and understandings that came from the Konkomba project that we had not fully anticipated:

The non-readers distrust for the reader. There seems to be an inherent distrust by the non-reader for the reader. There is a feeling that the reader is making things up or leaving things out to manipulate people. This deep distrust causes people not to take action on what they hear. It also frustrates the pastors and leaders. They feel that no matter what they tell the people, they discount it as something invented. The attitude of the people towards the leaders seems to be, “You are one of us and come from us, so where did you get this?”

Surprise that the stories and messages the pastor has been preaching are actually from Scripture and true. The cassettes seem to separate the messenger from the message: they are impersonal and to be believed as clearly the Word of God. Listening chapter-by-chapter gives them confidence that they have heard all there is and that nothing has been left out.

When they hear Jesus speak in Konkomba, they without thinking picture Him and the characters in Scripture as Konkomba people. Because there are no visuals, each person pictures Christ in their own mind. They know the voice on the tape is not Jesus, but they say there is a voice behind that voice that speaks directly to their hearts. It is that voice, the voice of Jesus, that convicts them of their sin, gives them hope, and answers their prayers. There is no question, upon hearing the cassettes, that Jesus speaks their language, understands Konkomba, hears their prayers, and is from among them.

One of the striking things that happened when the cassettes came was that Jesus and Christianity were seen to be indigenous rather than foreign since the message came in the language of the Konkomba. This stopped the accusation that the people were seeking something foreign and were not Konkomba. “The message is in Konkomba so it is for us” is the new response of the people and the elders.

Orality of Culture

The Audio Drama recordings seem to best fit these cultures because as the people listen they 'become part of the story'. We have found that oral people do not seem to separate themselves from the story and so join in the story. They often 'become' whatever character in the story they most identify with. In their minds, they respond to the events and questions of Jesus as if directed to them, and they are often healed, delivered or come to Christ as they cry out with the person in the story.

Reaction of Women

One of the other surprising results was the reaction of women to hearing a woman’s voice on the cassette. It seems that when they hear a woman on the cassette, then they feel that they are a part of the Scriptures. When they hear a woman speak, they feel free to ask questions or make comments about what has been heard.

Literacy

One of the most important things that FCBH is doing is promoting literacy. When people hear Scripture in their own language and see that they can understand it, many immediately want to learn to read and interest in literacy explodes. Church leaders are also motivated to learn to read Konkomba. The leaders in the church are often literate, but not in Konkomba (even though it is their mother tongue), and so they have continued to use Twi or English because this is what they are accustomed to. Often they are resistant to the Konkomba Bible. After they hear the Konkomba, this attitude changes. They can buy a Konkomba Bible and by following along, they learn how to read in their own language. Since most of those who are literate will never return to a literacy class to learn to read Konkomba, this is important and has brought about acceptance of the Konkomba Bible and its increased use in the church.

The cassettes are a good tool in the literacy groups because they attract people to the group and create an interest in learning to read what they have heard. They also allow the leader of the literacy group to bring the Gospel to unreached villages in non-threatening ways. The cassettes do the telling about Christ, and not them. Many will come to a literacy group but will not go to church. The literacy groups meet in public places and are open to all.

Church Planting and Evangelism

One of the best results of FCBH is that as people listen through the New Testament in Konkomba, they become disciples and not just church attendees. They internalize the message and clearly hear Christ’s call to take this message to others. They begin telling friends and family the stories they have responded to.

The cassettes become a tool for evangelism and church planting as people take the cassettes throughout the community, playing them for their families, the elders and in unreached villages. People take the cassettes to funerals and play them for mourners. The listeners like this, and often those from other villages will ask if the cassettes can be brought to them so that they can hear. This is the beginning of a church plant. As they take the cassettes weekly, the people listen and ask questions. As the people from the village listen and consider what they have heard, they experience healings, deliverances, and answers to prayers. They put their faith in Christ, and a church is born.

Signs and Wonders

In the Konkomba context, this seems to be a normal result of hearing the cassettes. The people hear Jesus and his disciples healing, casting out demons and performing miracles. Without thought they join in the story, calling out to Christ and entering in the experience. These miracles break down the walls and cause people to come to Christ. The miracles do not seem to have denominational boundaries and happen in all churches. Often people have been looking to fetishes, soothsayers, and sacrifices offered for healing or relief from problems, but without any effect. Once they put their trust in Christ, they are healed, delivered, and receive help.

There is a stark difference between their traditional ways and gods, and Christ and His ability to help them. One of the best results of FCBH is that as people listen through the New Testament in Konkomba, they become disciples and not just church attendees. They internalize the message and clearly hear Christ’s call to take this message to others. They begin telling friends and family the stories they have responded to.

Postscript

Morgan Jackson, International Director of FCBH adds:

The request for this project first came from GILLBT (The Ghana Institute for Linguistics, Literacy, and Bible Translation, a Wycliffe affiliate) who put us in contact with the local literacy organization they had set up to promote Scripture use and literacy. A local Konkomba leader then set up the program.

It was determined that 11 Colporteurs were needed since there were 11 districts and the Konkombas were scattered. It was originally agreed that we would start the programs in the approximately 600 churches that existed and some 100 literacy groups.

GILLBT: Provided translation assistance for the recording, for funneling the funds to the local Konkomba committee, and for clearing the New Testament on cassettes through customs.

Faith Comes By Hearing/Hosanna: Provided the funding for the recording of the Konkomba New Testament, for the New Testament on cassettes (one per church or literacy group), and the funds for the workers.

TheoVision: Provided the training, planning, and consultation.

Local Konkomba Committee: Provided supervision of the 11 workers, administration, and ongoing reporting.

The setting is northern rural Ghana. The Konkombas are primarily farmers and traditionally animistic in their beliefs. This project has become a model for others and launched the 12 language partnership between GILLBT and FCBH. This has lead to an additional 12 language project in Ghana and a 40 language project throughout all of Africa over the next four years.

We are now testing the use of FCBH behind the Jesus Film among the Konkombas and have found that it creates a powerful partnership. One village after seeing the film and having formed a FCBH group immediately now has a church of almost 200, which is extremely strong. Although this church does not have a pastor, it has strong leaders who have developed through the hearing of the New Testament in Konkomba.

Churches that before would hardly talk now easily meet together for celebrations because they have all done FCBH and have the Word of God in common. Hearing the Word of God has brought unity.