Audio Bibles in Mexico are ‘a Great Blessing,’ According to This Pastor

“Blessed … are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)

In the community of Montelíbano, located in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, families gather together to listen to the Word of God – sometimes hearing Scripture in their native tongues for the very first time.

Through the blessing of audio Bibles in Mexico, people who may not otherwise have access to the Word of God are able to listen to Scripture. These solar-powered devices come equipped with SD cards containing files of voices reading the Bible, allowing many people to listen together or individuals to take in the Bible while they work. In a community where many people cannot read, or only speak indigenous languages, hearing the Bible in their heart languages is an indescribable gift.

And, just like Jesus said in Luke 11:28, the people of Montelíbano are not only hearing the Word, but obeying it.

Audio Bibles Come to Montelíbano

Global Christian Relief spoke with Román, a pastor in Montelíbano, about the history of his community and the impact that the new audio Bibles in Mexico are having.

Román told us that Montelíbano was founded by people escaping persecution from the Zapatistas, a militant organization in Chiapas.

“This whole community is a mixed community of different indigenous people,” Román said. “There are those who speak Tzotzil. Some speak Tzeltal. All these people were taken away from their lands. Now, they live here.”

Typically, people in Montelíbano work long hours and even children stop attending school around age 12 to work.

“There is almost no time for distraction,” Román said. “There is no television, there is no cinema.”

When there is downtime, families listen to the radio together, which is one reason many have been so excited to receive audio Bibles.

“When they had the radio for the first time, it was something they admired,” Román said. “Now, the audio Bible is like a radio for them. That's how they've seen it. So they are going to call their children to listen in the afternoons together with them.”

A Blessing to Those Who Cannot Read

Audio Bibles in Mexico have also been a blessing to believers who cannot read the Bible for themselves, due to illiteracy or disability. For some, audio Bibles have become an indispensable tool for hearing the Word of God even while they work.

Román explained that many people who cannot read do not have time to learn, since their work is so demanding.

“It is more practical that the audio Bible has arrived,” the pastor said. “They will not come [to attend a literacy program] … because they have work, because they have things to do. However, with the audio Bible, they have the opportunity to listen to the Word of God, even if they do not read and even if they are working. So I say it is an advantage, a great opportunity.”

Román told us about a believer named Aurelio, whom GCR also interviewed, who plays his audio Bible while he works cutting firewood.

“He tells me that now, the advantage of the audio Bible is that you can not only listen to it when you are working, but when you are at home, you can share it with your wife,” Román said.

GCR spoke with a woman named Roberta. She became a Christian as a child 40 years ago, but her eyesight has become so poor that she can no longer read the pages of her Bible. Now, she can listen to the words in her heart language of Tzotzil.

“I don't see well,” Roberta explained. “I can only hear it. [My audio Bible] has helped me a lot, because I hear everything that is said here. 

A Change of Heart for This Community

Román has already seen a change in the culture of his community, which he attributes to the increased access to Scripture.

“A few days ago, my sister María told me that she realizes that now, through the Word of God, [people] have to change their way of being, their temperament, their character,” Román shared. “And that is a very important point even for me as a pastor … because sometimes, in the indigenous families, the machismo is still maintained.”

He added that, in some indigenous areas, boys are taught to hit girls, which leads to violence from husbands toward their wives.

“That is part of their culture,” he explained. “But now, listening to the Word of God, that is changing.”

Román has seen the hand of God working in his community through audio Bibles in Mexico. He expressed his gratitude and his optimism for the future of Montelíbano.

“The truth is that the audio Bible is a great blessing,” the pastor said. “Whoever has designed this project, God put it in their heart. Because it is a way of making the word of God come to them more easily. By listening to the word of God.”