ROCK Monthly Updates

ROCK Resources & ROCKids

In late March, the French version of Nate’s book, “What If Jesus Meant What He Said?” was launched at a Youth Conference in France where he was a speaker. The French title is: “Jésus: Et si je prenais ses paroles au séreieux?”, meaning, “Jesus: What if I Took His Words Seriously?” We pray the Spirit of God to use this discipleship tool to impact lives, homes, churches, and communities across French-speaking Europe, Africa, and beyond, as youth face the challenge: “Jesus doesn’t want to be part of your life. He wants it all.” We’re thankful too that the Spanish edition of Nate’s booklet, “Dive-in!” (¡ Sumérgete !) was released in February.

As we hear daily the “faint whisper” of God’s ways and see “the outer fringe of his works” (Job 26:14), we thank Him for your prayers and part in what He is doing worldwide in minds and hearts through ROCK’s multimedia multi-language evangelism and discipleship resources. For example, among the 11 million+ views KING of GLORY has had on our YouTube channel since the English movie was released in 2015, YouTube now lists 179 countries where people are watching it in its 59 languages. The top 5 countries with most views are:

Comments posted on YouTube provide glimpses into God’s work in lives. As I write, a German man named Berti just posted: “This is the best film adaptation I have ever seen. Worth watching. Gladly again. ❤ Amen.” And why would he post such an accolade? He is surely not referring to some kind of cinematic superiority. Doubtless, his use of the word “best” is because KoG chronologically tells, in cross-culturally understandable ways, the only Story and Message that can satisfy the longing human soul – for time and eternity. As Nora, a Spanish-speaking lady, posted last month: “This wonderful film communicates God’s true revelation for all our questions. Glory to God that through this film my life has been enriched even more. Thank you.”

Thank you too for your faithful part in the New Hope Girls’ School in Tanzania, the Youth Development Center in Niger, ongoing ministries in Senegal, and other investments into kids and their families in other lands rarely mentioned, where God is also at work! 

ROCK Resources

Acts 12 tells of evil and hard times but concludes: “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)

Amid the plethora of challenges, we praise God for the completion and release of the KING of GLORY movie in the Pulaar language. Pray that its powerful story and message will spread rapidly and be clearly understood by this nomadic and often despised people group found in 18 African nations. Pulaars love their language. Our Pulaar narrator shared with us three realities that attracted him to the gospel: 1.] that he and his people were despised by others of their religion, 2.] that Christians showed them love and compassion, and 3.] that he was given a New Testament in Pulaar. He fell in love with the Word of God, grasped the gospel, and was redeemed!

God continues to multiply the reach of ROCK’s resources via broadcasts, podcasts, print, and social media. To illustrate, in January 2024, our “KING of GLORY the Movie” YouTube Channel (with the film in 58 languages) had more than 737,000 views for an average of 74 minutes per click. Here are two of the many comments:

• In German: “Wow! ❤ Thank you very much. Made the Bible 100% understandable for me.” – Helene
• In Spanish: “Excellent explanation. I have known the gospel for years, but I learned new things.” – Rosa

ROCKids

One of many countries on our hearts is Haiti, where a brother with whom we are connected regularly shows the KING of GLORY movie in Haitian Creole in many places. A few days ago, he wrote a page of stories, telling of some of the challenges they face. He began: “If only everyone could stay home, they would. Once you step outside – the situation is scary, to say the least. And it is getting worse and worse! The conditions affect every area of life. People are insecure in every respect! Families are being split… Please pray for us!” Yet the word of God is at work as needy believers reach out to needy souls around them. At the believers’ request, we plan to soon have 4000 Haitian Creole and 4000 French KoG picture books shipped to Haiti. The Bread of Life!

Thank you for your continued part in the New Hope Girls’ School in Tanzania. Pray that leadership will be able to identify new sustainability projects. We are excited that the chicken project is not only providing food and new skillsets for the girls but is also generating some income. Pray too for funds to build teachers’ housing.

Thank you for your prayers and part in the many ways God is at work through the channel of ROCK. Here are two samples from the first month of 2024 – in two distinctly different places on the African continent – in East Africa, on Tanzania’s verdant island in Lake Victoria – and in West Africa, in Senegal’s dusty Sahel region.

ROCKids
In early January, three ROCK board members (Rachel, Phil, Paul) traveled to Tanzania to celebrate and participate in the reopening of the 2^nd year of the boarding school that opened in January 2023. Rachel reports: Tumaini Jipya {New Hope} Secondary School for Girls started its new school year on January 8^th. Eighteen students returned to start year 2, and twenty started their first year. What a gift it was to be with these girls during their first weekend back at school! One highlight was when their “choir” (which includes all the girls) sang at church. There was much joy on their faces as they sang and made melody to the Lord from their hearts. We couldn’t resist singing and clapping along. During our visit, we also were blessed to celebrate the completion of two new classrooms, the successful start of the chicken farm project (chickens are presently laying more than 7 dozen eggs daily), and to prayerfully envision the foundation for the teachers’ houses that will (as the Lord provides) begin construction this year. We praise God for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do at this school in and through the teachers, staff, and students.

ROCK Resources
In the second half of January, Dennis (audio tech expert) and I traveled to Senegal to work with a team of local believers to record the KING of GLORY movie in Senegal’s 2^nd most spoken indigenous language: Pulaar. Many were the obstacles. For example, our Pulaar narrator’s coming was delayed by officials. Then, once in the studio, it was discovered that the 70-scene timed-script had not been properly proofed, requiring loads of retranslation on the fly. Also, our minimally-sound-proofed studio was surrounded by seven mosques, each with its prayer calls at regular intervals. Add to that the daily mortar and pestle poundings of a neighbors’ noon meal preparation. Technical difficulties included the sudden deletion of a chunk of the timed-script text that had just been carefully revised…. “But the LORD delivered [us] out of them all!” (Psalm 34:19), and in 7 days the Pulaar synced recording was completed. Meanwhile, during that same week, up in Jerusalem, the Hebrew version of KING of GLORY was also successfully recorded. We hope to see both films released later this month. Praise the Lord and pray for prepared minds and hearts.

ROCK Resources
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” (Psalm 65:11 NLT)

What a privilege has been ours in AD 2023 to walk together (with you and) with the Lord of the Harvest through countless obstacles and into endless opportunities to communicate His Word to untold millions via radio, social media, print, audio, and video! To give one example, on ROCK’s KING of GLORY YouTube channel, which features the 222-minute KoG movie in 58 languages, the Spanish version, REY de GLORIA, was the most-watched language in 2023 with 2.3 million views, each with an average view time of 73 minutes per click – to the blessing of souls and the glory of God who makes His gospel seed to take root and multiply.

Meanwhile this month, amid the obstacles, “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14), the Hebrew version of KING of GLORY is scheduled to be recorded in Jerusalem (a crucial addition to KoG’s existing 7 Arabic dialects). Also, for some time now, Dennis (ROCK audio technician) and I have been planning to travel to Senegal (January 20-31) to work with local believers to record the movie’s narration track in Pulaar (Senegal’s 2nd primary indigenous language). But then, in December, we learned that our Pulaar narrator and his wife, who live in a North African nation, were arrested along with a couple dozen others after it was made known on social media that they had turned from the majority-religion to follow Jesus. In their country, such “apostasy” is punishable by death. Yet, despite efforts to coerce them to recant, all stood firm for Christ. And in answer to fervent prayer, within two weeks all were released by the authorities! Amazing grace. Our trip to Senegal is on.

As we step into 2024, ROCK International’s Into Your Bible discipleship ministries, which has a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Nate Bramsen, is launching a read-through-the-Bible program inviting participants worldwide to contribute their thoughts and insights. Check out the link: https://www.intoyourbible.org/read-through-the-bible and prayerfully consider joining the journey.

ROCKids
In early January, three of us ROCK board members will meet in Tanzania (on Ukerewe Island of Lake Victoria) to meet with staff and students of Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Girls’ Secondary School and celebrate their first completed year. The 2nd scholastic year will begin on January 8th with two classes: Form 2 (returning students) and Form 1 (incoming students). Learn more/take part: https://rockintl.org/rockids-project-in-tanzania/#update

We thank God too, amid great challenges, for the reassembling of ROCK-connected workers in Niger and South Asia, where God is also wonderfully at work. Pray on!

ROCK Resources

Last month, ten new-language resources were released: Eight of these (for about 275 million native speakers) were The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS (www.TWOR.com) 100-program radio series. The other two projects were the KING of GLORY (KoG) movie in Yemeni Arabic (heart language of 30 million Muslims on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula), and in Sambalpuri (language of a despised people group on the east side of India). Amid many challenges, each of these KoG projects took about 6 years to reach their finish (start!) lines. 

Due to the Russia/Ukraine and Hamas/Israel wars, we felt led to produce KING of GLORY in Ukrainian and Hebrew (already have it in Russian and 7 Arabic dialects). The Ukrainian version took 8 months to complete; the Hebrew translation, started last month, is slated to be recorded in Jerusalem in January. Pray for multiple open doors for this film to unveil “the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3-4) throughout these suffering regions.

ROCKids

Rachel wrote this update for the Tumaini Jipya [New Hope] School in Tanzania: “Friends, we are thankful. Thankful that after years of prayer, tears, and holding out hope – we witnessed this year’s opening with the first class of girls. What a joy! Since the school year runs with the calendar year, the first class of students in Form 1 are preparing to move on to Form 2. We will also welcome a new class of students in January. The girls are happy, learning, growing, and thriving. Thank you for your part in making this school become a reality. 

“While we are thankful, we confess that we also struggle with moments of anxiety. How are we going to keep building more buildings? Add more students? Get computers? The questions can be overwhelming. Recently I was reminded of a song I used to sing in Sunday school, “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills! The wealth in every mine!” We can trust God to provide all that is needed in His perfect timing. He is faithful!”

God is at work in Senegal, but more about that next time. Meanwhile in Niger, following the July coup, while the people continue to suffer from it, conditions are stable enough for foreign workers to get visas and return. One of the recently-returned ROCK-connected couples wrote: We are seeing in a fresh way that it is not “our” work, but God’s work; that it is much more His concern than our concern, and that our task is “simply” to make ourselves and all we have available to Him; to obey and trust the God who says of Himself: “The heart of a king is like streams of water in the hand of the Lord; wherever he wills he will bend it.” (Proverbs 21:1)

ROCK Resources

“A wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” To this day, these words describe the daily experience of Christ’s servants – as do these: “…knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 16:9; 15:58). How blessed we are to be workers together with HIM.

In the mix of the horrific news coming from the Middle East is the nation of Yemen. What you won’t hear is that after 5 years of challenges, the KING of GLORY movie should soon be released in Yemeni Arabic! Pray for gospel impact. Yemen has suffered 8 years of internal war, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. But God’s rescue plan is available (Romans 10)! The movie is presently being checked by several Yemeni believers before we release it. The 8 comments received thus far reveal an excited circle of believers who see this as a tool to strengthen and equip believers in their 99% Muslim nation. As one wrote: “Beautiful! The ideas are easy to understand and convey, the dialect is clear, and the voice is calm. At the end, he presents a little bit about the events of the last days from the Book of Revelation that answer the questions of most believers.” 

Another face of ROCK Resources is found in the social media pages of Nate Bramsen, author of What If Jesus Meant What He Said and Prosper: Enjoying Intimacy with God. Nate hosts an every-other-week podcast, Into Your Bible). He has also begun to post frequent devotional thoughts – primarily on: Instagram @natebramsen where nearly a million viewers have tuned in over the past month. In the words of one listener, “I’m nearly a hundred and never knew [these things].” Another said, “Don’t ever stop making these videos!” Pray that the gospel and thoughts presented would point people to the Only Source of true peace in an ever-changing world.

ROCKids

From Tanzania and the Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary (boarding) School for girls: “Please pray for continued favor with the local government, and for wisdom in continuing to develop Christ-honoring policies, such as how we screen new students for entrance now that the school is becoming known and sought after. Pray for the hearts of the students and for their protection when they go home (to challenging situations) on break. Pray we will be able to find an affordable solution for staff housing. We praise God for all who are helping us reach the finish on the second block of classrooms. Acquiring computers will be the next challenge.”

From Niger and the Youth Development Center: “Life has become increasingly difficult for most Nigeriens with rising food prices and electricity cuts. Pray that believers would trust in the Lord through this difficult time and find their hope in Christ more than in potential political change.” God is faithful.

ROCK Resources
Praise God, the Ukrainian KING of GLORY movie has been released (KoG Language #56). Pray earnestly for its wide and deep impact through social media channels in this war-torn region, where people are in desperate need of the Hope found in Christ alone – for time and eternity. Pray the same for other regions experiencing great suffering, such as earthquake-ravaged cities in Morocco, Turkey, and Syria, as well as flood-affected areas in Libya (KoG is available in 6 Arabic dialects, soon to add a 7^th: Yemeni Arabic).

Last week, we received many testimonies through Trans World Radio (TWR), providing glimpses into God’s work in lives around the globe as TWR airs The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS (TWOR) 100-program chronological radio series. A Rwandan man in central Africa, wrote, “These programs helped me to know Jesus. One of my friends used to send them to me on WhatsApp, and I listened. I used to hate Christians and disagreed with them on everything. But I have repented, and now I am a Christian. How I praise the Lord for his salvation!”

In Muslim nations, many are trading religion for a relationship with Christ as they listen to TWOR in their heart languages and learn of God’s way of true righteousness. Among the testimonies is a 55-year-old widower battling depression, a 72-year-old man who sells cakes and sweets from a pushcart, and the 28-year-old mom who is seeing the gospel transform her family, spiritually and practically. Also, there’s the 22-year-old single guy whose worldview is changing as he follows the 66-program ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE radio series in Urdu.

ROCKids
Please pray too for the believers in Niger (amid the ever-present potential of intensifying persecution) along with ROCK-project connected workers (and many others) as they wait on the Lord for when to return to Niger following the July 26^th coup d’état. At the New Hope Secondary School in Tanzania, staff and students thank you for your part in the high-quality education the girls are receiving as they also take in the Word of God daily. In Senegal, church leadership in the north continue to collaborate with believers in Togo where the deep-well-project was completed in April and is blessing many in Jesus’ name. Now a Soap Production project is underway to provide the women in the church an income source for their families during the non-farming season. Thank you for your sacrificial part in all such projects. We thank God for all He is doing. We thank Him for YOU.

ROCK Resources

• Central Asia: “3 days ago our team gave the entire Afghani national soccer team YOUR STORY booklets in Pashto and Dari. Pray for them to read them and for God to cause His Word to penetrate their souls.”
• North Carolina: Received a list from Trans World Radio of 64 languages in which they are either broadcasting or translating The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS radio series. Praise God for how TWR is extending TWOR’s reach!
• South Carolina: From a former tribal missionary to Mexico teaching intercultural missions locally: “This fall we will be heading up a Sunday School-type class on the movie and book KING of GLORY which presents the Word of God from ‘cover to cover.’ The movie, in 55 languages, mirrors how we teach people in tribal locations who have no knowledge of the Bible and no foundation to understand the good news of Christ and His salvation.”
• Sahara Region: “We are targeting a city in the East for a 3-day evangelization campaign in December. This city is a kind of Islamic capital and a very strategic place. We plan to have at least 1,000 micro-SD cards with the KoG movie distributed in the city during the campaign. Pray.”

ROCKids

• Haiti: In this hurting nation, ROCK has equipped a faithful Haitian believer with a solar-chargeable projection system. Pray for protection, provision, and impact as the Creole KoG is shown in many (some dangerous) places.
• Senegal: Pray for believers in the villages. Pray for the kids’ and older youth who love the basketball training programs. Pray for open minds and hearts regarding the gospel. Pray that their parents will ask questions too.
• Tanzania: “Much has happened at Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary School. While the girls were away on break, a construction crew worked on the next classroom block, built a wall behind the dorm (to better protect the students at night), constructed a slab where the girls can wash their clothes, and completed the chicken house. Since their return, the girls have taken practice exams to simulate the national exam context and get a measure of how they are doing against girls from another school. Several students did well, but those behind in English still struggled. The teachers are coming up with strategies to help the girls who are behind….” Pray.
• Niger: From a ROCK-project-connected worker (following last month’s military coup): “Pray for wisdom. Pray the church would act with Christ’s love. Pray for joy in trials. Through all this, what an encouragement to know that our Sovereign God was not surprised by any of this, and He knows the events of tomorrow! ‘The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us!’ (Psalm 46:6).”

ROCK Resources
We thank you in Jesus’ name for your part in making the gospel available to the world’s untold billions.

ধন্যবাদ, বাংলা ভাষায় তাওরাত, জবুর,নবীদের কিতাব,ও ইঞ্জিল কিতাবের সারমর্ম তুলে ধরবার জন্য

Can you read the above language? How would you feel if God’s story and message were only available in languages you don’t understand? The above comment is one of many posted last month on the KING of GLORY YouTube channel with its 54 (& counting) languages (www.king-of-glory.com). This comment is in the Bengali language of Bangladesh, written by a truth-seeker by the name of Assad. English translation: “Thank you for highlighting and clarifying the essence of the Torah, Psalms, Prophets, and Injil (the gospel [book]) in Bengali.” 

Also last month, a Spanish listener, impacted by the chronological gospel (Luke 24:27,32) wrote, “Wonderful! It was the most beautiful movie I’ve ever seen.” And from Romania: “I like it so much, continue your videos, don’t stop.” And from Germany, “Beautifully beautiful. This film should be shown in every religious education class.” (In this month alone, the movie received 15 comments from German-speakers. God is doing something special!) And from a listener of The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS (www.twor.com) radio series in Indonesia, aired on 36 FM stations, wrote: “I’m so grateful for the program. I get new understanding every time I listen to it.” 

ROCKids
In French-speaking West African countries, where ROCK has media & kids’ projects, in the past 3 years, 6 coup d’états have taken place. The most recent is in Niger (where, in 2014-2015, ROCK was the channel for the construction of the Youth Development Center). On July 26th a coup was carried out by Niger’s military against the current president. Meanwhile in Senegal, a nation known for its democratic stability in the region, is going through great political tension. And that’s just a sample of our hurting, troubled world. Thank you for praying for truth seekers and the Lord’s servants in the countries and language groups mentioned in this update.

This just in from Tanzania: At Tumaini Jipya [Swahili for “New Hope”] Secondary School, the girls returned from their summer break at the beginning of July. Practice exams have shown that most girls are doing fairly well in their studies, though some still struggle, especially those who are behind in their English acquisition. Please pray they will be able to catch up to their peers. While the girls were out on break, construction on the school wall (behind the dorms), two classrooms, and the chicken house (which will provide more diverse nutrition for the school and a source of income). Thank you for your part in the high-quality education the girls are receiving where they are also hearing the truth of the gospel daily.

ROCK Resources
One of ROCK Resources far-reaching roles is to equip God’s servants with multi-language tools that tell and explain God’s plan of redemption and transformation in a way people of all cultures can grasp. Last month, two ROCK board member couples participated in a conference in Malaysia attended by more than 1000 believers from 103 nations. These workers have since returned to their people groups, better equipped to “make the gospel clear” and “to teach other faithful believers who will be able to teach others also.” (Col. 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:2)

Time and space fail us to tell of all the ways we hear of God at work each month – like the case of “Juan,” a migrant worker in Mexico, who, six months ago, had a dream in which he saw the face of a Canadian man (who is a Christ-follower and former mission worker to Mexico). In the dream, Juan received this command, “Listen to this man’s message!” Six months later Juan was in Canada where God led him to an 8-session Bible study in a greenhouse where the very man he saw in the dream was teaching through KING of GLORY in Spanish! Juan and the other 8 men in the photo (see Monthly Updates link) understood and believed the gospel.

Meanwhile in Venezuela, Michael (our 2021 interviewee in www.rockintl.org/spiritual-warfare-in-the-amazon-jungle) writes: “The Yanomamö KoG book has been such a hit. People up and down the rivers comment on how readable it is and how much they are learning from it. Praise the Lord! Even in the last village our team visited, they found one guy who could read. But the more distant villages have no readers, which means much time is spent going over the book and stories – tying the pictures to each story with its embedded teachings about God, man, sin, and salvation – so these skilled oral learners can tell the stories with just the pictures.”
In other KoG tribal news, God is at work in Papua New Guinea (See June 22: www.ethnos360.org/pray).

ROCKids
Thank you for praying for the youth-focused projects and opportunities in West Africa (sports, street kids, prison work, music, concerts, souls turning to Christ following ROCK’s recent well project in Togo…). At the New Hope School in Tanzania, the girls are on summer break for a few weeks. During this time, construction is taking place on the poultry house, a fence around the school, and a washing slab at the girls’ dormitory. Pray that all the government requirements can be met (such as the new classroom block and computer lab). One activity the students did in their last weeks of the opening semester was to go through Psalm 1, where they learned about being rooted and grounded in the Lord and His Word so they can grow strong spiritually and flourish, like a tree planted by a stream. The art project made from local scraps of fabric (see thumbnail) was a huge hit and is now on display in the dining hall. Thank you for your powerful prevailing prayers.

ROCK & Prison Ministries
“Until I read One God One Message, I thought heaven was earned. This book gave me a sinner’s hope for salvation and drove me to learn all I can about Jesus Christ.”
– Inmate in a US maximum-security prison, in the (high risk) Administrative Segregation section

Another prisoner in that same section commented: “Up to this point and time I’ve viewed the Bible as hypocritical but after reading One God One Message, I’m a firm believer that it’s God’s Word.”

The ministry that sent this feedback works primarily in three max prisons, training inmates to work as instructors for Emmaus Bible Correspondence Courses. A few weeks ago, the director wrote: “One God One Message and its testimony to our Lord’s great plan of redemption is touching many lives….” Earlier this year,
he wrote, “We have had 30 offenders graduate from our special program in Admin. Seg. We are very excited to see God using the materials we are distributing to reach those who are broken and in need of help from Him.”

In another city, a chaplain (who, over 14 years, has personally planted more than 3000 OGOM books in a network of prisons) tells of two inmates who came to Christ. “Both these men refused my other Christian literature and asked for a Quran, saying they were Muslims. When men do this, I say something like, “I don’t have any Qurans, but I have a book written by a Christian for Muslims, called One God One Message” (about 8 of 10 accept it). One who believed is a juvenile; the other an adult, excitedly thanked me for ‘turning him back to the right path’, and asked me to send literature to his wife, saying he is going to witness to everyone!”

We thank God too for the decades-old prison ministry in Senegal, W. Africa, now being carried on by the son of Henri (called to heaven 1½ years ago) and by Malick’s eldest son. Both these guys are talented musicians, so are teaching the gospel and music to younger inmates. Women prisoners are also being served and reached.

ROCKids & ROCK Resources
As summer season gets underway and schedules change, pray for our worldwide partners in ministry. Political turmoil, war, poverty, persecution, and spiritual opposition are realities, but so is 1 John 4:4 (“Greater is HE…”)! Part of our ministry is not only to help national teams realize each project, but also to encourage the individual workers during the season God gives us to work together with them. Pray too for continued blessing and provision for the New Hope Secondary Boarding School for girls in Tanzania. Please pray too for more help in certain realms of ROCK International. We thank the Lord for you and for your participation with us.

ROCK Resources
Last month was typical. Just scrolled through 600+ emails answered in ROCK’s home office in April and made a list of 40 ROCK-project-related stories that could be shared, but space only allows us to mention 3. Thank you for your prayers and part in what we are privileged to hear of God doing around the globe.

March-April was a time of breakthroughs in Papua New Guinea for the Tok Pisin KING of GLORY translation. After recording the audio script for the movie in March and having 9000+ copies of KING belong GLORI picture books arrive, in April each of these books have been strategically allocated to distribution points around the country. The request for 10,000 more books has increased to 30,000. We hope to release the Tok Pisin movie in June. Six individuals or teams have been equipped with solar-powered video projector units to show the film in jungle villages. Cell phones will also be used to share it. Many mission workers plan to use the KoG picture book and movie in villages to reinforce the creation-to-Christ teaching already given. Thank you for praying.

In another jungle setting, on the opposite side of the globe, Michael (with whom we did the spiritual warfare interview www.rockintl.org/spiritual-warfare-in-the-amazon-jungle) and his wife have just returned to the Amazon jungle in Venezuela, armed with solar flashlight audio players and 200 copies of the KING of GLORY books in Yanomamö, with the hope to soon have another 5000 books printed and shipped. They also plan to record the movie script soon. While the KoG movie is usually produced before the book, in the jungle, where tech options are minimal, the KoG picture book is the most useful tool to equip believers to share the gospel.

ROCKids
On the island on Lake Victoria, Tanzania, the Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary Boarding School for Girls reports: As you know, the school opened with the first class of students in January. However, we wanted to have a special celebration to pray for and dedicate the school, which took place on April 14^th. We had a wonderful time reflecting on and celebrating all that God has done over the past several years. Speeches were made, choir performances (the students sang, as did a choir from a local church), and the girls did some “academic” presentations (science experiments, as well as explanations in both English and Kiswahili of other things they have been learning). As one of the teachers told the girls: “Here at this school, we believe that you are made in the image of God and that is what gives you value. If anyone tells you that you don’t have worth, don’t believe them. Remember that you are valuable because God says so.” Hearing these kinds of things taught with such passion and conviction is a HUGE blessing. Girls are so often not valued in Tanzania, which is why there is such a need for this school, where girls are safe, valued, and won’t be exploited.”

ROCK Resources
Earth’s most linguistically diverse country, Papua New Guinea, with 837 tribal tongues, has a trade language called Tok Pisin (‘talk’ + ‘pidgin’), an English-based creole spoken by about half the population. Amid countless challenges, two ROCK colleagues traveled to PNG where, in six days, they were able to record the 3½-hour narration track for “KING bilong GLORI.” Excitement is now building among national believers and missionaries to find ways to share the movie in a nation where internet and cell phones are limited but slowly expanding.
Also, after a 3-month sea voyage from Northern Ireland to PNG, 9000+ KoG Pidgin picture books have just arrived in port. Pray for their strategic distribution to equip followers of Christ to present the foundations and framework of the gospel to those who have never understood it. All the books have already been spoken for.
A MAF pilot says he sees potential to plant 10,000 books a year across this topographically challenging land.

Yesterday we received this report from a former missionary to Mexico who now works with immigrants in one of Canada’s largest cities: “To be honest, it is a little overwhelming what God is doing – though I should not expect Him to do less! I use the REY de GLORIA movie & book with any Spanish-speakers willing to do a study with me. Last week, in a study-group with Cubans, as I am challenging them to put their trust in Jesus the Lamb of God, the young lady in the group speaks up and says, ‘Teacher! Believe me when I tell you that we all want to believe and trust Him!’ I was kind of stunned for a moment and then she goes around the table to each one present and says, ‘Do you want to know Him?’ Each indicated that they did, and a couple of the comments were, ‘The Bible explains the message of life and, yes, I want to know Him.’  Pointing to his Bible, another said, ‘The whole story flows from beginning to end and makes sense. Yes, I want to know Him!!’ I’ll start discipleship with them this week. And in another class where I teach English (using KoG), Luisa from Colombia tells her own story in this 3-MINUTE VIDEO (CLICK HERE) – Make sure the CC subtitles are on to understand her fully.”

ROCKids
God is at work through various ROCK projects on the African continent, but space only allows for this report from the New Hope Girls’ Secondary Boarding School in Tanzania: “We are taking the girls through KING of GLORY, which they are loving. What a joy to see these teenage girls, from a variety of hard backgrounds, growing in their understanding of God and His purpose for them, forming close friendships, studying, working, and playing together. They have planted hundreds of fruit trees and are already reaping vegetables from their gardens. We look forward to setting up a large chicken farm for the girls and staff to raise chickens for eggs and meat to both eat and sell. We estimate that within a year it will begin to make money and feed the students. This is one of many ways we are hoping to create sustainability for the school.”

ROCK Resources
This just came from a TWR listener in Pakistan: “I’m 50 years old and have 4 children…. I do all my prayers on time but have lacked something crucial… feeling peaceful. I found peace after listening to The Way of Righteousness (Urdu) programs. I now know that Christ gives inner peace. I am learning a lot from these programs.”

Meanwhile in Malaysia, a TWR team is recording the completed translation of these 100 chronological radio programs in the Malay language. In East Africa, another TWR partner writes: “TWOR will soon be printed as a book in the Kirundi language. This will be an excellent resource for churches in reaching out to Muslims. Also, we are getting an excellent response to TWOR from Bhojpuri speakers in Nepal. Many of these listeners have shared that they love the program and listen to it intently and regularly.” Praise God.

After years of work, the Japanese, Romanian, and Haitian Creole KING of GLORY (KoG) movies could all be released this month. Each of these 3 language projects have intense backstories, but it is when this big-picture gospel movie is released (on YouTube and other media channels) that the real battle for souls begins. Pray. Meanwhile in Senegal, colleagues are translating KoG into Pulaar, the language of Senegal’s 2^nd largest people group. Over in Zambia, workers are translating KoG into Lunda with the plan to produce the movie and book. Also this month, Lord willing, the Yanomamö KoG picture book will be distributed in the jungles of Venezuela. And in mid-March, two ROCK colleagues fly to Papua New Guinea with a two-fold mission: to record the translated KoG movie script in Pidgin (PNG’s trade language) and to help distribute 10,000 KoG Pidgin books, which are presently on a ship traveling from the UK to PNG. Pray that all comes together in perfect sync.

ROCKids
In Tanzania, at the recently opened New Hope Girls School, a colleague writes: “Things are going wonderfully. The girls are so happy, and they are learning well! Praise God, we hired a matron who will start March 1^st.” Meanwhile in Senegal, we are encouraged to watch God work in and through the believers and ROCK projects. Last week two men were baptized, testifying how the gospel has transformed their minds, hearts, and lives.

From the ROCK well-digging project in Togo, West Africa, a local believer reports: “Here in our village, clear pure water has been struck (drilling 150 meters through granite). Brothers and sisters, as I see the water gushing forth, I am overwhelmed with emotion, on the verge of tears. You have done so much, beyond the expectations of the villagers. May the Lord repay you a hundredfold. Persevere in prayer that this huge blessing will lead to transformed lives by people drinking of the ‘Water of Life’ – Jesus the Savior of the world!”

ROCK Resources
Due to the confines of space on a page and the scope of the global ministry, it can be hard to make room for a sampling of daily feedback received via email & social media. But here are 4 short stories from this past week:

• “Two days ago, the Taliban arrested 3 believers who were on their way to prayer meeting. We believe these men are now being tortured to force them to recant their faith. Probably if they refuse, they will be martyred. Pray. I believe they came to Christ by gospel packages we threw across the river. KoG was in it.” (See www.rockintl.org/rock-monthly-updates/october-2020) — From a mission worker near the Afghan border
• “We were told wrong stories up to now!”
  — A Hazaras Afghan Mullah who escaped from Afghanistan to Pakistan, watched the KoG movie in Dari with some relatives. During the movie he was silent, but afterwards, he shook his head and made the above confession.

• “Something wonderful happened to me! I accepted Isa Al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) into my life.”
  — An Iranian man after he had watched the full King of Glory movie in Farsi (and then slowly watched it again).

• “Chad’s National TV broadcasted KING of GLORY on December 24th and 25th. On January 29^th, the Chadian Arabic KoG Dedication Ceremony took place in the largest evangelical church of N’Djamena. Choirs from several churches celebrated and worshiped the King of Glory. We promoted the KoG movie, book, and coloring book as an evangelization, discipleship, and children ministry tool. Personalized KoG USB keys are being distributed. In recent weeks, training has been provided in 7 different churches. In February we plan to take the training to the East of Chad (900 km from N’Djamena). Talks will also take place with mission leaders reaching out to UPGs (Unreached People Groups) on how to use the Chadian Arabic KoG as a primary tool.”
  — A Chadian servant of God

ROCKids
Wish we had space to tell more stories, but we rejoice that amid and through all the projects, God is at work in beautiful and powerful ways in people — from Senegal to Niger to Tanzania to South Africa to Bangladesh…

Flowing from last month’s report, we close with this update from our sister in Tanzania: “We praise God for the 23 schoolgirls that have joined Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary School, and we expect two others to join by the end of this week. The girls have been so happy to be here. It has been such a joy to be with them, the schoolteachers, and staff. This week we have two seamstresses on site sewing school uniforms – which the girls have been delighted to receive. Currently, one of the teachers is serving as the school matron, but we will have interviews for the matron position later this week. Pray for the right person to fill that critical role.”

ROCKids
Tanzania, East Africa. This month – on Africa’s largest lake island – we celebrate the opening of Tumaini Jipya (Swahili: New Hope) Secondary School for Girls! (In Tanzania, the academic year starts in January and runs through December.) Praise the Lord, this project, which, from conception to construction, has been underway for nearly a decade has at last reached its official “start line”! We thank God for His perfect timing and continuing provision. Last month, our partners in the region were able to recruit and hire four teachers and a headmistress. Thank you for your prayers for these believers/professionals as they invest into these at-risk girls in this first semester, that they will not only inspire academic excellence, but that Christ’s love and truth will be magnified through them and embraced by the students.

Togo, West Africa. Meanwhile, on the Continent’s other side, a Soap & Water Project has been approved – flowing from a gospel-resource relationship established two decades ago with a Togolese evangelist. In November, with the mission being to listen and encourage (and quietly assess if ROCK can help), two of our Senegalese brothers traveled to Togo. In the main region they visited, one practical problem for believers and neighbors alike is the lack of clean water, causing sickness and even death. Another struggle Christian families face is how to generate more income (in addition to what their seasonal field crops provide). Long story short, in fellowship with the Senegal team, these dire needs will be met through two self-sustaining projects: One is a soap-making business for these Proverb 31 ladies. The other is a well/pump system, dug through the 150-meter-deep solid rock on which the town is built. Our evangelist friend just wrote: “We hope to start the drilling project soon. We pray the Lord to guide us to a good water table with plenty of water. By providing these funds and counsel, you have honored us, and the name of Christ is being lifted up among this population!”

ROCK Resources
Amazon Jungle, South America. Last month’s update listed 32 new-language resources released in 2022. One of those resources was the KING of GLORY picture book for the Yanomamö people of Venezuela. For more about what God (and Satan) is doing there, watch this interview with our friend and faithful servant of Christ who was born in that jungle more than 6 decades ago. www.rockintl.org/spiritual-warfare-in-the-amazon-jungle Next month he will begin to distribute 200 Yanomamo KoG books to key believers and readers deep in the Amazon Forest. And some months later, the plan is to ship 5000 KoG books into the Amazon region – to evangelize, edify, and equip.

As we enter 2023, the spiritual and physical needs and gospel opportunities before and beyond us are endless. May each of us know what God would have us to do – and not do – “That [His] way may be known on earth, [His] salvation among all nations!” Psalm 67:2

ROCK Resources

As we walk through 2022’s final month, we do so with hearts filled with thanksgiving to the LORD for all He has done with His people for the spread of His kingdom and glory. Thank you for your part in it all through your prayers and practical investments. At least 32 new-language resources reached their finish lines in 2022:
• FOR THIS REASON Christmas movie: Portuguese, French, Arabic. www.for-this-reason.com
• KING of GLORY movie: Serbian, Egyptian Arabic, Bislama (Vanuatu), Burmese (Myanmar), Marathi (India), Filipino, Khmer (Cambodia), Thai, Chadian Arabic. www.king-of-glory.com 
• KING of GLORY picture book: Pidgin (Papua New Guinea), Yanomamö (Amazon region).
• KING of GLORY Coloring Book: Arabic.
• ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE  book: Amharic, Bengali, Bosnian, Somali. www.one-god-one-message.com
• Your Story booklets: Dari & Pashto (Afghanistan), and Somali.
• Your Story audiobooks: Dari & Pashto.
• The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS radio series: Dagbani (Ghana/Togo), Javanese (Indonesia), Punjabi (Pakistan), Kasem (Ghana/Burkina Faso), Uyghur (Kazakhstan/China). www.twor.com
• Spiritual Warfare in the Amazon Jungle interview: Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Thai.
• Also produced in 2022: 27 new Into Your Bible podcasts. www.youtube.com/@intoyourbible 

And why do we produce these multi-media tools?  “That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God … Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!”  Psalm 67

ROCKids

With grateful hearts, in Tanzania, E. Africa, we celebrate the official registration of Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary School for Girls. This registration clears the school to open as soon as January 2023, Lord willing. We are currently in the process of recruiting teachers and other staff (as well as staff salaries). Please pray for us to find the right people for these critical roles. The next step will be to register students. The effort to start this school represents nearly a decade of work. We praise the LORD for the faithfulness and perseverance of our community partners who want to see their girls live flourishing lives. Please pray with us for wisdom, and that if the Lord would have us open this January that He will provide all we need. His timing is always perfect.

In Niger, W. Africa, we just received this testimony. A 13-year-old boy has been coming to music class at the Youth Development Center to learn guitar. Recently, he began coming to our church and started attending our Scripture memory kids club. Our first Scripture memory book contains 30 verses, and this past week, he finished the whole book! We know that the Word of God is living and powerful, and we trust the Lord to use His Word in this boy’s life. He was the first non-church-family kid to complete his book.

ROCKids & ROCK Resources

Writing from the Sahel region of Senegal: Last week, yet another door was opened to share God’s love and truth – this time in the context of the recognition ceremony of the ROCK-funded village school wall (see last month’s update) with about 150 kids, plus teachers and guests, seated under the school’s central shade tree. Many officials expressed their profound thankfulness. The school principal told of endless problems without a surrounding wall: of snakes and the nearby military shooting range; of cows, horse carts, and people coming through the middle of the school grounds, etc. He also passionately told how, for 16 years, he has tried to get help nationally and locally, but received only empty promises. “How strange,” said he, “that it took people from thousands of miles away to come to our aid!” Flowing from this investment, long term relationships have been strengthened, and gospel seeds planted. In addition to school supplies, each student in the two upper classes (4th and 5th), along with all the teachers, received French KING of GLORY books. Pray for lasting fruit.

The November 2nd celebration for 30 years of Wolof radio broadcasts in Senegal was a special time of reviewing “what God has wrought” (Num. 23:23). Two Muslim men who shared at the mic were station managers from an FM station that has aired The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS  programs since 1998. One “confessed” that he listens to them even when he is not at the station. Pray for opened understanding (Luke 24:44-45).

Last week we received this news from another West African country. A veteran lady mission worker wrote:
“I and my team came across TWOR around 15 years ago, when a [local] follower of Jesus translated it into his language. Since then, we have been using it as a tool to share the gospel with Muslims and to disciple new believers in the faith, especially those with a low literacy level. I can hardly put into words what a blessing this tool has been for so many people in their journey of faith towards new life in Jesus Christ. I can testify that hundreds and probably thousands of Muslims have heard these teachings in many forms – on memory cards for phones and solar charged devices, on our website and on radio stations. Just this month, a Muslim background follower of Jesus, who I have been discipling, went on a ministry trip to [a neighboring country] with a pocketful of memory cards loaded with TWOR to give out to [a nomadic people] who wanted to learn more about Jesus. Some have already chosen to follow Jesus and he had the privilege of baptizing them.” 

Thank you for your prayers and investments into the work of the gospel – from Senegal to Niger to Tanzania to Bangladesh and the rest of the way around the world!

ROCK Resources

“Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (1 Thes. 3:1). November 2nd marks the 30th anniversary of “The Way of Righteousness” (Yoonu Njub) radio series in Wolof, with Malick as the voice, first broadcast on Senegal’s national radio station in 1992. Today, by God’s grace and the collaboration of thousands of partners, this well-loved, Creation-to-Christ-to-New Creation 100-program chronological Bible series continues to be broadcast not only in Wolof, but in scores of other languages worldwide. www.twor.com “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23). 

In obeying Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations, the role of gospel radio (& social media) is akin to the air force in a nation’s military. While human wars are not won with air power alone, an air force can make the difference between victory and defeat by preparing the way for the ground soldiers. Similarly, over the past 3 decades, we have heard countless testimonies of how the “air force” of our radio programs have prepared the way for the Lord’s “ground troops.” Here’s one testimony from 1998: A gospel team showed the Jesus Film in a village in central Senegal. After the showing, two elderly Muslim men told the team, “We believe in Jesus the Messiah as our Savior, and we want to follow Him.” In cross-examining these men, the team members were amazed at their understanding of what the Bible teaches about God, man, sin, and salvation. “Where did you learn all this?” a team member asked. The men replied, “Listening to ‘Yoonu Njub’.”

In other media projects, our Spiritual Warfare video, www.rockintl.org/spiritual-warfare-in-the-amazon-jungle in 3 languages – Portuguese, Thai, and Haitian, reached their finish (start!) lines last month. The translation and recording process was not without spiritual warfare. Haitian Creole was the most intense and challenging, taking a full year to complete. Pray the Lord to use this video to awaken souls, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded… lest the gospel… should shine on them (2 Cor. 4:3-4).” As one viewer put it, “Wow! Helps me understand why this world is so angry. People all over the world are deceived by Satan.”

ROCKids

We praise God that the wall project financed through ROCK for a Senegal village public grade school is complete and people in this Muslim village and surrounding villages are talking about how, after decades of unkept promises by others, it was the followers of Jesus who built a wall for their school. Pray that the resulting gospel opportunities will touch many. Speaking of schools, please keep praying for the New Hope Girls Secondary School in Tanzania to have all it needs to be able to open asap – in the Lord’s perfect time, of course. And we thank God too for all that is going on in the Youth Develop Center in Niger. Praise and pray on.

ROCK Resources

God is faithful. Yearly. Monthly. Daily. While translation & recording projects being worked on by our worldwide media partners usually take years, almost every month we have new-language resources reaching their finish lines. Last month, The Way of Righteousness radio series was released in Dagbani (Ghana), Punjabi (Pakistan & India), and Javanese (Indonesia). And One God One Message, a book for skeptics, was completed in Amharic (Ethiopia) and Somali (Somalia). Grouped with Afghanistan and North Korea, Somalia is listed as one of the top 3 countries where Christians are most persecuted. Nonetheless, a Somali worker just wrote, “My hope/dream is to see this tremendous resource widely disseminated and widely used.” And a ministry to Afghan refugees recently shared: “We are excited about your video, audio, and printed resources in Dari and Pashto and will share this info with other believers in the city who are reaching out to Afghans.” Pray for open doors.

Pray for God’s mighty working in the minds and hearts of the millions being impacted by gospel media and for the billions of souls yet to be reached. YouTube stats show that in the past 365 days, KING of GLORY (in its 50 languages) has had well over 4 million views with an average watch time of 47 minutes per click. Each day brings comments from around the globe. Here are a few recent samples from Roman Catholic Latin America:

• “Lord, help us to spread your love through this film to hospitals, charity homes, marriage and catechism classes….”
• “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful film. This is the kind of movie that social media needs….”
• “This should be shown to the public on giant screens in parks and recreational places as they do to watch soccer games.”
• “Wow. I’m studying the Bible, and this has helped me. I felt emotion and the Lord’s presence as if I was transported there.”

ROCKids

Last time we told of the team of couples, with their little ones, preparing to move to South Asia. After 30 hours of travel, on August 31^st these ambassadors for Christ stepped into the land to which God has called them. How thankful we are for His promise: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Pray.

Meanwhile, Tanzania sends this report: “Praise God, the New Hope Girls Secondary School has passed inspections and is now officially registered with the Tanzanian government! We continue to look to God to provide all that is still needed before it can open.” To learn more: https://tinyurl.com/ydzn6xaa

In Niger, God is at work in and through the growing local church and activities of the Youth Development Center. Last month, a worker wrote: “Pray the Lord to give us discernment – not just in when to say ‘Yes!’ but also in what needs a ‘No.’ There are about a million different directions we could go as a team, so pray that we would have clarity in how, where, when and with whom we need to focus our efforts in this season.”

ROCKids
We thank God for your prayers and eternal investments into ROCK projects. An initiative conceived and bathed in prayer for some years now is about to be launched. Lord willing, on August 29th, three couples (initially assisted by a fourth) with their young families will move to South Asia to invest their lives into one of the world’s most crowded nations. The plan is to spend the first two years learning language and culture, building relationships, and laying foundations for projects God is putting into their hearts to do to bless a people who, through the gospel, are “loved with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:23). Pray on (Matthew 9:36-38)!

Meanwhile in Tanzania, as funds come in, work continues with the prayerful goal to open next year the New Hope Secondary School for Girls. In Niger, people are being blessed daily through the Youth Development Center and printing ministry. In Senegal, believers in town and villages are showing and sharing God’s love and truth through projects involving sports, education, music, etc. – and across the nation, Senegalese continue to be touched and transformed through the Yoonu Njub (Wolof: Way of Righteousness) radio broadcasts, which the son of Yoonu Njub’s voice is now making available on YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms.

ROCK Resources
To follow up on last month’s update, the Premiere for the Khmer KING of GLORY movie in Phnom Penh (Watch: www.shorturl.at/CJPRU) went wonderfully with loads of excited comments from the audience. Here are three:

• “God will greatly use this movie in Cambodia.” (Campus ministry worker)
• “It explains the gospel in a logical way which is needed, especially for the new generation.” (NGO founder)
• “Now I have a better understanding of what my son preaches….” (Unbelieving father of a Christian worker)

To the glory of the One who said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17), we close with a few stats from the KING of GLORY YouTube channel. During the 31 days of July, a record high of 678,000 people watched the movie in 50 languages for an average of 68 minutes per click for a total view time of 789,000 hours. That’s 90 years of nonstop watch time in a single month. Pray for multiplied, lasting fruit.

ROCK Resources
Amid countless challenges and opportunities, we thank you for your prayers and part in what God is doing through this humble channel called ROCK. To name a few among dozens of ongoing projects…

As Nate & family & 2 other couples prepare to move to Bangladesh, God is using his discipleship books & Into Your Bible podcasts to challenge many. Don’t miss the Exodus series. https://rockintl.org/discipleship-focused-tools

In Cambodia, the Khmer version of the KING of GLORY will be officially launched on July 9 with a premiere in Cambodia’s leading cineplex theatre located in the heart of Phnom Penh. This is KoG’s 50^th language. As the Khmer team wrote: “Our plan is to show it in the commercial movie theatre and to invite Christian leaders, missionaries, believers, and the production team for a time of dedication and thanksgiving, and to encourage the wide use and distribution of this clear gospel movie for people of all ages across Cambodia and beyond.”

From Central Asia: “This last week our national team went up the border of Afghanistan evangelizing. They were in 18 homes where they shared the gospel orally, watched the film, ‘King of Glory’ and distributed all our Dari and Pashto ‘Your Story’ booklets. https://rockintl.org/afghan While they were there, violence broke out and the government shot and killed 29 militants. Our guys were detained several times but were released as “lovers of peace.” They will go again in two weeks. The Pashto Bibles have been well received.”

ROCKids
Thank you for your prayers for ongoing ROCK projects across Africa. For example, in Senegal, the Wolof radio programs, now in their 30^th year, continue throughout the land on 10 stations and the village school wall is finished. In Niger, national-language gospel resources coming off our press are reaching nomads in the desert where many are boldly turning to Christ. In Kenya, Somali ROCK materials are being produced. In South Africa, the Xhosa KoG translation progresses. And in Tanzania, the vision and passion to open the New Hope Girl’s Secondary School grows as the believers look to the Lord to supply and guide them to the start line!

ROCK Resources
• “We have never seen anything like this before!” (Mark 2:12; KING of GLORY, Scene 50 of 70) = What the amazed crowd exclaimed after they witnessed Jesus forgiving and healing the crippled man.
• “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” (John 7:46; KoG, Scene 54) = What the temple guards told the chief priests as to why they could not arrest Jesus.
• “I have never heard or seen anything like this! Thank you so much for sharing this very good information.” = What one lady commented this morning on ROCK’s KING of GLORY YouTube Channel. She is one of more than half a million people in 168 nations who watched the movie in whole or in part during the month of May. Through the gospel, the Lord Jesus continues to amaze, forgive, and transform souls around the world today…

ROCKids
FRESH UPDATE from the not-yet-opened NEW HOPE GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL in Tanzania:
One of our board members just returned from Tanzania where she spent time at the school and with community leaders after not being able to travel for the last few years due to COVID. She wrote: Praise God, much progress has been made! Walking around the campus and seeing all that has been accomplished over the last several years was amazing. We thank you for the role you play through prayer and funding. God is working in Tanzania to transform communities. Thank you for your prayers, gifts, advice, and encouragement. 

The community and local church are aching for this school to open as soon as possible. Please pray that we will be able to maintain a good, open relationship with the government officials that will need to inspect and approve the school. We would really like to open January 2023, if the Lord wills, so please pray that we will have all that is needed to finish up the required buildings and purchase supplies early enough to complete the school registration process this fall and hire the staff we will need. In addition, we anticipate that once we begin to enroll students, we will have more students want to enroll than we can accept. Please pray that even now we will have wisdom in knowing who to accept and how to turn away others graciously. Please pray that even now the Lord will begin to prepare the future staff.

ROCK Resources
Last month was blessed as a dozen of ROCK’s multi-language in-production media tools moved closer to their finish lines and as God multiplied the impact of gospel-media among the nations. But here’s a story of God’s work of multiplication right here in Greenville where ROCK’s home office is located. Yesterday a local ministry leader serving the business community sent this report about WHAT IF JESUS MEANT WHAT HE SAID?:

Nate gave me the book at a seminar a couple of years back. After reading it, I told a colleague about it. He and I went through it together. Little did we know then how much this book would begin a refining process in us that continues to this very day. We both were so “wrecked” by the book, that we eventually decided to use it as a guide for discussion in five businessmen discipleship groups, and in several one-to-one relationships. In February, the Foundation hosted a half-day retreat with about 30 guys from these various groups. Nate came to speak. It was an encouraging and challenging time in the Lord. Over the past year, several of the guys in the groups have multiplied the impact by leading other individuals and groups through the book, including 13 young married couples, 20 students/interns, a men’s group, a group of ex-militaries, and a young singles group. Some have purchased entire cases to give out. One gave them as Christmas presents. My daughter has passed the book out to many university students. These are some of the ripple effects. We are blown away watching God multiply the Kingdom-impact of His WORD through this book! Our lives will never be the same.

ROCKids

Also yesterday – we received this note from a ROCK-connected worker in Niger: Just a little update on the KING of GLORY in Zarma. A 26-year-old convert in our church just finished reading it. He was so encouraged. He isn’t super-educated but has been reading his Zarma Bible a lot. It is cool to hear his excited and fresh perspectives from God’s Word. Also, an expat worker is encouraged by this book and wants to distribute it in a hurting region where they are doing a food distribution, providing rice for 600 families over three months. At the end, they want to present them KING of GLORY picture books. We will probably do the printing for them.

ROCK Resources
What a world! What opportunities! What a responsibility-privilege is ours to be where we are “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)! Today (March 31) the printing of 10,000 Marathi KING of GLORY books was completed. These chronological gospel resources will now be shipped to 38 regions in India to equip God’s people to make God’s good news “clear as [they] ought” (Col. 4:4). Also, as of today, after years of work, the Pidgin KoG picture book for Papua New Guinea is ready to send to the printer. Meanwhile, last week, this comment was posted on the REY de GLORIA (Spanish KoG) movie: “Perfecto. Now I understand God’s plan. This movie should go around the world.” Another wrote, “I really liked the movie, what I like the most is that it sticks to God’s word.” And yet another, “This film changed my life.” The full Spanish movie on YouTube now has more than a million views with an average view-time of 47 minutes per click. On the day before Ramadan begins, believers in a nearby state are giving out friendship/food baskets to Afghan refugees. They will also invite them to watch KING of GLORY in their heart languages of Dari and Pashto. One lady who pours herself into refugees, writes: “Pray for a harvest among the Afghan people here in the States and Muslims worldwide.”

ROCKids
In a village in Senegal where a few Christians live, ROCK is financing the construction of a much-needed wall around the village grade school. This month, 100 French KoG picture books will be given out to the older students. Meanwhile in Ecuador, we just received this report from a children’s worker: “Our Sundays are extra full these days, having added a Bible study after each service. Kids under 12 have their own Bible study. The course, Rey de Gloria (King of Glory) covers Genesis to Jesus in book form with beautiful pictures. We watch a short video for each lesson, followed by a group reading, each taking a turn to read a paragraph, and then do a worksheet. Many of the 35 young people who signed up for this course are not regular church attenders, yet they are coming on Sundays faithfully, even hiking through the rain. For those that don’t make the Sunday class, they can come by during the week to do the makeup session, which gives us more one-on-one time. It’s fun to teach such interested students. Pray they will understand the Word, believe the truth, and grow.”

ROCK Resources
By God’s grace and the perseverance of His servants, last month, the KING of GLORY movie reached the finish line in 5 new languages: Serbian, Egyptian Arabic, Filipino, Bislama, and Burmese. Due to a variety of setbacks, 4 of these 5 languages each took more than 5 years to produce. Psalm 47:2 reminds us: “The LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.” How comforting to know that amid the world’s evil and chaos, our God is OVER all and is personally at work IN people’s lives. Last month, a ministry partner (whose wife is Ukrainian – pray for her people!) reported from Central Asia: The mess of the withdrawal of forces in Afghanistan has taken an awful toll, yet amid the bloodshed, terrorism, pain and loss, God is being glorified by many coming to faith in Him. He goes on to tell of opportunities to share God’s good news with 600 refugee Afghan students and their teachers, and to provide them with Bibles, ROCK’s resources in their heart languages, and thousands of school supplies in the name and love of Jesus Christ. He also wrote: I met with the Afghani Consul General again today. The meeting was good. He read “Your Story” and asked me for a handful to share with others! He said it answered questions he had always wondered about and did it in a very clear and organized way. He has also been reading the Bible I gave him. He said, “I read that you are to love God with all your person and your neighbor as yourself. Your team are the only true followers of Jesus I have ever met, and I know this because I see you obeying these two commands.” Pray for transformed lives.

ROCKids
Amid some significant projects being continued and launched in both Senegal and Niger, we share this report from the New Hope Girls’ School in Tanzania: Our dear brother and project manager is working on the school registration process. Please join us in praying that this process will go smoothly with as few setbacks as possible. For the school to be approved to open, the government requires a certain number of classrooms, labs, and dorms available not only for the first class, but for the next class of students that would join the following year. So far, we are in good shape for the first class, but we have learned that we need to build at least one more dorm and have two more classrooms “in progress” before we can be approved. Please pray.

ROCK Resources
Many new language media gospel tools (video, radio, audio, books) are in the works – each with their own set of challenges. Several new KING of GLORY languages are nearing the finish line – others feel like they will never get there. But they will! Several have been in the works for over 5 years. Pray for wisdom as we work with partners around the world. Pray that each language translation would be meaning-based, accurate, clear, and natural. Pray too for quality recordings. Last month, the Spanish Spiritual Warfare video was completed.  (https://rockintl.org/spiritual-warfare-in-the-amazon-jungle). Amid intense obstacles, we are also working to create this video in Creole for Haiti. A new translation and printing of the Marathi KoG picture book should soon come off the press in India and be shipped to 38 regions. YOUR STORY booklets are now available in Dari and should soon be making their way into the hands of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and Central Asia. Pray for open doors and hearts! Thousands of Spanish KoG books are being delivered in Latin America to equip believers. In the past four months more than a million Spanish-speakers have watched REY de GLORIA on YouTube. We can no longer keep track of how many are watching KING of GLORY online since, praise God, an increasing number of other ministries are using it on social media platforms. Last month, ROCK’s YouTube channel alone (with 40+ languages) had more than 250,000 views with 200,000 hours of view time. Hundreds of comments are being posted that reveal God’s ongoing work of transformation in lives. The work is endless. “So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:38)

ROCKids
Thank you for your continued prayers and part in God’s work in and through His servants where ROCK is a channel for projects. Pray for the printing ministry and computer classes in Niger, radio broadcasts and youth ministries in Senegal, KoG thumb-drive distributions in South Africa, printing and distribution of ROCK’s Arabic resources combined with food relief in Lebanon, the New Hope secondary school for girls in Tanzania which still has many needs before it can open its doors, and for the developing vision and preparations for Bangladesh.

_­ROCK Resources
2021 was another year watching God work, lifting us over countless obstacles and multiplying our feeble efforts in ways we could not have imagined or planned. For example, despite November’s unsubstantiated copyright disputes to block ROCK’s 1000+ videos on YouTube, within a week all were reinstated and in the final 3 months of 2021 one of those videos (REY de GLORIA https://youtu.be/lPCnJO2VQOc ) received nearly 600,000 views with an average watch time of 41+ minutes per click. Such stats along with daily viewer feedback remind us that our God is at work! Here’s a comment from yesterday: “Wow. This is the most beautiful story I have seen on YouTube. It made me cry what they did to Jesus…” and from this morning: “Wow, thank you so much for the effort. I understand it so well… God bless all who made this movie. I will definitely watch this over and over again. I love it.” In another realm, while the world was shocked by the rapid Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, our loving heavenly Father was not. Back in 2015 He put into the hearts of His servants in Central Asia a plan to produce KING of GLORY in the languages of Afghanistan (Dari and Pashto) AND in the five languages of the countries that surround it: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. www.king-of-glory.com Over the past two years, 9 of our 24 monthly updates include stories of Afghanis transformed by the gospel, discipled, and equipped with ROCK’s media tools to reach others also.

By God’s grace, 2022 promises to be a year filled with many more multi-language resources reaching their finish lines (i.e., start lines), ready to shine Christ’s light into people who sit in darkness. By God’s grace, this new year will find ROCK team members doing the same kind of things we did in 2021, collaborating with hundreds of worldwide partners – handling daily demands and long-term projects, overseeing translating, proofing, troubleshooting, recording, broadcasting, formatting, editing, printing, publicizing, and distributing ROCK’s multi-media multi-language videos, radio programs, books, social media content, etc. Thank you for your prayers and participation.

ROCKids
This past year in Niger, the Youth Development Center has been used in many fresh, impactful ways, such as a place from which the growing church is reaching out to its neighbors, offering computer courses, kids clubs, and a print-on-demand press producing materials in national languages that grow and equip God’s people. In Senegal, through the Lord’s people working together, many relationships and ministries are flourishing, touching individuals, families, and communities. In Tanzania the science labs have been completed as local believers continue to look to the Lord for the wisdom and provision yet needed to open the New Hope Secondary School for Girls.

In 1874 Frances R. Havergal wrote a poem for a New Years greeting card, which later became a hymn. Here’s an excerpt:
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be – In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise – Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.   Amen!