ROCK Monthly Updates

“This hope… the word of truth, the gospel… is bearing fruit and spreading all over the world” (Col. 1:5-6).

ROCKids & ROCK Resources
In the all-sufficient name of Jesus, we thank you for your partnership in what God is doing in the hearts, minds, and lives of people all over the world through the word of truth, as His servants spread gospel seed and water what has taken root. Many are the stories we could share of God at work through the channel of ROCK this past month on all six continents, but we’ll limit it to one: Africa—Senegal, West Africa.

2026 marks ROCK International’s 20th year as a nonprofit organization. Yet one of ROCK’s far-reaching media tools predates it by 14 years. In 1992, the Lord put into my heart and that of a Wolof follower of Jesus to produce a 100-program radio series called Yoonu Njub (Wolof for The Way of Righteousness [now in 70+ languages]). Over the past 33 years, Senegal’s national radio station has aired these chronological, interconnected “stories and message of the prophets,” which, as a 50-year veteran translator recently wrote, “have been plowing the soil, removing rocks (obstacles/prejudices), making it more receptive to the gospel.” Quietly, deeply, God has been building His church in Senegal.

Following a 60-year process—“through many dangers, toils, and snares”—with faithful servants of God translating the Scriptures into Wolof, we praise God that over the next few months the beautifully translated and printed Wolof Bible will begin to be released throughout the land. Believers will gather in various locations to celebrate and share the complete Wolof Scriptures. When the New Testament was published in 1987, the Wolof church was not strong enough to organize such gatherings. Today a growing body of evangelical churches are rejoicing together.

The celebrations will include “GLORIA!”— a concert led by Agsila, daughter of one of the Senegalese translators, in which she and her group will tell in song the story of the Wolof Scriptures’ long journey—from vision to fulfillment. Even government officials will attend. ROCK is providing for distribution 1000+ multi-functional flash drives loaded with life-transforming content in Senegal’s languages, including the Wolof Bible, radio programs, films, books, audiobooks, etc. Pray for impact!

The full Wolof Scriptures are not only being released in print; they are also being recordedas an audio Bible for the nation’s multitudes of oral-only learners. This week an associate in Senegal sent a note telling of his recording sessions with Malick (voice of the Wolof radio series). “There have been moments of awe at God’s Word, praise, and even laughter. Malick reads with great expression, capturing the meaning of each passage. His wife is with us too, and her prayers and presence encourage us so much.”

Thank you, dear sisters and brothers, for your vital role enabling us to provide gospel and discipleship tools, helping people worldwide understand the meaning of the gospel—and equipping believers to do the same.

For a powerful, ongoing story of how the gospel story & message are being spread across an entire country—click on the picture—just received from MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship).

“The people… will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.” (Prophet Isaiah 9:2)

ROCK Resources
Question: What lunar-calendar observance of merit-seeking (thawab) is currently engaging nearly a quarter of the world’s population? Answer: Ramadan (Feb. 17–Mar. 19, 2026).

Question: What strategic season calls followers of “the One of whom all the prophets testified” (Acts 10:43; 11:26) to pray fervently for Muslims? Answer: Ramadan.

• Pray that Muslims, amid their sincere striving, would feel the need for God’s gift of perfect righteousness and complete redemption. Pray that, through the Scriptures, online resources, dreams, and patient gospel witnesses, they would encounter and fall in love with “the very Person Moses and the prophets wrote about!” (John 1:45 NLT)

• Pray also that true Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:27-29) living among them would lovingly and clearly communicate God’s Good News in their heart languages so that they too may understand the consistent story and core message of the prophets and believe.

• Pakistan: “I frequently tune in to The Way of Righteousness Saraiki programs broadcast by Trans World Radio. These broadcasts have been a great way to learn about Jesus and the prophets. I live in a small town. My family gets together to listen to the program whenever it airs. We are profoundly moved by the lessons. I had never come across such potent and clear teaching before. Our family has been showered with blessings ever since.”

• Greater Middle East: “Pray for one high-level government official who listened for hours to God’s plan of salvation — that the power of God’s Word will shatter his heart, be mixed with faith, and spring into eternal life. Pray that the film would continue to find its way into the hearts and homes of truth seekers.”

• Iran: Pray for the 90 million Iranians who stand at a crossroads of renewed hope. Pray that peace and justice will come to this nation and that God will use these events for the spread of the gospel. Just received this text from a contact in the region: “Pray for our fellow believers in Iran to share God’s message of hope amid the fear and turmoil.”

ROCKids
Tanzania: “The inaugural class at Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary School for Girls has begun their fourth and final year. Lord willing, 19 young women will graduate this November. This year, the school is connecting them with Tanzanian women professionals—teachers, doctors, nurses, and more—to help them envision next steps. Enrollment has grown to 87 students.” Remember how in July 2025 God provided funds for a school bus inspired by kids with lemonade stands? New Hope now has that bus! So useful!

Senegal: “The work continues here in our village with youth through sports. Pray too for the adults to whom I gave New Testaments and Scripture calendars at the start of Ramadan….”

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell…” (Heb. 11:32) the many ways we see God at work through ROCKids and ROCK’s resources to edify and equip His people to spread his life-giving and hope-transforming Word in hard places. Let us pray that the Light referred to in the Scripture at the top of this letter will shine into many hearts as Ramadan draws to a close — until next time (Heb. 10:11-14).

Thank you for your prayers and for your part in God’s work in so many lives worldwide,

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” —Jesus Christ (John 8:32)

Using excerpts from emails, texts, and letters, this month’s ROCK Review will be “written” by some of you who read it and often comment — and by others whose lives have been changed by God’s living Word and Holy Spirit partly through ROCK’s gospel and discipleship media tools.

• India: From our Hindi and Marathi translator (January 2026): “What a joy to read the ROCK Review each month. I thank God for ROCK and its multidimensional ministries. I am extremely happy to God that He has connected me with you. I praise Him and pray for the opportunities and needs at the school in South Asia. I am overjoyed knowing of the New Hope Secondary School‘s progress and success in Tanzania. I am praying for the nations. I was challenged by your statement that untold millions have smartphones and internet (with potential access to clear gospel resources in their heart languages), yet multitudes are still unreached! Praying!”

• USA: From prayer partners: “I NEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED!!!!!!!! Just unbelievable and makes my heart so happy!” Another sister in Christ wrote: “My husband and I are so encouraged to hear this report. There is no chaining the gospel!”

• South Asia: “I spent most of my life living in fear of people, fear of tomorrow, and in fear of loss. One night, while alone at home, I heard on the radio The Way of Righteousness [in Kashmiri]. The program told of God’s love that removes fear. I started listening daily and praying quietly in my heart. Over time, I noticed a deep change within me… I thank God for giving me His peace and hope….”

• Greater Middle East: “[A believer risked his life to show] King of Glory to a man high up in the government. The man loved the film, shared it with his family, accepted a Bible, and is now studying. Please continue to pray. Amid unspeakable suffering, we are rejoicing that God is still bringing sinners to repentance. Many refugees are trusting the Lord Jesus as Savior.”

• Venezuela: “We just returned (Feb. 1) from a very long trip up the Orinoco River. We placed 163 Torches (solar-powered gospel audio devices/flashlights) in 21 Yanomamö villages: 17 with no previous missionary contact and 4 with very little. We were warmly received. We also distributed Yanomamö King of Glory picture books (to go with the Torches).”

Unlike the current testimonies just read, these final two are from prison letters written years ago, which also beautifully echo our Lord’s words: “THE TRUTH shall make you free!”

• Missouri Prison (2018): “While in my prison’s chapel, I ran across a book, What if Jesus Meant What He Said? This book is profoundly changing my life with every page I read. When I began reading this book, I thought my walk with God was pretty solid, but how wrong I was. Most of my life has been self-centered, but not anymore. When I leave prison, this time it will be for God’s glory to be used by Him any way He chooses. I believe God may give me a jail and prison ministry using this book….”

• Baltimore Prison (2016): “A week ago, I was a Muslim. I, with the help of you and the Holy Spirit, found understanding in the Holy Bible. I cried out to the One True God, “Please give me understanding!” And I added, “Only of You O GOD!” With a heart full of pain and sadness, He answered me. I was moved to another cell. There I found the book One God One Message just lying on the floor. I began to read… By chapters two and three, I had a face full of tears. Thank God I found this book! Amen! … Jesus Christ set me free!”

To the praise of His glory,

“How can they believe… if they have not heard (akouō = understand by hearing)?”
(Romans 10:14–15) 
“So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations (ethnos = distinct people groups) …”
(Matt. 28:19)

Nearly 2,000 years have passed since our risen Lord commissioned His disciples to share His good news with all peoples everywhere. Yet today, multitudes remain in the Unreached People Group (UPG) category, having no Christian witness among them to patiently proclaim and explain the gospel story and message. And yet, so many of these untold millions have smartphones and internet connections. Are you equipped to bless some of them this year?

ROCK Resources
ROCK International has cross-cultural gospel and discipleship tools in 115+ languages in audio, video, digital, and print formats (see above graphic showing some media tools produced in 2025, all available online). We also have, for example, the KING of GLORY movie (in 60+ languages) embossed cards with QR codes, which are readily received by people of our own nation and from other nations with whom we connect daily in the marketplace of life.
[www.rockintl.org/rock-refugee-flyer]

But does the availability of such gospel media by itself fulfill the Great Commission? No. While many people from many worldviews have turned to Christ after absorbing, understanding, repenting, and believing God’s creation-to-Christ story and message — such online resources play only a part in carrying out Christ’s commission. Making disciples of all peoples takes incarnational servants of Christ to connect with them, listen to them, understand them, love them, teach them, and walk with them (1 Cor. 9:19-23; Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 14:21–27). As the incarnate Word Himself put it, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:35–38).

ROCKids
South Asia: In this new year, we ask you to pray over a wonderful opportunity where God has opened a door for (ROCK-connected) workers to lead, train, and teach in a pre-K to 12th-grade school located in a strategic, densely populated metropolitan area. This school teaches from a biblical worldview and serves hundreds of students from influential families shaped by long-established religious traditions. At present, there is a need for additional English-speaking teachers and, most urgently, a guidance counselor. Thank you for joining us in praying the Lord to call certified, creative, godly teachers with a heart to bless these youth and their families.

Tanzania: Thank you too for your continued prayers and crucial partnership for the Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Girls’ Secondary (Boarding) School, which has just entered its fourth year by adding its Form 4 class (12th-grade), making it a complete high school. We praise God for all He is doing for, in, and through these New Hope girls.

West Africa: In Senegal, God is at work in minds and hearts through local believers via radio, medical, educational, vocational, sports, and other relational ministries. Meanwhile, since last month’s update, in Niger, the door for expat workers has closed. Pray for national believers, amid hardships and persecution, to stand firm for Christ who is with them always, even to the end of the age! (Matt. 28:20).

May God use each of us in 2026 to bless — for time and eternity — those who have not yet understood the gospel, and to equip those who have.

Thank you for your partnership for an understood and obeyed gospel worldwide.

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

ROCK Resources & ROCKids

As we look back over 2025, this verse reminds us that in our broken world, no matter how complex the problem, God delights to bring His blessings out of and into hard places. A few recent examples: 

Africa & Asia: By your prayers and gifts, this month 16,000 books (KoG [English, Swahili, Marathi] and What If Jesus Meant What He Said? [Hindi]) are being printed in three nations where persecution is intense. In September, ROCK Resources lacked funds for these printings; then God provided. Pray for widespread impact among both the saved and the lost — including the persecutors themselves.

Bougainville (Papua New Guinea, Oceania): As told in ROCK’s August Update, God is doing a new thing on this autonomous island. A ministry partner (wife of an MAF director-pilot in PNG) told of her first visit to Bougainville’s main hospital: “…patients waiting for hours in the heat, broken equipment, wards without privacy, and a public bathroom so foul (with shattered toilets, overflowing sewers, filth, and maggots) that it felt evil. Yet after meeting with hospital leadership, God opened doors.” With prayer, cleaning supplies, and unexpected helpers, she and staff went to work scrubbing and repairing — with God stirring hearts in the following months to transform the hospital inside and out.

One bright weekly event is the showing of the Tok Pisin KING bilong GLORI movie. Each Saturday, a ward fills with smiles and attentiveness as patients, families, nurses, and others gather to watch.   A pastor and his wife lead the showings, volunteers serve a meal during intermission, and at the end, KoG books and Bibles are eagerly received, with many understanding and responding to the Gospel. 

Niger (West Africa): A ROCK-connected German surgeon and his wife, who holistically serve hurting people in Jesus’ name at a mission hospital in the Niger desert, wrote: “This country and region need much prayer, as darkness seems to be growing — but we know the LORD reigns. Please pray for the Nigerien church to be strengthened, to deepen dependence on Him, to stand firm, and for many to find Jesus as Savior. The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS is used in Hausa, and the hospital evangelist asks for prayer that the KING of GLORY movie might also be produced in Hausa for use in the hospital.”

We thank God for you and for all He is doing through ROCKids, such as the Girls’ School in Tanzania… And in 2026 we look forward to introducing you to a pre-K-to-12th-grade school in South Asia where God has opened a wide door for His servants to invest in more students — for time and eternity!

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD…”
Habakkuk 2:14

ROCKids
Tanzania: From the Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Girls Secondary (Boarding) School: “We thank God for the completion of the newest building, which will serve as a computer lab and tailoring classroom. Having opened the first class in January 2023, the school will, by January 2026, include all four secondary levels (U.S. grades 9–12). Recently, 63 girls took entrance exams for Form One (9th grade), with 17 qualifying. Another exam on December 10 aims to fill the remaining spots, reaching the goal of 25–30 students per class. Form Two students are preparing for national exams November 3–11. Please pray for excellent results and continued growth—spiritually, academically, and practically.”

New Hope’s core values: Christ-centeredness, integrity, professionalism, academic excellence, and sustainability. Over 90% of school costs are currently met by donors like you, with the faith-filled goal of becoming largely self-sustaining—a goal in which students play their part as they also gain life skills by caring for fruit and palm trees, chickens and gardens, and soon raising cows for milk and meat, providing income, nutrition, and valuable experience. Thank you for partnering with them to bless generations for time and eternity!

ROCK Resources
Senegal: We praise God for the Senegalese team in the north that is faithfully overseeing and creatively expanding, also on social media, the reach of the Wolof (“Yoonu Njub”) OT/NT gospel series, The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS, first broadcast on Senegal’s national radio station on November 2, 1992. Glory to God for what He has done through His written and living Word in countless lives over these past 33 years. Thank you for praying for an even deeper impact in this 95% Muslim nation, “that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

In our northern village, the ROCK-connected Senegalese family continues to serve through the basketball center, soccer, special activities, and relational outreach with youth and adults. Our brother writes: “Last Saturday, the few Christian families here (from other African nations) met for our monthly gathering and made plans to celebrate Christmas together and host a Christ-centered event—inviting friends to hear the good news story and trusting the Lord to touch the hearts of those who truly seek Him.”

Speaking of Christmas… throughout this season, each of us will have countless opportunities to celebrate AND to share God’s greatest gift: that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” to become “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:14, 29; 19:30). One powerful way to communicate His story from Creation to Christ to New Creation is by sharing FOR THIS REASON (FTR), the 100-minute abridged edition of the 222-minute KING of GLORY (KoG) movie. Following its thought-provoking opening, FOR THIS REASON transports audiences to the dawn of creation, unveiling the Creator’s plan that led to the Eternal Word’s birth in Bethlehem, revealing how one can pass from being “in Adam” to being “in Christ.” Perfect for families, churches, or community events, FOR THIS REASON is a film for all seasons—but especially fitting for the Christmas season.

ROCK International’s QR-coded FOR THIS REASON Business Cards equip you to offer to people you meet daily the opportunity to discover and understand for themselves what this “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” is all about. FTR’s traditional Christmas Cards also provide a unique way to share the full story with family and friends. To freely watch, share, show, and download (use our Vimeo link) this movie: www.for-this-reason.com

In Jesus’ name, we thank you for your prayers and partnership in what God is doing through the channels of ROCKids and ROCK Resources.

Until the earth is filled with His glory!

“Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God.”
—1 Peter 1:23b NLT

What 2 things on earth last forever? People and God’s Word. It’s no surprise then that as God’s redeemed children, our “new normal” is to invest our time, treasure, and talents in connecting people with the eternal, living Word of God—beginning at home, but not stopping there.

ROCK International exists as a channel and a toolbox to encourage and equip God’s people—His church (Ekklesia = “called-out ones”)—to fulfill our role in our risen Lord’s command to “make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

R.O.C.K. (always in caps!) is a double acronym—reflecting our focus on people and the Word:
• Relief, Opportunity, and Care for Kids (ROCKids)
• Resources Of Crucial Knowledge (ROCK Resources)

With chronological gospel and discipleship tools in 115+ languages, some may assume that “ROCK Resources” focuses primarily on projects rather than on people. The reality is that, while ROCK’s multimedia projects require both skill and precision in technology, translation, and tedious details, people are the reason for and the producers of these biblical resources. Without building relationships and partnering with qualified believers around the globe to translate, check, record, field-test, format, print, publicize, and distribute such resources—ROCK International’s hundreds of multilingual tools would neither exist nor have such a reach.

One outstanding opportunity God has opened to connect this generation with His living Word is in Rwanda—a nation still recovering from the 1994 genocide, when a million people were slaughtered in just 100 days. Three decades later, the gospel is redeeming countless sin-bound and broken lives and healing torn and traumatized relationships.

In September 2024, ROCK International partnered with Teens for Christ Rwanda (TFC) when 10,000 youth gathered in a stadium to hear God’s Word, with Nate (ROCK’s founder) as one of the speakers. ROCK is now working with TFC leaders and 28 of their teachers, who give a Bible lesson weekly in schools across Rwanda to more than 60,000 students. Their vision and prayer is to teach and reach a million students. Following a recent Zoom meeting with ROCK, the TFC team is preparing to use the KING of GLORY picture book and study guide to teach the gospel—from creation to Christ to new creation. Thank you for your prayers and participation…

Thanks too for your part in youth ministries in Niger and Senegal—and in Tanzania (next to Rwanda), where students are thriving intellectually and spiritually in the Tumaini Jipya (Swahili for “New Hope”) Secondary School for Girls.

On another continent, we recently received this encrypted message from a colleague in a restricted Central Asian land: “For years, a certain people group in a neighboring country was considered ‘unreachable’ since no one knew their language. But [one of our evangelists] came across a pocket of these people and heard them speaking a Pashto dialect close to his own! He is excited to return to present the gospel, armed with the King of Glory movie in Pashto.”

Workers together with God and you, excited to connect people to His eternal, life-giving Word!

“And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.”
– Luke 16:9 [Amplified Bible]

The above verse comes from Jesus’ conclusion in the Parable of the Unjust Steward, who shrewdly used his master’s money to make friendships for his own (temporal) financial security. Our Lord applies this story to His disciples, urging them to invest in things of eternal value that last forever.

In his Believers’ Bible Commentary, William MacDonald writes: “By the wise investment of material possessions, we can have a share in the eternal blessing of men and women….that when we arrive at the gates of heaven, there will be a welcoming committee of those who were [reached with the gospel, in part,] through our sacrificial giving and praying.’”

ROCK Resources
We thank you in Jesus’ name for your fervent prayers and faithful gifts, blessing souls for time and eternity through ROCK International’s multimedia, multilingual gospel/discipleship tools.

As mentioned last month, requests are increasing from believers, churches, and ministries – mostly in poor nations – who want ROCK’s printed books in their heart languages AND the means to print them locally. (In many regions, printed books reach the lost and equip believers in ways digital books cannot.) By God’s abundant supply through people like you, ROCK Resources has been able to facilitate such printings and distributions in recent years – from Africa to Asia to Oceania – impacting multitudes.

Last month we focused on Papua New Guinea and 60,000 books being distributed. Amazing! For another example (from last week) of God at work through printed books, see this month’s thumbnail and video (and its description) from believers in the D.R. Congo. Their video shows the distribution of KING of GLORY books in Swahili and French among a crowd of 600+ (who had just walked up a mile-high mountain). But the leaders had only 85 books with them, making it quite a different process from when Jesus fed 5000+, where “all ate and were filled.” Yet, in both places, “the Bread of Life” who “fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9) was shared.

To the praise of our God for endless open doors, and for leading us to walk through some of them, ROCK Resources’ financial “cup” is now mostly drained after investing in many printings and projects in the first two trimesters of 2025. As a result, we have placed a temporary hold on such print jobs and certain other projects as we look to the Lord of the harvest to refill ROCK’s cup—which He will surely do as we walk and work with Him, and wait on Him and for Him (His timing). Thank you for joining us in praise, prayer, and thanksgiving.

ROCKids
We thank you as well for your continued prayers for the ministries impacting youth in Senegal, Niger, and Tanzania. Thank you for your faithful part in the New Hope Secondary School for Girls, which often operates on the financial edge, even as God continues to provide month by month and do His deep work in and through these young women and their families.

“For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)
“Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:19)

A Country:
“All along the way, we felt the Lord holding our hand, arranging our schedule, and causing us to bump into the right people. God was in it all!” So reported our Tok-Pisin-fluent coworker couple from ROCK’s Idaho office, just returned from 3 weeks in Papua New Guinea.

Their mission? To spend a week in each of three locations to connect with God’s servants for the strategic distribution of 30,000 KING bilong GLORI books in Pidgin and 10,000 in English. Countless are the stories of God opening doors to equip believers, ministries, and churches —and place the books and movie in public schools, a TV station, hospitals, prisons, missions, and more. Among the many groups taking part, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) has a key role, with leadership voicing this perspective: “Every flight must carry at least 10 books.”

An Island: 
The ROCK couple’s final week was spent on Bougainville, a vast (half the size of Canada’s Vancouver Island), mysterious, volcanic island, which has been war-torn for half a century. But, praise God, MAF was recently granted permission to return to the island and has allocated 3,000 Tok Pisin KING of GLORY books for distribution throughout the region — in sync with extensive transformational relief work.

In the island’s primary hospital, a Christian lady overseeing relief work, wrote: “The hospital has been in a state that felt inhumane and looked evil.” But as gruesome tasks of clean up and vital restoration efforts progressed, a patient’s family member cried out, “Tenk yu, tenk yu, tenk yu!” while hugging and thanking the lady for a clean, functioning bathroom. And when our ROCK couple offered to provide a projector for the hospital to show the KoG movie to the patients, the lady exclaimed, “Of course! We want it! I’m Imagining patients and their families watching the entire Bible in their language on screen! I have goose bumps down my legs…”. Pray for lasting gospel impact in minds, hearts, lives, families, and communities.

A World:
Elsewhere around the globe, ROCK is receiving a growing number of requests from indigenous ministries in various — often poor — nations wanting to print and distribute ROCK International gospel and discipleship books already translated in local languages. One recent request came from a leader serving in the UK and India. Raised in Hindu tradition and bound by addictions and deep inner turmoil, his life was radically transformed by the gospel 10 years ago.

Now, leading a gospel mission he founded 3 years ago, his team is about to print and distribute the Hindi edition of One God One Message (see May 2025 update) in North India and beyond. “It’s a wonderful resource for evangelistic distribution and discipleship,” he wrote, with plans to distribute it in homes, prisons, churches, etc. Another tool, What If Jesus Meant What He Said?, has also been recently translated into Hindi and is in the proofing stage. Amid such expanding opportunities and ROCK projects from America to Asia to Africa to Oceana, please pray for wisdom as we seek to steward well the funds God provides through His people.   

ROCKids & ROCK Resources
While there are endless stories to tell of complex challenges and global opportunities in R.O.C.K.’s multimedia multi-language “Resources Of Crucial Knowledge” ministries – this month we want to focus on the “Relief, Opportunity, & Care for Kids” side of ROCK.
Thanks for being part of what God is doing in lives daily.

Tanzania: The New Hope Girls’ (boarding) Secondary School continues to thrive academically and spiritually. In May, a team from a flourishing church in Birmingham, Alabama made the long trip to Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria in East Africa to pour into these girls, leading workshops affirming their identity in Christ and their value as God’s image-bearers. The team also led a 1st Peter Conference in the surrounding villages, equipping local believers to shine as lights amid great spiritual darkness. Once the team returned to Birmingham, their church held Vacation Bible School for about 400 children. Along with the Bible teaching, these kids soaked up story after story of what God is doing in the lives of these New Hope high school girls. The kids also learned that the school needs a mini-school bus for various events, including having a way to drive at-risk girls back to their homes on school breaks (some have up to 8-hour walks, some of that on solitary paths). The VBS kids caught the vision and took action: from organizing lemonade stands to telling others about the school, within 3 days more than enough was given to cover the price of the bus!

Senegal: In his Muslim village, a ROCK-connected Senegalese believer coaches soccer teams and trains two age-groups in basketball, pairing sports with biblical teaching. Another brother and his son who oversee The WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS Wolof radio programs (Yoonu Njub,aired 18x a week on 9 Senegalese stations), told us of a woman who called to say how these radio broadcasts have changed her life and now help her to spread the gospel. And in Dakar, a church elder recently told how, at their center for street boys, each evening they play these programs for them and for non-street kids who stop by. Many are understanding the gospel.

Niger: Since the overthrow of the government in 2023, conditions have worsened for nationals and foreigners. Visas are hard to get. But the ROCK-financed Youth Development Center (page needs updating), which opened ten years ago, continues. It is overseen by a chosen brother and the elder-led local church that meets there. Pray for wisdom, unity, and protection for these faithful believers as they represent Christ in this needy nation. Pray too for a ROCK-connected surgeon and his wife serving the Lord and people in terrorist-infiltrated zones.

Haiti: In this broken land where more than 7000 KING of GLORY books (in Haitian Creole and French) have been distributed in the past 6 months, a faithful church leader and others with him show the Haitian Creole and French KING of GLORY and/or FOR THIS REASON movies in different locations at least once a month. The Holy Spirit is at work in lives, impacting young and old with God’s story and message of pure truth and sure hope – for time and eternity.

Papua New Guinea: This month, a ROCK-connected couple (who served in PNG for many years) are presently in country working with local believers and mission organizations (such as MAF, SIL, Ethnos 360, etc.) to distribute another 30,000 Pidgin “KING bilong GLORI” books to churches and ministries across PNG. In this country with 840 tribal languages, providing such gospel resources in the widely understood trade language of “Tok Pisin” (Pidgin Talk) is vital. The goal is to distribute the books in all 22 of PNG’s provinces and on several major islands.

Thank you for your prayers and part in what God is doing in minds, hearts, and communities,

The Lord Jesus: “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit….” (John 15:5)
Paul the apostle: “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us…
‘Be reconciled to God!’” (2 Cor. 5:20)

Oxford Dictionary definition: media [noun] • The means or agency through which communication takes place; often synonymous with channel.

We thank you in Jesus’ name for being channels through which ROCK International can continue to be an agency for the communication of God’s story and message in remote, creative-access nations of our lost world. Thank you for your prayers and part in supporting the many ongoing translations, proofings, recordings, formatting, printing, shipping, and distribution of ROCK’s multimedia tools, now in 115 languages and counting.

We praise God too for the media channels available to us today to spread His word. While our lives and words are to be our first channel (Acts 8:35; 2 Cor. 3:2-3; Psa. 78:4-8), here are ten other channels we and our worldwide partners use to bless millions in 180+ countries: Internet websites (used by about 63% of the world), Social Media Platforms (60%), Email (52%), Radio & Digital Radio (50%), Television (Broadcast & Streaming) (42%), Video Content Platforms (32%), Mobile Messaging Apps (25%), Print Media (22%), Podcasts & Audio Streaming (5%), Video Conferencing (4%), etc. Here are two examples of how God is at work through such media channels:

☐ Since early 2024, one of our Arabic ministry partners (who has translated and recorded the KING of GLORY movie in 6 of its 8 Arabic-dialects) have been doing Facebook campaigns in the Middle East and North Africa. Their method is to invest time and funds into one Arabic nation at a time for a period of 3 months per country. Multitudes are being drawn to their FB page to watch 1-minute KING of GLORY reels in their heart language. For example, in one seriously restrictive country, these reels had nearly half a million thru-plays and more than 2400 messages received and responded-to during the 3-month period. God is at work in that dark land, as in the book of Acts where “the word of God grew and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)

☐ While each of us gets 24 hours per day, in the 366 days of 2024, KING of GLORY, in its 60 languages, was watched on our KING of GLORY the Movie YouTube channel for nearly 24,000 hours per day. YouTube analytics for 2024 break it down like this:

Views: 5,950,694 • Hours: 8,615,222 • Average watch time per view: 86 minutes per click.

This old hymn perfectly expresses the responsibility and privilege that is ours in Christ: “Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Your wondrous power! Flowing through us,
You can use us, every day and every hour.”

Infinitely blessed to be His children and channels,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27 

ROCK Resources & ROCKids
ASL World: We praise God that the ASL (American Sign Language) film for the Deaf, “Where is the Lamb?”, is being field-tested and should soon be released. Conceived and directed by a ROCK coworker who ministers alongside the Deaf with his wife, this 22-minute video starts with a modern-day story of redemption, then tells the story of Abraham and Isaac and the sacrifice on Mount Moriah. It ends with the focus on Jesus the Lamb of God who paid for our salvation with His own blood on that same mountain range nearly 2000 years later.

 Here are a few sample comments from Deaf viewers: 

• “I shared it with a few, and they said it was amazing.” – One of the film’s Deaf signers
      • “It’s real good! I can understand the ASL perfectly! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!” – Deaf lady in Virginia
• “The beautiful background art helped me understand visually. I love how it points to the cross. The story is great. The ASL is clear. I love it.” – Deaf man, blind in one eye, in Florida

Pray for impact. Pray for a deep and widespread spiritual awakening among the Deaf. Remember, only 2% are considered “reached.” That means 98% are still unreached with the gospel! Pray that many will watch this story, understand its message, hear Jesus’ voice, trust and follow Him.

India: Last week, one of our translators took 520 One God One Message books in Hindi and Marathi to one of India’s major jails. The warden’s plan is to lend (not give) out the books so each prisoner can read it. “But with all the rats,” asked the warden, “where can we keep so many books?” Solution: our translator bought two steel cabinets. He then wrote: “Pray that the authorities will circulate the books and that souls will be transformed!”

Niger: A surgeon and his wife serving in high-risk zones, write, “We were encouraged last week to attend the dedication of the New Testament in the Kanuri-Manga language after it had been worked on for 40 years! A believer in attendance told us how he heard the gospel in his heart language for the first time years ago after someone gave him a solar-powered audio device loaded with our WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS programs in Kanuri-Manga. He listened to it and believed the good news. He was so touched by it that he played it openly for his family and neighbors. Yet today he and his wife are still the only known believers in their village.”  Pray!

Tanzania: A leader in the New Hope School wrote: “God keeps surprising us as the girls on the Island get closer to their dreams. Blessings to all who are changing the future of these girls and their families!” And the director writes: “Thank you for the 76 boxes of the Swahili KING of GLORY books. We thank you for providing these 3,800 books for our community, to help our people know their Creator-Redeemer and grow spiritually.”

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself thru Christ & gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18

ROCKids & ROCK Resources
Think of it! As God’s children in this broken world, not only has our Creator-Redeemer bought us with His own blood and brought us back to Himself, He has blessed us with this invitation to offer to whosoever will: “Come back to God! For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:18-21 NLT). Here now are a few examples from the past week of how ROCK International partners are extending Christ’s invitation to lost people to be reconciled to God:

• Middle East: From a Palestinian couple/Christian ministry in Israel: “Thank you for the financial help. Over 40,000 people in the West Bank have been forced to flee… their homes, belongings, schools, and livelihoods….Most fled with only the clothes on their backs. By God’s grace, we reached some of these families, providing them with food – and Arabic YOUR STORY booklets – as a tangible expression [and explanation] of Christ’s love.

• One family shared, “For two days, we had nothing to eat but dry bread and water.” • And a mother, tears streaming down her face, told us, “Last night, I cried out to God, begging Him to help me feed my children. And today, He answered my prayer. We reminded them to cast their burdens on the Lord and to seek Him for true peace…” • Another woman, in her 50’s, shared her story…. Her words opened a door for us to tell of God’s grace. As we spoke of His love, His sacrifice on the cross, and the salvation He offers, she listened intently, asking question after question. Then, with tears in her eyes, she said, “Now I finally understand what’s been missing.” Turning to her husband, she said, ‘The emptiness we feel is because we have never truly known God.”

• Central Asia: From a Stan-land, where believers share SD cards loaded with the Scriptures & KING of GLORY movie in local dialects: “Last week, the KGB raided our Afghani refugee literacy ministry. Our teachers, ‘M’ and her mother, were detained. ‘M’, a single mom with 4 children, went to jail for 3 days for proselytizing. She was fined $2,000. The Lord provided and upon her release, the KGB told the officers who apprehended her, “Why did you bring us this psychopath! She just keeps telling us that the prophet Jesus is God, that he sacrificed himself to pay the penalty of our sins…. She kept telling us to repent and accept Jesus’ blood! She is wacko!” ‘M’ is back with her kids and mom. She rejoices that God allowed her to be His witness. Thank you for praying.

• North America: This morning, a pastor in a church in Manhattan ordered 20,000 Wolof YOUR STORY booklets to reach Senegalese in New York City because “it will give the Wolof people their best chance” to understand the gospel. Another partner, Everyday Publications in Canada will print them. Pray for impact,

“My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that hey have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4)

ROCK Resources
This year, Ramadan coincides with the month of March. Keeping in mind that Islam means “Submission” and Muslim means “Submitted one,” perhaps some of us will choose to pray the above prayer for Muslims daily during Ramadan, and that multitudes will find, hear, and understand the gospel story and message in their heart languages. (The Way of Righteousness [TWOR] radio series is in 70+ languages, and the KING of GLORY [KoG] movie is in 60+).

Here are few reports from Asia and Africa, received last month from our ministry partner, Trans World Radio (TWR):
Pakistan: “A man harassed by demons began to listen to The Way of Righteousness in his heart language of Urdu. Over time, he came to faith in Christ and was wonderfully freed from demonic oppression. He got the idea to play the programs loudly enough so his Muslim neighbors could hear too! They became hostile, but in time, some began to listen with interest to the stories of the prophets….”

Nigeria: From 3 listeners to TWOR/TWR broadcasts:
• “I am so blessed to hear these powerful programs. Muslims around me are happy to listen to the messages with me.”
• “As I listen to these teachings, I have a hunger to quit sin and walk in the right way….”
• “’It is not just that you are feeding us with the Word, but you bring it in a language that appeals to us and breaks it down for us to understand,’ wrote a listener of The Way of Righteousness in the Kanuri language. Kanuri is spoken in parts of northern Nigeria where killings and abductions are frequently reported.”

Amid intense challenges and endless opportunities, a massive ongoing ROCK project-focus has been and continues to be on the transport and distribution of multi-language KoG books: 50,000 for Papua New Guinea, 8000 for Haiti, 5000 for Kenya/Tanzania, and 1000 to the Democratic Rep. of Congo, where, on February 13, militants kidnapped 70 Christians and beheaded them in a church. May we not forget our persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide.

ROCKids
• God is faithfully at work in and through the New Hope Girls’ School in Tanzania. The leaders hope to increase teachers’ salaries to match public-school standards. Pray for this.
• In Senegal and Niger, sports, schools, and medical initiatives provide daily opportunities to share God’s love and truth.
• In Venezuela, a private school is using the Spanish “King of Glory“ book in the “Values” class. As a result, an 11-year-old girl from a Muslim family believed the gospel. When her father found out, he decided to withdraw her. Saying goodbye, she asked her teacher if she could take home the picture book. The teacher asked if she thought her dad would allow it. She sadly replied, “No,” but then brightened, pointed to her head, and said, “It’s OK, I have it in here!”, and then, pointing to her heart, exclaimed, “and Jesus is in here!”

For an understood gospel worldwide,

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psa. 46:10

ROCK Resources

In January’s update, we gave a few glimpses from Earth’s 6 continents, where God’s servants are using ROCK’s gospel tools. One prayer request that flows from their many stories is: Pray for persecuted believers.

You know the expression: “jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.” Some Afghan refugees in Central Asia are experiencing the reversal of that. If Afghanistan is the fire, the surrounding nations – in which Afghan refugees now reside – become the frying pan – if they turn from man’s religion to a relationship with Christ.

From a border “stan-land”, where Muslim-background believers are fearlessly bearing witness for Christ amid threats and beatings – last week, we received a video testimony from an Afghan believer who, with his wife and 3 kids, were touched two years earlier by God’s love as shown through His people, and by God’s truth as revealed in the gospel. Here is part of this Afghan’s testimony:

“Two years ago, I found Jesus and His salvation. I studied and was taught the Word of God and became a pastor-teacher in the house churches. We shared the gospel boldly. A few months ago, a false brother betrayed us. The secret police arrested me twice. It made them angry that Afghans are becoming Christians. They broke my arm and beat me almost to death. They threatened to deport me back to Afghanistan… but Christ is with me. My Christian brothers and sisters prayed and cared for me and even hid me in their homes. The Christian life is a life full of persecution. Christians before us were persecuted. Despite all these problems I’m so thankful to God that He saved me, and I accept everything from His hand. Brothers and sisters, stay strong…!”

ROCKids 

Just in from New Hope Girls’ Secondary School in Tanzania: “Results from the National Exams: Of the 33 other schools in the district, New Hope girls scored 1st… and 91st in the country (out of 5,900 schools). Remember: The exam is in English and some of these girls knew little English when they started school two years ago….”

We praise God for His faithful work in the lives of these girls – and we thank Him for your prayers and part in countless ongoing ROCK projects and ministries equipped with ROCK’s tools – from many West African nations (some in horrific turmoil), to Haiti (with film showings, gangs, and 8000 KoG books trapped in Port-au-Prince), to the Amazon rainforest (with its growing church), to Papua New Guinea…

Speaking of PNG, as I write, a colleague (from the ROCK Idaho office) is there, working with Papuans to distribute 18,000 KoG picture books and 2000 Illustrated Study Guides among Papua New Guinea’s 22 provinces. He is also seeking government permission to to prepare the way for English and Tok Pisin KoG books to be used in the public school system. Pray! He also hopes to assist in the video production of the 8-page bonus feature at the back of the KING of GLORY book: “The Message in the Story”.

Workers together … with God!

“See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it!” —The Lord Jesus (Revelation 3:8a)

Anno Domini – “the year of our Lord” – 2024. What a year! Oh, how broken and heartbroken the nations! Oh, how beautiful the gospel that is breaking into hearts and homes as its story and message is told in ways people of all worldviews can understand. While we see only “the mere edges of His ways” (Job 26:14), God has blessed us this past year with daily glimpses into His ongoing work in the lives of millions*, via social media, radio, books, and face-to-face witnessing and distributions by His servants around the world using ROCK’s gospel and discipleship tools. Here’s a small sampling from December – from the six continents:

Asia • From a Central Asian country: “On Christmas day, the full KING of GLORY movie was televised across the nation, not once but twice!” • In another country: “Five guys were arrested for giving out KoG micro-SD cards. But the police found only 47 of the guy’s 275 KoG SD cards (a hole in one of the guy’s pockets had caused the other cards to fall into and get stuck in his pant-leg!). Imagine the police station scene as 47 officers and imams were ordered to check the SD cards’ content (the chronological gospel) on their phones, which also opened a door for all 5 men to share their testimonies! • India: Much to report. Pray for the Church.

Europe/Middle East • Germany: Multitudes are watching KoG and giving feedback. • Yemen: God is touching lives as faithful believers use ROCK media tools to interact with/have personal Bible studies with truth seekers.

Africa • Thank you for your support for believers and ROCK projects in Senegal, Niger, South Africa, and Tanzania. This month, the New Hope Girls’ School in Tanzania begins its 3rd year. • In Rwanda, where Nate recently taught 10,000+ youth at a “Teens for Christ” rally, ROCK will cover the 2025 transportation costs of 34 servants of God so they can continue to bring the gospel into the nation’s schools. • ROCK’s gospel and discipleship tools are regularly shipped to many countries. From Nigeria: “Thanks for the materials! In the schools, “Your Story” booklets and Bibles were received with tears of joy. Scores of students are giving their lives to Christ.” • Sudan: Amid civil war and famine, KoG will soon be recorded in Sudanese. “It is critical for us as the Church to broadcast the love of Christ to this people!”

Oceania • Papua New Guinea: “Our aviation float-plane ministry now uses ‘Tok Pisin King of Glory’ videos and books in our hospital and with our free emergency life flights to remote villages. These materials have been a game changer for our ministry!” • 45,000 more KING of GLORY books are being shipped to Papua New Guinea.

South America • Amazon Jungle: “The Yanomamö KoG books are teaching & equipping the remote villages…”

North America • Haiti: “Amid gang violence, 8000 French & Creole books have arrived. Film showings continue….”

For an understood gospel worldwide,

* In 2024, the KING of GLORY movie, in its 60 languages, had 6 million views on ROCK’s YouTube channel with an average watch-time of 86 minutes per click.

“In everything (all circumstances) give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thes. 5:18

ROCK Resources
Does the above verse describe our lifestyle as believers? ROCK International’s inbox receives weekly updates from ministry partners around the world who are living this out. Here are a few samples.

From Central Asia: “A. and his group of believers were caught worshiping God together. They were arrested and not allowed to sleep for two days. In court, they were accused of evangelizing, as they had 275 KING of GLORY micro-SD phone cards they were distributing. They were fined and warned next time they are caught doing this they will have 15 days in jail. They commented to us: ‘We need to be more careful witnessing.’”

From another Stan country: “Many KoG SD cards were put into hands this week; 37 at a funeral; 60 in a hospital. One Muslim from the Pamir Mountains (see last month’s update) declared Jesus as his Savior and Lord. The believers are also preparing 100 food boxes with KoG SD cards as Christmas gifts.”

Haiti: Pray too for God’s people in this hurting nation. Our colleague, who regularly shows the KING of GLORY and FOR THIS REASON movies in Haitian Creole, awaits 8000 KoG books in French and Creole to clear various obstacles. Please pray. Last week, a pastor friend, who was (and still is) to travel through dangerous territory next week to speak at an annual Bible conference in our colleague’s church, had his house and everything in it burned by gangs. They also burned the church building and homes of several members. A family the pastor didn’t even know offered to let him and his family stay in their house for a month. Another Haitian brother wrote, “I’m praying for $2000 for him so he can rent a house for a year and restart his life. I also hope to be able to give 300 families a bag of rice, beans, and gallon of cooking oil for Christmas. God will be glorified.” Contribute.

ROCKids
Tanzania: On Africa’s largest lake island, here’s a fresh report from the Girls’ New Hope Secondary School:
“As the Lord continues to provide, our prayer is that we can complete the construction of the four-in-one staff housing in time for the teachers to move in before the new school year starts in January 2025. Contribute. Meanwhile, ‘Pre-form 1’ is up and running. This program is for girls from public primary schools who will start secondary school in January. It prepares girls to learn entirely in English instead of the Swahili language used in their primary education. Pray that these new students will thrive in this Christ-centered environment.”

So thankful for each of you who pray and share in what God doing in 110+ languages around the world! As He leads, consider sharing ROCK’s Christmas movie with others this season: www.FOR-THIS-REASON.com

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations…. Amen!”
Ephesians 3:20-21

ROCK Resources | ROCKids

Every other year, ROCK has a 3-day retreat with some of our North American colleagues. Always a sweet and profitable time to review, strategize, praise and pray over challenges and opportunities God is putting before us and His servants around the globe to produce and use ROCK’s multi-language multimedia tools to evangelize, disciple, and equip others to do the same. As one fairly-new-to-ROCK attendee put it, “It’s mind boggling. The details of the things that are being done had me in tears. It’s almost like it’s not humanly possible!” And as Rachel (ROCK board member and visionary for the New Hope Girls’ High School in Tanzania) shared in a video she sent to the retreat: “In my time working alongside ROCK, the Lord has been so kind to us in doing far more abundantly above all that we have been able to ask or think. Isn’t that just how God works?”

As fuel for praise and prayer, here are a few sample quotes received in October from God’s servants worldwide:

A stan country, Central Asia: “Last month, an Afghan graduate from our Bible Institute went back to Afghanistan with the Gospel. Pray for his safety and that he can lead many to faith in Christ…. We had 15 Afghani refugees place their trust in Christ this past weekend. A great harvest is following much persecution! Yesterday I was able to give TWOR to an Islamic teacher with whom I spent two days last year sharing Christ.”

Malaysia, Southeast Asia: “We have been broadcasting The WAY of RIGHTOUSNESS (TWOR) radio programs from five FM stations since July 2023. We praise God for the response and trust Him for much eternal fruit.”

India, Asia: “Thanks for your trust and prayers. Continue to pray for the distribution of the 6000 One God One Message (OGOM) books in Hindi and Marathi. Pray this book gets into the hands of those whose lives get transformed after reading it!” 

Ethiopia, East Africa (where OGOM was recently completed in Amharic, and KoG is being translated): “We plan to use this teaching material in children and youth ministries, Bible study groups in churches, in seminaries….”

Niger, West Africa: From the Youth Development Center: “We had a concert for the music school this past Friday. The students played so well! Over a hundred friends, family members, and kids from the neighborhood came. Everyone heard the Gospel through word and song. What a night! Such an answer to prayer!”

ROCKids
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

Last weekend, ROCK International collaborated with Teens For Christ RWANDA as over 10,000 youth gathered (despite having to come in pouring rain) at the ULK Stadium in Kigali to be challenged from God’s Word. The subject was “Identity.” Nate (ROCK’s founder) was one of two speakers. God powerfully worked in young lives. Pray for the local team who will follow up with the hundreds who made decisions to follow Christ.

Thank you too for your continuing support for the ongoing works in Senegal, Niger, Haiti, South Asia, Tanzania, etc. where the Word of the Lord is being planted in countless ways. At the New Hope Girls’ Secondary School on the island in Lake Victoria, as God provides, the goal is to have the teacher housing ready to move into by January 2025, in time for the trauma/biblical worldview training for teachers and staff.

ROCK Resources
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor…” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

We who work thru the ROCK “channel” often remind ourselves: “ROCK is distribution-driven, not profit-driven.” In Jesus’ all-sufficient name, we thank you for your part in facilitating this rock-bottom principle related to ROCK’s multimedia, multi-language gospel and discipleship tools. If people and ministries can pay for the materials they need, great – and if they can’t, God still provides “all things at all times” according to His will. This He did last month, making it possible for ROCK to arrange for the printing and shipping of 45,000 KING of GLORY picture books, in Pidgin and English, to equip the Lord’s servants to “distribute freely” in public schools, towns, and tribes for the spread of an understood gospel throughout PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Based on that same “distribution-driven” principle – Samson, a gifted translator/servant of God in INDIA, with whom we have worked on 4 language-projects over the past few years, has arranged for ROCK to have printed 6000 ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE books in Hindi and Marathi. He recently sent to us a long list of places where he plans to distribute these books – such as in 4 prisons, 11 old age homes, 2 Bible colleges, some Hindi-speaking churches, a Christian international ministry that focuses on reaching Muslims and Hindus. Samson wrote: “Considering the effort we’ve invested in translating and publishing OGOM, which I’ve read at least 25 times, I aim to ensure that it reaches those who will engage with its message meaningfully. I pray it transforms lives.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Colossians 3:23

ROCK Resources
Between 2011 and 2015, while working on the KING of GLORY movie, I came across an anonymous quote from a movie director/editor, confirming what we needed to do before we could release the original (English) movie:

“[Making] a movie is like the Tour de France: It’s not necessary to win all the stages. It’s more important to resolve the worst situations, maintain the consistency, and then arrive in Paris as the winner.”

This director/editor’s practical advice (with spiritual application as well) also summarizes the tasks we (ROCK’s partners & coworkers) seek to fulfill daily from our many locations, e.g., communicate, translate, proof, record, edit, dub, maintain quality, design, print, distribute, ship, finance, update websites, work through problems, etc.

After the English movie’s release in 2015, some asked, “So what is your next project now that this is done?” With a chuckle, we answered, “Done? The work to translate, record, and distribute it in other languages has only just begun!” To the glory of God, nine years later, KoG is now in 60 languages and counting…

On Dec. 6, 2014, KING of GLORY had an Advanced Screening Premiere in a South Carolina theatre. Once the movie ended, an elderly gentleman across the aisle came over to me with tears in his eyes, saying, “Thank you. I believe God will use this movie to reach millions with the gospel!” Praise God, he was right. To illustrate, last month, the movie in its 60 languages on ROCK’s YouTube channel had 126,000+ views with an average of 1 hour per click. And in the past year? 6.47 million views with 1 hour, 21 min. per click. Lots of feedback too. A sample from last month: “Absolutely phenomenal. I will be sharing this with others…”. And this: “I just watched this video, 7 years after you posted it. Thank you for helping me on my journey to find God.” Pray for our worldwide audience. Watch/download ROCK’s videos & podcasts here: www.rockintl.org/resources 

ROCKids
Last month, we featured the New Hope Girls’ Secondary School in Tanzania. This month in Niger and in “our” South Asian country, amid turmoil and flooding, in answer to prayer, God is opening many special doors of opportunity. In Haiti, a faithful brother with others continue to go to hard areas to show KoG in Haitian Creole. And in Senegal, in the village where ROCK financed a wall for their school (Nov. 2022), the ROCK-connected Senegalese worker (with his family) has formed and is coaching a soccer team with local youth. Just days ago, they won the first match against a good team. All for the blessing of precious people – for time and eternity,

“Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1

ROCKids
Dr. Rachel reports: “In May, I had the opportunity to bring students and friends to Tanzania from Samford University to the Tumaini Jipya {New Hope} Girls’ Secondary {Boarding} School. We engaged with the girls through Bible studies, games, arts and crafts, while teaching local girls hygiene and safety. We also hosted a two-day conference for local women studying 1 John. Our prayers for Tumaini Jipya to serve both educational and ministry purposes are being beautifully answered!

“At this same time, the students took a major exam alongside three other schools in the area. Out of all the students taking the exams, Tumaini Jipya had 7 out of 10 top performers in Form 2 (2nd year students) and 6 of 10 top performers in Form 1! The girls have a sweet community and enjoy being together. All are learning to garden and raise chickens – projects that add nutrition to the girls’ diet and a small income for the school. We thank God too for His provision of sufficient funds to start Phase 1 of the teacher housing construction: the foundation, framework, and roof. Thank you for your prayers and share in this.” 

Meanwhile in Niger, terrorists are creating much suffering, displaced peoples, and increased poverty – and opportunities for believers to show Christ’s compassion. As the Lord provides, ROCK has been a channel to help believers help displaced peoples with agricultural projects to provide for them a food source in the coming harvest. Another hard place where designated gifts can be invested for the gospel is in gang-invaded Haiti…

ROCK Resources
Endless are the opportunities to equip the saved to reach the lost. For example, a few days ago ROCK shipped 7 cases of multi-language gospel tools to church leaders in New York City, who are in a church located among West African migrants. Last week, 75 Senegalese attended a community meal hosted by that church. The local imam was angry, “Why did you attend the church?” Their answer? “They gave us a meal.” An open door.

August 15th marks 3 years since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. In one border-country, many Afghan refugees are being transformed by the gospel as local believers share with them Christ’s love (in practical ways) and truth (often using ROCK’s Afghan-language gospel tools). Authorities are increasingly arresting and beating many of these former Muslims, accusing them of proselytizing – and threatening their families with deportation. Two of the persecutors, talking in a hallway, were overheard speaking of a Christian who was severely beaten, “How can he endure this? What he believes is real.” The Word of the Lord is being honored.

“Who has despised the day of small things?” —Zechariah 4:10
“A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a great thing.” —Hudson Taylor, 19^th Century, China

The infinitely great works of God through His people flow from “small things” done in obedience to Him. Thank you for your prayers and part in His work. Here’s a sampling of some “small things” connected with ROCK projects: ROCK Resources & ROCKids

• Over many years, amid endless challenges, a husband-and-wife team have been applying themselves to learn ASL and integrate with a deaf community in their state. They are also working with ROCK International to produce “Where is the Lamb?” – an experimental short film for the Deaf. Pray the Lord to create in the hearts of the Deaf a hunger to understand His redemptive plan and to know and sign The Truth who is Jesus Christ.
• Last week, God opened a door for ROCK International’s founder to speak in a Central Asian stan-land at a conference for 1000+ youth from all around that “closed” nation. Behind the news headlines, Christ is building His church.
• Month after month, two sisters in Christ work remotely in high-tech ways with worldwide partners to segment the multi-language KING of GLORY movie into its short, social-media-friendly 70-scene format. To enhance viewership, a strategic, daily, one-scene-per-day, YouTube-algorithm-responsive method is used, which increases views and helps a worldwide audience progressively grasp the gospel’s story and message, “precept upon precept… here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10; Luke 24:27,32).
• Each year, thousands of hours and dollars are invested to translate, format, print, ship, and distribute ROCK’s multi-language books. These initiatives would not happen apart from the “small things” being done by hidden, faithful servants of God. At present, 18,000 KoG books in French and Haitian Creole are on their way to ten nations. Lord willing, we hope to have 50,000 books in Pidgin and English printed and shipped to Papua New Guinea later this year, “a big, coordinated effort to get the chronological gospel into schools and tribes.” 
• The regular packing and mailing of ROCK resources (Packing tutorial: https://vimeo.com/456776868) to equip believers is another small thing with big impact. Last month, a student in Nigeria wrote: “After my school friends told me of Jesus and I saw their godly lives, I decided to turn from my religion to HIM. This beautiful book I received helped me to know more about Christ and stand on my ground. Thanks for leading me from darkness to light.”
• For the Girls’ New Hope Secondary School in Tanzania, we praise God for each sacrificial gift, from $10 to $40,000, received last month, which has wonderfully provided for construction on the staff housing to begin. 
• In Niger and South Asia, ongoing visa restrictions can create obstacles, but, to the glory of God who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, these too are “small things!”
  

ROCK Resources
“But the word of God grew and multiplied… and prevailed” (Acts 12:24; 19:20). The book of The Acts has been called “The Unfinished Work of Christ.” For all of us who rest and rejoice in Christ’s finished work at the cross and empty tomb, our Lord continues to work in, thru, and with us as He causes His word to grow, multiply, and prevail. Daily. Here are a few stories of His Word and Spirit at work in the most unlikely of places.

Grow. Central Asia. Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban in 2021 produced millions of refugees. We hear regularly of God’s work among Afghan refugees in the surrounding “stan-lands.” A recent text reports: “Big praise, we had 10 more Afghanis come to faith in Jesus Christ this week and they were all in church services today. The family grows! … pray for the believers to stand strong amid the storms and that God would be glorified.”

Multiply. South America (where KING of GLORY has 8 million+ views on YouTube in Spanish and Portuguese). Do you remember the interview “Spiritual Warfare in the Amazon Jungle” we released in 2021? God continues to multiply His gospel in that same Venezuelan rainforest. Michael Dawson and his wife just returned with 1000 more “Torches” (solar-powered flashlight-lantern audio devices) loaded with Yanomamö audio with the New Testament and KING of GLORY audiobooks, along with loads of other gospel and discipleship recordings. Be amazed by this 4-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGONtEyDMjI And as I write, Michael sent this: “Tomorrow a group is leaving heading for the headwaters of the Ocamo river. They hope to get to some of the new faraway villages we discovered using our Sat Map. Prayers appreciated.”

Prevail. Middle East. In Yemen, one of our partners (www.ArabicBible.com) reports an average of 150 new correspondents logging in daily to watch KING of GLORY’s 70 scenes in Yemeni Arabic. And serving them are 3 faithful Arabic believers, each doing 4-hour-shifts daily (6 days a week) for a total of 12 hours a day. Last week alone these guys dialogued with 377 Yemenis on Facebook. Some are doing online Bible courses, and some are placing their faith in Christ and His finished work! As one of these workers commented on a recent Zoom call, “God’s Word is a sledgehammer (that breaks the rock in pieces. – Jeremiah 23:29)!” Praise and pray on.

ROCKids
Here’s a fresh word just in from Dr. Rachel who, along with a team of university students, recently returned from Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary School in Tanzania. “The girls are thriving, working hard in their studies, and happily learning other tangible skills – such as how to garden and raise chickens. National exams will take place this year for 2nd year students. Please pray that their hard work will pay off. The highlight in being with them the last week was hearing them raise their voices in worship with these words: ‘What the LORD has done for me, I cannot tell it all!’” Praise Him! 

ROCK Resources
We thank you in Jesus’ all-sufficient name for your prayers and gifts which are blessing untold millions. Following last year’s October 7^th attack on Israel, God put it into our hearts to contact partners in the Middle East to see if they also had it in their hearts to translate and record KING of GLORY in Hebrew. They did.

Up to that point, by working with partners in the Middle East and Africa, the movie had already been produced in 7 Arabic dialects and in 20 other Muslim-majority languages, but ROCK International had nothing in the Hebrew language of the “nation from which [came] the prophets, the Scriptures, and the Savior of the world.” – Quote from KING of GLORY, Scene 28 of 70

Amid many challenges, over 6 months, מלך הכבוד KING of GLORY in Hebrew was translated, recorded, dubbed, field-tested, and released on April 23^rd, KoG’s 60^th language. One of its special touches is the background music during the end credits, played and sung by Joshua Aaron, who granted us rights to use his Hebrew rendition of “How Great is Our God (Gadol Elohai).” Here’s his video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSKtoURGAg from which we used part of the audio. As you enjoy Joshua’s music, pray for Jewish people in Israel and around the world – that they will (1) watch and understand this chronological presentation about their true Messiah, and (2) that the Spirit of God will touch their minds and hearts in a way similar to what their prophet Zechariah foretold that the LORD will do for Israel when Messiah returns: “I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son…”  (Zech. 12:10). Finally, praise God, one week after the movie was released, as I write, exactly 1,100 visitors have watched the full movie for an average of 1 hour+ per click. Pray. Pray for all the peoples of this region. Their pain is off the charts. But so is the gospel’s power.

ROCKids
We thank God for the sacrificial gifts given in April to projects that will bless youth and their families in West and East Africa. In Niger, “renovations on the third floor for the Youth Development Center are underway for making the wall higher and the space safe for all ages. Additional projects include rebuilding the roof on the prayer room and making a sun cover for the porch area.”  Meanwhile in Tanzania, staff and students are thanking God for “the generous gifts from the many who care about the girls and teachers of Tumaini Jipya (New Hope). These funds will allow the school to begin construction on a block of four teacher houses this summer once the rainy season is over. We thank the Lord too that the school has been gifted with 17 laptops, allowing the girls to soon be able to take computer classes.”

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!