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!
