What happens when a group of people gather to listen to the Word of God together?
1 Peter 2:5 says, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (ESV).
This is what we see in listener groups: God’s people as living stones making up a spiritual house, meeting together and encouraging one another to grow in faith! Read on to learn how people in listener groups are building each other up and growing in faith through a recent media player distribution in Côte d’Ivoire!
TWR Canada recently provided 50 media players to Côte d’Ivoire for listener groups to learn from God’s Word together. These players have already reached more than 600 people! Many people in the distribution area live in remote villages and are illiterate. Thus, these moments of listening together create an environment where listeners share their experiences and insights after hearing biblical audio programmes, such as those from Women of Hope and Discipleship Essentials, and grow in faith together.
One listener, who was hostile to the Gospel and pushed away all those who approached her about God’s Word, has just given her life to Christ after listening to broadcasts of TWR Women of Hope!
Another listener shared, “Thank you for the grace of listening to the programmes as a group. It helps me a lot, especially hearing about the experiences of other participants. I am encouraged to continue my walk with God.”
A leader of a listener group also shared the following: “I am the leader of a listening group that meets in my house. We listen to the Women of Hope programme and I am very touched by the results of our listening time. The programmes directly address the needs of the women; the women open up more than before, which allows me to get to know them better, understand them, and above all, support them with advice, which brings comfort to the whole group. This motivates me even more to invite those around me who do not go to church to come and share these moments. I understand that this is an instrument of evangelism that is offered to me.”
Another leader shared, “Thank you very much to those who thought of us living in remote areas. I am happy to receive the radio receiver to listen to the Word of God in my house. For me, I see God in my house teaching people and an opportunity for my parents to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a blessing. Thank you so much.”
As God’s Spirit dwells in the houses of these listener groups, God is changing lives and building a spiritual house out of his believers who are growing in faith!