Ron and Ruth Henkel

Wycliffe Bible Translators, Vernacular Media, Waxhaw, North Carolina

Christmas Newsletter   

What would be the impact if...?

An African man recently asked this question as he tried to decide if he should attend a media workshop. He'd been away from home for weeks and was eager to see his family. Then he began thinking about his children, who loved listening to cassettes. He thought, "What if the cassettes were in Pokomo (his native tongue), what impact would they have then? I know God wants us to keep His word in our hearts so it will always be available to us. The Pokomo like singing, music and stories. If they could hear the word of God that way, what would be the impact? The word of God would go from the cassettes straight into their hearts!" He decided to stay and learn how to design and record scripture based audio programs.

The Pokomo and millions of others around the world (50% of women and 30% of men) do not read their native tongue. The printed Word alone cannot communicate to them.

Vernacular Media Services (VMS) exists to assist Bible translators and the national people with whom they work to select, design, and produce audio and visual presentations of the gospel message in local languages.

Ron serves as Director of the VMS department and Liaison to Eurasia Area. Ruth currently serves as Liaison to Africa Area and part time on the VMS training staff.