Koru Genesis Video

Koru^* Christians are oppressed, persecuted and often imprisoned for their faith in their home country. They meet as house churches to minimize detection by the authorities. Written materials and any Christian materials in Koru are forbidden.

Recording God's Word into the Koru language.

For several years Vernacular Media Services (VMS) has been working with a group of Koru refugees who are now living in the U.S. Mr. High^* is a Koru Bible translator who completed the Koru translation of Genesis in 2001. Early in 2002 the Genesis video was recorded in Koru by a team from VMS. These were the first Old Testament materials the Koru ever had in their own language. They were eagerly waiting for them and praised God when they were completed. Until these materials were produced they had to use Old Testament scriptures in the national language of their country.

In addition to the book of Genesis and the video, music CDs and dramatized recordings of other Old Testament books have also been recorded. These materials are for all Koru, but are especially intended for lay pastors in the homeland who need materials for teaching believers so the church can continue to develop and grow spiritually.

A large group of Koru speakers watched the first showing of Joseph’s story from the Genesis video. Among the viewers were several refugees who had arrived in the U.S. only a few weeks earlier. Many watched the video with tears in their eyes, hearing and understanding the Old Testament as never before.

Watching the “Genesis” video in their own language.

One recent refugee’s reaction:
“I watched with tears in my eyes. It is so important to hear it and see it in our own language. I could really understand it. Joseph’s story is just like us. Joseph was forced to live in a foreign land, but God used him there to help his family who were back in their home country. We had to come to a foreign land, too. God will use us here in the United States to help our families and people back in the homeland just like he used Joseph in Egypt.”

God is indeed using the Genesis video and the other media materials in Koru to reach the people in their home country as well as Koru who have fled to an adjacent country. In spring of 2004 we received a report saying there were many new believers. When the person giving the report was asked why, he replied, “Because now we have the Genesis video, the book of Genesis, other Bible books and the CDs in our own language. More than five hundred people attended one service. Many listened through the cracks in the walls and through the windows because of their hunger for the word of God.”

Pray for:

The persecuted Koru who face rape, hanging or mutilation for their faith in Christ.
Mr. High as he continues the translation of the Old Testament.
Several Koru men who are working on more media materials.
All involved with the Koru work, that “the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph” 2 Thessalonians 3:1).

*Pseudonym due to sensitivity of information