Jaars Center

Audio-Visual Production for Scripture Engagement

Many people in some regions of Asia don’t read—so they’re much more likely to study, understand, and share audio Scriptures.

Why is JAARS needed?

Our local partner in a region of Asia* has found that in most minority languages, less than half the people can read. Daily lives are built around personal interactions, not written texts. They have little reason to pick up a printed Bible. For these communities, audio is the answer.

A regional recording studio is a hub of activity, serving the needs of a number of translation projects currently underway in the area. With the assistance of three trained staff members, translation teams record Scripture, worship songs, and Bible stories local languages. For the first time, local languages in this region now have access to God’s Word in an audio format.

The studio’s busy schedule makes good use of its professional facilities and media staff. Projects may vary: An entire New Testament or a single book. The JESUS film dubbed in a local language. Worship songs. Bible stories. Even health information. As soon as materials are ready, local translation teams can head to the studio—without worrying about the huge cost of renting.

The staff continues to provide training and mentoring to local translation teams. As materials become available, they assist teams in recruiting talented speakers to record the materials. Encouraging local pastors to use audio and visual materials in local languages in their worship and teaching is an ongoing focus.

Your support will ensure that studio operating costs, including staff salaries, are met; that equipment—like audio Scripture players—is available to distribute recorded materials; and that staff members can attend workshops to sharpen and upgrade their skills.

How You Can Help

GIVE


To support this project and others like it, please give to our Media Solutions. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry!

PRAY


Pray for local pastors to take the lead in using this new medium to educate their congregations. Pray, too, the studio staff will have good health and spiritual strength to do their daily work.

Who benefits from our work?

Millions of people—from big cities and rural villages, of all ages, professions, and spiritual backgrounds. Audio might be the only way they can experience God’s Word in their own language.

Churches use audio-visual materials, too. Many are springing up here. When their pastors and members have easily understood Scriptures, they no longer struggle to understand, deepen, and share their faith.

Take the A* people group. Several members attended an ethnomusicology workshop to learn how to compose worship songs in their local language. Later they came down to the studio to record their songs. They shared that these songs have brought great changes in their church worship life. One brother said, “The songs I composed are now part of my life. Through them I praise the real God, and I have joy in praising him.”

To support this project and others like it, please give to our Media Solutions. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry!

*For the success of this project, we can’t name the specific region of Asia or a specific people group.