Church Planting International

Objective

Our objective is to record an audio version of the New Testament in the Huichol language of Mexico and make 1,000 copies available for distribution along with solar powered listening devices to remote Huichol villages.

Need

The Huicholes are a tribe of about 30,000 people who live in some 400 remote communities in the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains of west central Mexico. The Huicholes are mainly animists, and though there are now Christians among them, there are still many unreached areas. Many Huicholes speak little or no Spanish; and most of those who know Spanish still understand spiritual truths better in their own language. For this reason, the written New Testament in the Huichol language is indispensable for the establishment of the Huichol church. (CPI reprinted 2,500 copies of the Huichol New Testament in 1999.)

Yet there are many Huicholes who do not read or who read with difficulty. How will they be reached? How will they hear the Word? We believe that there are many in the remote mountain communities that would listen to the Scriptures spoken in their own language if they had the opportunity. They need to have an audio version of the New Testament in their language. The Holy Spirit will do the work through the Word; but we must get the Word to the people.

Plan

The recording sessions will be run by the Huicholes with assistance from missionaries in Tepic, Mexico. Huichol leaders will hold auditions to find the best, most convincing readers in their native language .We will then have the recording of the Huichol New Testament permanently burned onto the chips contained in small listening devices called "megavoices". The megavoices are the size of small calculators and have batteries that are recharged by solar energy. Native Huichol workers will then carry the megavoices to remote villages. In some cases the megavoices will be the property of the Huichol churches who will loan the devices to individuals who have an interest in the Scriptures. If someone wants to own their own megavoice, however, they may purchase a unit for 50 pesos or about $5 dollars. These funds will be used by the Huichol missionaries to help cover expenses of distribution. Our hope is that small groups would be formed to listen regularly to the spoken Word.

Project Evaluation

Each community would be re-visited periodically to follow up on how the Audio New Testaments are being used and to encourage the people in the Scriptures. Our prayer is that churches will be birthed through the power of the Word, the working of the Holy Spirit, and the labor of the native workers.

You may contribute to the SANTO project through CPI: