Audio Bible In Nigerian Languages For Launch

GOSPEL music stars Asu Ekiye, Panam Percy Paul, Samsong and Solomon Lange will alongside other music acts perform at the launch of the audio bible in 19 Nigerian languages billed to hold at the Congress Hall of the Nicon Hilton, Abuja on July 18 from 1pm.

Dike Chukwumerije, son of late Senator Chukwumerije would be on call to dish out soul inspiring poems as well as renowned Prof. Herbert Wilson. Also, former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has confirmed attendance for the July 18 event.

God’s Servant David Ogudu, General Overseer, G.O of Christos International Worship Centre, Abuja; producer of the audio bible described the oncoming event as “day of fun” at a media event in Abuja on Saturday, June 27. “It’s going to be a day of music, comedy and spiritual rejuvenation,” Ogudu said last Saturday.

Ogudu revealed how he came about the idea of the audio bible. “On Saturday, June 7, 2014, (5am), I had a night vision where I was commanded by the angel to go and prepare an audio Bible in different languages in Nigeria, for the healing and restoration of man’s dignity (Matt 4:14), reminding me how I was healed through an English audio Bible years ago, and how it will help strengthen my mother’s fragile age. Today we have it in 19 languages. The vision first came to me 19 years ago, precisely September 1996, while in Bible school in Benin City. But I did not know how it will become a reality but today it’s a reality. It is my desire that all Nigerians will embrace it, especially the Christian body, for unity, sense of purpose, direction and the self dignity of our people. Also the generations yet unborn will be able to connect to their root even in this era of globalization and westernization. Also preserving the word of God and making it easy for this generation to connect in this 21st century with their people because of the languages.”

The languages the audio bible was produced in at the moment are: Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, Ebira, Idoma, Tiv, Igala, Urhobo, Itshekiri, Okrika, Ijaw, Benin, Gbagi, Gwari, Fulani, Ogoni and Pidgin English. “We are working on producing in other languages after we have seen how this one goes because the sole aim is to win souls for God, but we are trusting God for partnership from government, Ministry of Education, multinational bodies and international bible societies to help in the distribution of it to all nooks and crannies because we would be holding crusades in any part of the country that speaks the particular language in the audio bible with our celebrity partners.”
Ogudu got his calling at age 19 while studying Chemical Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, June 11, 1994 to be precise “so I had to leave school for the All Nations For Christ Bible Institute owned by late Bishop Benson Idahosa. Coincidentally, I had a vision where I saw myself shipping bibles, so I guess God wanted me to get involved in this project since 21 years ago.”

The objectives of the audio bible are; to get the word to the unreached in their own language, to get the word to the illiterate, weak and old, to cause a word revival over the country, to restore our dying languages and bring our dignity back as a people and as a nation, as a bridge builder for unity in Nigeria, to bring back joy to the aged via the word, to spread the word through airwaves in local languages so that farmers, fisher men, artisans’ people even in the rural areas will have access to God’s word in their languages, to bring healing and deliverance and salvation to the unsaved, to promote and preserve our cultural heritage and values as a people and as a race like India, China among others.

It is also to network with churches for global and rural evangelism. “The word of God is life, some of these languages are going into extinction and we want to use this audio bible to revive them, reawaken our culture and languages as well as bring pride and dignity to the individual.”

Present at the media event was Nollywood star Ejike Asiegbu and a representative of Orji Uzor Kalu.