Audio-Bibles for Malaysia

The indigenous communities of Malaysia are characterized by a strong oral tradition. Many elders, now in their sixties or seventies, never truly learned to read. And it is precisely these grandparents who became Catholic and passed the faith down to their grandchildren. For decades, these Catholic elders have faithfully participated in Sunday celebrations of the Word, listening to the Gospel every week. When the Word of God remains only in written form in the Bible, it does not truly reach them. Hence the decision of the local bishop, Msgr. Simon Poh: to launch the Audio-Bible project, collaborating with other Christian groups (such as Faith Comes By Hearing Inc., in the USA) to record and make the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, available in audio format. The Audio-Bibles in the Bidayuh dialects and the Iban language now allow elderly believers to hear the Scripture proclaimed in their “heart language”—that is, the mother tongue spoken in the village, with familiar imagery, rhythms, and intonations. In this way, the Bible is no longer a distant text heard only at church on Sundays. The Gospel becomes a voice speaking from within the culture, so much so that one can exclaim: “Now I know my God. It is Jesus speaking to me in my heart language.” Read the full interview with Msgr. Poh.