Homeless migrants hear the Gospel

Faith Comes By Hearing has sent 50 audio Bibles to the United Arab Emirates, and 100 more are on the way. "Malcolm" (named changed for privacy) works with FCBH and said if God provides the resources, partners in the UAE could use as many as 500 to 1,000 Proclaimers in one year.

The Proclaimer is a third-world, culturally-adapted playback unit, enabling individuals or groups to listen to the Bible in audio form. The Bible is recorded dramatically, with multiple voices, background music, and sound effects. "It's amazing to see how it affects people," Malcolm said.

About 3 million of the UAE's 4 million people are migrant workers who come from countries like Nepal, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to work in construction, engineering, and medical care. They live in government housing camps, some of which hold tens of thousands of people. The Proclaimers enhance the ministry of pastors working in camps of migrant workers.

"The Bible Society in the Gulf has been able to go into those camps with a pastor who speaks their language and establish a church in these areas," Malcolm explained. "They have about 80-100 pastors that go throughout these camps alone, discipling and reaching these people for Jesus."

The government does not oppose the pastors' efforts, Malcolm added. "The government is fully aware of what's going on, and although I won't say they are supportive, they are permitting pastors to do evangelical and discipleship programs."

The Proclaimers help the pastors reach people from other cultures, allowing the migrants to "listen to the Bible in their heart language," Malcolm explained. "Many times the preacher or the pastor that's in charge of them may not speak their language. They speak a language the people may understand, but it's not their heart language."

The economic downturn is having a significant impact on the migrant workers, as many are losing their jobs--and with their jobs, they lose their housing. Some have the financial means to return home, but others are stuck in the UAE for the present. The pastors are ministering to them physically as well as spiritually by providing necessities such as clothing, food, and shelter.

"The Bible Society's outreach to these people is making a difference in their lives," Malcolm said. "Nobody has really taken the time to spend with them, to share with them. And the Bible Society pastors who are dealing with the workers who have lost their jobs and lost the roof over their heads are showing Christ's love to them not only physically, but spiritually, and they're getting remarkable results."

Now, dozens of homeless migrants gather around their Proclaimer under the palm trees and skyscrapers of the UAE's large cities. Malcolm sees huge potential for God to use these men in building His Kingdom.

"When those guys are to the point where they can return to their home countries, they're taking their new-found faith with them," he said. "And they're taking it with an excitement and exuberance. They want to go back and share with their villages and their families."

In addition, those who stay can make an impact for the Gospel in the UAE, Malcolm said.

"God could redeem that economic situation and use it for His glory," he mused. "We are already seeing that happen, and I think it will continue. And then, imagine what would happen as the economy turns around. But we have all these workers that have come to know Christ...and what an effect they can have on that nation."