by Patti Ediger

Four bright green flip-chart books, several “Aunties,” and an army of godly servants have all been part of the story of sending “Gospel Potential” tools to a small African country ravaged by disease and death. This is a story of life to those who come in contact with these tools, life abundant and life everlasting.
The country to which these tools were carried is called Eswatini. It was formerly called Swaziland, a small country of 1.25 million souls. Average life expectancy there is only 58 years, due to its having the highest prevalence of HIV in the world (30%).
A staggering 58% of its children are orphans. Sadly, due to increasing food insecurity and poverty across Eswatini, this number is on the rise. However, there are points of hope and love to be found as well.
An orphanage was founded in the midst of an abandoned mining town. Each house in the town was restored and made into a home consisting of an “Auntie,” or mother figure, living with 6 or 7 children as a family. The children are brought up with love, education, and provision in this Christian community called Belembu. It is here that four of GRN’s bright green picture books are being passed from home to home for the children to hear Bible stories and the Gospel with their Aunties.
But that is not all the story. There is so much more…maybe including you! GRN provides tools, but tools do not use themselves. It truly takes a vast army to turn potential into reality.
Recordists went to a disease-ridden area of Africa to accurately record the Gospel in the mother tongue of the people. They recorded Bible story after Bible story, each story matching a colorful picture in the flipchart, ending with an invitation to follow Jesus and simple teaching about the Christian life.
Donors and prayer warriors laid the spiritual groundwork and gave generously toward the production of the picture books and other vital projects.
GRN home staff scurried do all the background labor involved in production, organizing finances, equipping the teams, and a multitude of other tasks related to just this one sliver of the work of fulfilling the mission of Global Recording Network around the world.
One inspired church member made a PowerPoint presentation to teach the pictured mission trip volunteers how to use the 5fish app to play Bible stories in languages local to their target area. Pictures here are of these volunteers being trained.
Finally, there is prayer. Thank you for (in effect) going to Africa with the whole GRN team and these volunteers. Your prayers and sacrificial gifts have made a difference in the lives of a town full of orphans—along with many other people around the world eager to hear God speak In their own heart language.
If your church is sending members on short-term mission trips, why not send the Good News picture books with them? Contact the GRN office to order. Messages in languages around the world can be played (via 5fish app) on any cell phone, any time, any place.