ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 15 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Long-known as a leader in the field of Audio Bibles, Faith Comes By Hearing is being recognized for their recent developments in technology. Their Digital Bible Project (DBP) was chosen as the recipient of the
2010 Ministry Award presented by Counsel & Capital (C&C) – a non-profit organization that works with Christian ministries to better communicate with major donors from the business world.
The DBP includes the world's largest collection of digital Scripture and makes Bible text and audio freely accessible around the world through the Internet, mobile devices, social networks, and smartphones. The ministry offers these free Bible apps under their
Bible.is brand.
Since its release earlier this year, the Bible.is suite of applications has resulted in over 5 million Bible touches – streaming, downloads and usage of apps – resulting in an average listening time of 37 minutes. The Android version, released in September, quickly became the top Bible app on that platform.
In announcing the award, C&C commented on "the compelling nature" and "cutting-edge technology" of the project. The group also noted that Faith Comes By Hearing had applied "a proven Biblical model in pursuit of a meaningful goal."
"We're truly honored and humbled by this recognition and we are excited to see the impact that will result from the Counsel & Capital Ministry award," stated Morgan Jackson, international director for Faith Comes By Hearing.
The $100,000 award will be used for localization of the Bible.is app. Localization refers to making the entire application – from download to daily use – available in the native language of the end user. Cultural relevance will also be considered in the design of the app's content and features.
As it stands now, listeners can use Bible.is to hear or read the Bible in more than 90 languages. However, the process prior to listening or reading is entirely in English.
"Not only will people be able to listen to God's Word in their own language, which many can do now, but they will be able to search, find and use our free Bible applications without having to encounter a language foreign to them," Jackson concluded.
Faith Comes By Hearing's goal is to record and provide access to the
New Testament in 2,000 languages by 2016. The cost to record the New Testament in a people's heart-language is $25,596. The ministry released its 500th language recording this month.
