In an area where most people can’t read, how do you tell them of God’s incredible love for them in the person of Jesus Christ? How do you help build a mature local church where believers are few and resources are scarce?

SIM Guinea has struggled with this problem for years among the Maninka, a predominantly Muslim group in West Africa. Workers are frustrated because they know if they give someone a New Testament in the Maninka language, the recipient can’t read it. Literacy programs take time, and few of the Maninka people are interested in learning to read anyway. There is a small group of believers, but most of them can’t read well enough to comprehend the Scriptures.

In August 2003, Mark Wilson and the SIM Guinea team launched the Maninka Audio Media Outreach (MAMO) to address this problem. MAMO’s purpose is to record Maninka Scripture on cassette tapes and produce radio programs that will communicate the gospel in a culturally relevant way. Christian workers from overseas, local believers and commercial tape sellers will distribute the tapes to Maninka people everywhere. The radio programs will incorporate Scripture with drama, music, humor, health teaching, and literacy. Some scripts will be original in Maninka and others will be translated from the French. We hope that soon Maninka speakers throughout the region will be able to hear the good news—perhaps even on Radio Rurale, the government FM radio station.

God's people have provided start-up finances, but many obstacles, big and small, still stand between vision and reality. One of the biggest hurdles came down in July 2004 with the negotiation of a 3-year rental contract on a building to house the recording studio. Mark and friends renovated the building and Darrell Nickolaus, a "retired" missionary and audio engineer, installed the sound equipment. Mark is mastering the recording software and conducting trial recordings. He will recruit Maninka people to provide the voices and music for the recordings.

As Mark continues, in God’s strength, to develop these recordings, his ultimate vision is for the Maninka Christians to take ownership of this project for themselves. It will require much wisdom, energy, time, prayer and ultimately the work of God’s Spirit in the hearts and minds of the people. Until then, to keep from being overwhelmed, he will simply have to follow the advice of many of his friends: “One day at a time, Mark. One day at a time.”

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Pray

• that the living Lord Jesus will thwart all attempts of Satan to hinder the launch of this media ministry.
• for diligence and understanding in mastering the software and equipment.
• for wisdom in selecting Maninka speakers and singers.