Earthquake Survivors Get Solar-Powered Bibles (The Australian; Jan 19)

As international aid agencies rush food, water and medicine to Haiti’s earthquake victims, a US faith-based group is sending Bibles to Haitians in their hour of need.

Not just any Bible.

These are solar-powered audible Bibles that can broadcast the holy scriptures in Haitian Creole to 300 people at a time.

Called the “Proclaimer,” the audio Bible delivers “digital quality” and is designed for “poor and illiterate people”, the Faith Comes By Hearing group said.

According to their website, the Proclaimer is “self-powered and can play the Bible in the jungle, desert or … even on the moon!”

The Albuquerque-based organisation said 600 of the devices were already on their way to Haiti.

It said it was responding to the Haitian crisis by “providing faith, hope and love through God’s Word in audio”.

With tens of thousands of Port-au-Prince residents living outdoors because their homes have collapsed or they fear aftershocks from last week’s quake, the audio Bible can bring them “hope and comfort that comes from knowing God has not forgotten them through this tragedy”, the group said.

FAIR WARNING: If I am ever left homeless and starving by what’s commonly known as an act of gOd and you come waltzing up with a fancy Bible in an attempt to remind me how much your imaginary friend in the sky loves and is thinking of me, please do not be surprised if I kill and eat you.