Rev Hsu Cheng-dao, chairman of the Bible Society in Taiwan, quoted Malachi 3:16~18 to give a sermon, entitled “The Lord Took Note and Listened”.” As the Advent approached, Rev Hsu indicated that launching the Ngudradrekai Audio Bible App in mother tongues at this season would invite more people to not only read the Bible with their eyes, but also listen to God’s truth via their ears. And the goal of the Bible translation into Ngudradrekai language is to fulfill the simplistic but extraordinary good news of Christmas as “the Word became flesh and lived among us”, he said.

Rev Hsu also quoted the suggestions from the theologian Evan Howard, reminding the audience that the Advent is a time to take retreat and adjust tempo of life, and a time for the churches and Christians to love each other and offer reach out more. Although the world situation was always changing and many challenges lying ahead, Rev Hsu expressed, but by being faithful to God’s word, people could still face the troubles with peace, continue to stand firm in God’s grace, and find the comfort in life through listening to the truth of the Bible.

Even in the defeat and failures in daily lives, Rev Hsu encouraged the struggled people to carry on experiencing God’s grace and continue to practice and proclaim His Word. He used the term “Oral Sounds Landscape” to suggest that God exists in people’s daily lives and culture through words in sounds, which enriches human life and motivates people.

At the end of the sermon, Rev Hsu called the audience that through the launch of the Ngudradrekai Audio Bible App, the God-fearing people will become much more committed to their faith, learn how to repent from heart, offer in joy, promise without break, forgive those offenders, pray in God’s words, and witness in action to the Word listened.

After the sermon, the Elderly Citizens Choir and the United Sunday School Choir of Kucapungane, Laladhengane, Karamumudisane, and Berai churches sang the hymns in the service. And then, the recording process clip of the Ngudradrekai Audio Bible App was showcased to the audience.

Witnessed by representatives from the Ngudradrekai Presbytery’s staffs, Audio Bible recording team, Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Bible Society in Taiwan, and the Aboriginal Language Research and Development Foundation, Rev Lrwane Davellengan, moderator of Ngudradrekai Presbytery, led the audience to read the thanksgiving statement to launch the Audio Bible App. This significant assembly also held color-drawing contest and awarding rituals for the attendants, church institutes and Audio Bible recording team.

Remarkably, there were 202 drawings received for the color-drawing contest, meaning more than 200 children as a great faction of the Ngudraderkai’s next generation had engaged in the Audio Bible ministry to proclaim the Word of God!

Translated by Peter Wolfe