ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Raheem left his wife and two children in Pakistan almost three years ago to make a better life.  He found work in the United Arab Emirates, a small, oil-rich nation of federated Arab states located in the Middle East. Upon arriving at the labor camps, he met men and women [...]]]>

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Raheem left his wife and two children in Pakistan almost three years ago to make a better life.  He found work in the United Arab Emirates, a small, oil-rich nation of federated Arab states located in the Middle East. Upon arriving at the labor camps, he met men and women from India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Like other workers, Raheem sends nearly all of his paycheck home. This worldwide economic climate has the workers on edge. Everyday many are fired and told to leave. Forced onto the streets, they make temporary homes in the park, scrounging to gather enough for a trip home.

Raheem becomes a statistic, losing his job. He has nowhere to lay his head. In the park, he joins a group gathered around a small black box. He begins listening to dramatized stories about another wanderer who teaches about God, love and faith.  Raheem’s heart warms as he realizes that this Jesus knows where he’s been.

“In the middle of the desert, a harvest is being reaped,” said Malcolm Montgomery, a Faith Comes By Hearing representative.

Through partnerships with the Bible Society in the Gulf and local pastors, Faith Comes By Hearing is discipling immigrant workers with God’s Word in audio.

“Local pastors use Audio Bibles in their outreach and discipleship efforts among the immigrant laborers,” Montgomery said. “Less than 20 percent of the 4.8 million people there are citizens. The rest are workers.”

There are workers from roughly 200 different countries in the U.A.E.

“Jesus said ‘go into all the world and make disciples,’ but He has brought the world [here]. These workers come to the Gulf to find jobs, and then more than jobs, they find Christ,” said Babu Ganta, a Bible Society in the Gulf representative.

“Our ministry is to bring God’s Word to these people,” said Ranjini Ganta, a Bible Society in the Gulf representative. “We are always looking for new tools, new means. The Proclaimer has been one of the most important means by which we are presenting the Gospel to them.”

The Proclaimer is a self-powered audio player that is pre-loaded with the Audio Drama New Testament in the heart languages of people around the world.

Pastors are using 150 Proclaimers, but Montgomery said they could use up to 1,000 each year.