  |
|
|
|
by Jake Allen
Veteran music producer, Brian Hardin, is pleased about the success of his "Daily Audio Bible" project, looking forward to making it even stronger in the year ahead.
Launched in January 2006, this unique podcast has received well over 2.5 million downloads and since June has consistently been in the iTunes’ Top 15 Religious Podcasts, spending the majority of it’s time in the Top 10 and going as high as #2. Additionally, the Daily Audio Bible (DAB) can be found in the Top 50 Podcasts of all genres world-wide on Podcast Alley and is usually in the Top 25. Featuring a daily Bible reading and Hardin's thoughts on the passage, with the goal of reading through the entire Bible in a year, DAB listeners are invited to join in the “adventure of a lifetime” and are encouraged to become a part of the online community to share views, ask questions, pray for each other and grow together throughout the year. “When I started reading the Bible on January 1, I had no idea what I was going to encounter,” says Hardin. “Daily exposure to the scriptures has changed the way I do everything and I’ve received thousands of emails from every corner of the globe reflecting this same change worldwide. The community has grown to be a real life example of growing from nothing to a thriving family who is literally modeling the Christian lifestyle in a virtual way.” In addition to the great popularity with listeners, DAB has also received attention from media outlets around the world. The podcast has been featured as a front page story in The Tennessean, The Tampa Tribune and many other newspapers as well as on Nashville’s local News Channel 5, a CBS affiliate, SF-TV in Switzerland and the REELVerse Podcast. Each week, readings come from a different translation of the Bible, and in 2007 Hardin is looking at partnering with publishers to provide give-aways of that week’s translation. Broadman-Holman is already on board. Additionally, DAB has teamed with deliberatePeople to bring awareness to the “dP Reading and Prayer Journal” to use as a resource in the listener’s individual journey. Founded by Newsboys bass player and Indelible Creative Group solo artist, Phil Joel and his wife Heather, deliberatePeople is a ministry created to help people turn their passion for the Lord into a deliberate plan to pursue Him. (Read the Suite review of Joel's deliberatePeople album here). "DAB and deliberatePeople both squarely focus on assisting believers in their daily pursuit of God. The vital, yet often overlooked practice of feeding on the word of God on a daily basis is central in this endeavor,” Joel explains. “We long to see God’s truth permeate the hearts and minds of people all over the world who are hungry for more of His presence, power, and purpose in their lives. DAB does this through audio via the internet and deliberatePeople encourages the daily practice of reading the Bible and meeting with God themselves using the same one year Bible reading schedule that Brian uses for the DAB.” Joel continues, “Both Brian and I believe that whether we are getting the word of God into our hearts through our eyes or ears, it is vital for our spiritual growth and health as disciples of Christ! And, it’s to this cause that we are both firmly committed." DAB will be exploring other partnerships throughout 2007 in order to provide listeners with resources and tools to help them grow in their personal faith relationships. “Virtual community is something I feel strongly about,” says Hardin. I’ve seen the dramatic change it’s made in people’s lives. Perhaps it’s not the ideal, but when you live in an area where true Christian community is not available, the DAB serves as a stop gap. As we move into the future we want to provide resources and education to those who desire to build real community in their corner of the world, based on what the Bible speaks to us on a daily basis.” The mission of the Daily Audio Bible is to invite the listener to the adventure of a lifetime through daily exposure to the scriptures and a Kingdom-based outlook on life. Here are some testimonies from just a handful of the DAB family around the world… “I was given an iPod last year and was tired of listening to music only. So, I searched iTunes for something related to the Scripture... and found the Daily Audio Bible. And here I am, in São Paulo, Brazil, listening to the Bible on a daily basis, thanks to technology and you devoting time and patience to this. I feel blessed every morning when I go for a walk listening to the inspiring words from the Bible so nicely read.” ~ Juris “We listen to you every night and find it is a really good way to get a lot of the Word even when we're tired. We have a ministry to unreached Chumash Tribe. 20 young people just got saved. We would like the community to pray for their souls so that they will not fall away.” ~ Diane “I want to thank you for the Daily Audio Bible. It is such a blessing to me! I have Lou Geherig's disease and have no use of my arms or legs. I loved reading my Bible and gleaning from it what God has for me. When I lost the use of my arms I was so sad that I couldn't go into the Word for the encouragement I need to face this illness each day. I have an audio Bible but it just wasn't the same. I found you and have been so blessed! I feel like you are my study partner and together we look at God's Word for our daily manna. I love reading the old and new testaments and proverbs! It fills me up and gives me hope and peace to continue my day! Your comments are such a blessing too and I feel so connected in fellowship with you! Thank you, dear brother, for your service to Christ!” ~ Connie
The copyright of the article Daily Audio Bible Going Strong in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Daily Audio Bible Going Strong in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
