Langham Preaching (part of the Langham Partnership) is partnering with Harare Theological College (HTC) to provide an innovative technological method of overcoming costly or non-existent internet connections in Zimbabwe.
HTC has developed what it calls the ‘chatterbox’. Essentially a mini computer the size of a cigarette packet, it incorporates a learning management system attached to a solar panel, so it is completely independent of both electricity and internet. It also generates its own intranet.
John Bell, Langham’s movement coordinator for Zimbabwe, said: ‘Even before Covid struck, we had been exploring ways to reach rural communities where electricity supply and connectivity is poor. But Covid-19 significantly disrupted our work in Zimbabwe because running virtual seminars during lockdowns is impossible.
‘Our good relationship with HTC has led to us embrace chatterbox, onto which we loaded the full Level 1 Langham Preaching course, videos and manuals. So wherever there is a chatterbox unit, the Langham Preaching course is available. So far HTC has made about 20 chatterboxes and they’re being slowly distributed across the country.
‘Eighteen videos have been recorded, then greatly compressed so that they work on the platform. We would love this to succeed, as it would massively expand the possible footprint of Langham Preaching throughout Zimbabwe’.
Seeking facilitators
The Langham Preaching team trains and mentors grassroots pastors to teach God’s word so that they can shepherd their churches to grow in Christ. It is now hoping to find people willing to facilitate the course using a chatterbox, which would enable training to take place in far-flung, often hard-to-reach places.
Verengerai Mavesere, the outreach coordinator, said that it’s very difficult for those in rural communities to access the internet because of the extortionate cost of data bundles. A huge number of Zimbabweans are unemployed or living below the poverty line.
Rory Bell, Director of TnT Ministries, which has been training adults to teach the Bible to children in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Rwanda for many years, said: ‘It’s been our experience over the past decade with our children’s ministry resources that digital publishing is incredibly cost-effective. It also allows us to be agile in our approach and easily support multiple languages, but it requires a reliable internet connection. We see chatterbox as a potential game-changer, ensuring that communities with limited or expensive internet access don’t get left behind in the current technology revolution’.
