Recording Booth Project Report

The founders of what became Megavoice designed the very first audio bible in the 80s (launched in 1999) and  Megavoice continues to design products that are innovative, solar-powered and rugged. With access to bibles and biblical teaching in over 3,000 languages, the audio bible devices can be customized to meet the ministry need.

Early in the year, we (Doug and Denise) traveled to Dallas, Texas to help with showcasing one of their newest products – the small-sized Pocketvoice – at the National Religious Broadcasters convention.

As volunteer project engineer for Megavoice, Doug developed a custom design for a portable recording booth and obtained all the pieces. While Doug was traveling in India, capable and gracious technocletes,* Craig and Linda, faced the big challenge of the putting the booth together so it could be used at the convention in Dallas. We appreciate how they put their talent together to come up with an attractive booth which allowed attendees the opportunity to record a customized message which we loaded onto the new Pocketvoice that they took home with them.

*Technoclete is a term Para Tech  uses to refer to those who help us with technical projects (taken from Paraclete in Greek as one who comes alongside to help)

Doug was blessed to listen to each message as he recorded it and they ranged from personal testimonies, to promotion of  newly released books, to a heartfelt prayer for a wayward son. It was a privilege to participate in this event alongside Megavoice and to oversee this project.

Why DRM for Ministry?

Update on Christmas and Easter Hymn Singing Events:

As a result of the request for us to return to sing, a Good Friday Easter hymn sing was organized through partnership with our friend Janet who teaches music. Her students played some numbers to set the tone and then a number of us from several different church sang hymns appropriate to Easter. It was a joyous time, and was followed up by distribution of an audio bible to one of the residents and followup visits to the residents who had received the devices. Next up: Hymn Sing in July!

Bringing Christmas Joy Most early mornings find us taking a 3.5 mile walk during which we often discuss and pray over ministry strategies. Part of the walk usually includes the perimeter of a retirement village and a senior living complex. As we would walk that area, we would remark at how close these are to our home as well as the nearby church we sometimes attend on Wednesday and Sunday evenings and what a good idea it would be to reach out to this community with Christmas caroling. We sometimes pass friendly residents, including one elderly blind woman walking with assistance, and we couldn’t help but wonder if the audio bible devices might benefit her and others. (Update: this blind woman now is the proud owner of an audio bible!)  A good-sized group of carolers, comprised primarily of members of our regular church, along a few from the church next door and two Stetson international students joined together to bring Christmas joy to these appreciative elderly folks. Accompanied by piano and flute, we caroled in the different buildings of the senior living as well as outside at the retirement home next door, with some fellowship at the nearby church in between. We were able to present gifts for the residents and church invitations to those who are able to get out. While gathering outside to start, a beautiful reunion occurred between one of our caroling friends and an old mentor of hers whom she had lost track of. Turns out this elderly friend now lives there and shared that she is losing her eyesight.  As a follow up, we went with our friend to present one of the Megavoice audio bibles to this dear lady! Our music leader so enjoyed the experience that she suggested we sing again at the hospital and so we did! We were able to work with the chaplains to quickly pull together a smaller group of carolers. Both of the caroling events were so well received that we were asked to return at other times of year. Easter may be a future possibility.(Update: Easter became a reality and a July hymn sing is in the works!) Another encouraging fruit to come from the caroling is that one of the carolers from our church started teaching some craft sessions at the senior living facility.

Headed to Dallas

We will soon be on our way to the National Religious Broadcasts Convention in Dallas, a convergence of Christian communicators and broadcasters.

Our assignment this year has been to design a portable recording booth that can be set up in the convention hall to allow attendees to record a short customizable message onto MegaVoice’s new product.

A small device that allows for 90 minutes or more of customizable audio, the PocketVoice is ideal for Bible stories, children’s stories, a gospel presentation or followup material to send someone on their way with encouragement. Consider these devices for your short term missions projects, for assisting your long-term missionaries. or even back home for VBS attendees, welcome packets for church visitors or special Christmas or Easter evangelistic messages.

We are pleased to help represent MegaVoice in this way.

Language Hospitality in Brazil

UPDATE: A request has already been made for a language hospitality kit to be purchased for distribution in Chiang Mai after this year’s FOBAI conference.

Doug shares about his trip to Brazil providing Language Hospitality:

I am blessed to have participated in the Forum of Bible Agencies International in Sao Paulo, Brazil. FOBAI’s annual meetings provide an opportunity for CEO’s and leaders of from different Bible translation and engagement ministries to network and build relationships.

MegaVoice partnered with Para Tech Ministries to provide the equipment and support to deliver three live language interpretations of the keynote speaker to MegaVoice radio equipped solar-powered audio bible devices. Each Envoy device contained the complete Bible in English, Spanish and Portuguese as well as worship music. Each of the 146 participants was gifted an Envoy device and provided instructions of how to use three radio preset frequencies to listen to a live translation of their choosing during the conference.

Gifted interpreters listened to the keynote speaker through noise canceling headphones and spoke into the individual language assigned microphone. The microphone fed a micro FM transmitter and the Envoy device picked up the signal delivering the live interpretation into their personal earbuds.

This is the first time this type of multilanguage capability was performed at a FOBAI allowing participants to present in their heart language. The system worked extremely well.

This project aligns with Para Tech Ministries objective to work in partnership with likeminded organizations (Psalms 133) and bring God’s Word in a more clear and understandable way (Nehemiah 8:8).

We are delighted that one of the interpretation systems did not return to the USA but was taken by a ministry leader and put to work on the mission field to translate live pastoral messages during a church service, helping to deliver God’s Word in a heart language!

Faith Come by Hearing

Romans 10:17, ^“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” (NKJV) motivates us in many of our technical projects. Technical projects seeking to help get the Word of God out to those who haven’t heard, so that faith can be generated, include Digital Radio Mondial (DRM) for missions, hearing aids for ministry, and a language translate transmitter system for conferences.

To the Uttermost Parts

Para Tech Ministries seeks to come alongside mission agencies and churches to provide technical support, with a focus on under resourced and unreached areas.In Acts 1:8,  Jesus called the disciples to reach Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We seek that model in our lives and ministry. At this stage of our ministry, God has called us to an area of Florida where we can support the local community of neighbors through two local churches. We have had opportunity to serve alongside them in a variety of different ministries, reaching locally and beyond. Our proximity to Stetson University, which is within walking distance, led us to initiate a ministry to the international students there.  Those coming from other places often feel isolated particularly when first arriving and during holidays when local students go to their homes.  We met with some of the students a few times in 2023, and we look forward to seeing how the Lord will use us to minister to these students.

Update: Alongside Students Ministry was formed in 2024!

Looking beyond our region, we have been able to help other mission agencies, based in the US, but supporting global ministry. Many such mission agencies are under resourced. We give project-based and ongoing administrative support to such international mission agencies.

These are the types of “hands on” and administrative projects we were involved with this year, in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

In terms of reaching to the uttermost parts of the world, Doug has completed several projects involving technology for international missions.  Some large projects are in process, one of which will take him to Brazil in April. He’ll be implementing a language translate transmitter system he designed for use by the 140 ministry leaders from several ministries who will be coordinating bible translation and bible engagement efforts.

Please pray especially for the Brazil project, the digital radio project and for guidance in the use of hearing aids for missions.

In all these mission endeavors to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world, we must rely on the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be His witnesses to the world.

Bringing Hope to the Youth of

Micronesia

“PTM has been a phenomenal support to my ministry. This past summer when I was offering camps for at-risk youth, their knowledge of technology enabled word of the camp to spread throughout the island of Guam, reaching a greater number of teens. Additionally, PTM used their strong administrative gifts to improve the systems and procedures I had in place resulting in far more effective ministry. On top of that, because of their knowledge of Micronesian culture, they were able to partner with me (all online) as I designed the camps. Their suggestions were invaluable and often ingenious! They happily offered to take on projects to lessen the load I bore as I designed the camps, and whatever they took on was always responsibly completed and completed with excellence. PTM’s partnership was an unimaginable blessing!”

Karyn Sorenson, Director of Micronesia – Bridges of Hope International

In the tropical heat, lack of air conditioning and water is especially burdensome. Typhoon Mawar thrashed the island of Guam in late May of this year knocking off utilities. The huge storm was predicted to hit the island with a more central eye passage than its actual northern approach, but even so effects were devastating, with months of power, water and internet outages. Much vegetation was loss and properties suffered damage.

In the wake of Typhoon Mawar, Bridges of Hope International (BHI) was happy to bring some encouragement and hope to the island’s youth. Bridges of Hope International’s Micronesian Director, Karyn Sorenson, has been ministering to the islands of Micronesia for years in various ways including through youth camps. This year she led a team ministering to the youth on the islands of Palau and Guam.

Before Mawar hit, Para Tech Ministries began working with Karyn to assist in some administrative tasks for the summer camps. This included logistics planning, volunteer recruitment, and selecting and documenting appropriate games that help break the ice and build relationships during the camp. A longstanding relationship with Karyn and decades of experience ministering on the island made PTMs partnership with BHI a natural one. The challenging circumstances necessitated much pivoting, something we are used to as missionaries and previous residents of the island.

Islanders have a great aptitude for music (imagine beautiful harmonies) and creativity, so it was no surprise which games were clear favorites.

Summer Projects

MegaVoice

We are thrilled to be working together with Megavoice ministry in the enhancement of some of their devices. They are a likeminded organization seeking to reach the less reached and the underserved with the gospel, primarily with customized audio bible devices. Read their BLOG with stories about how they are helping the less reached in oral cultures, the deaf, the elderly, the people of Ukraine and more.

MegaVoice serves the global Church with affordable, technologically advanced solar powered audio Bibles and digital accessories. 

Temporary Lab

A temporary lab was set up in Marietta for Doug’s work projects and served him well for the last few months. We are packing it up this week but the pieces will emerge again and be reassembled in our new home in Florida. The lab has allowed for radio prototype testing and equipment troubleshooting.

Projects in Progress

It has been so encouraging to meet with various mission groups to hear about their ministries and discuss whether we can collaborate in ministry. Partnerships are essential to success in ministry; we can not do it all on our own, nor should we. The Lord is pleased when believers work together to get His Word to those who need it.

As you might expect, mission agencies are typically short-handed and reliant on volunteers. We are in process of helping with several small projects to fill in these gaps, such as helping an organization to think through how they can streamline their business workflows, remain secure in their computing, and plan a virtual retreat until such time as they can come together in person again. Training begins this week to assist another agency which serves international missionaries on furlough. Additionally, Doug has started to troubleshoot a problem with a media device that presents the gospel for another mission.

It is our pleasure to be able to serve in this way in places where it is most needed.

New Para Tech Ministries (PTM) Project Fund

As you know we offer our technical assistance as part of our ministry service. But often there are related tools, equipment, travel or other costs. For this reason, we have added a new PTM fund in order to facilitate these services for those who are under resourced so as to not overburden them.  Visit: https://www.harvestallianceintl.org/para-tech-ministries.html if you would like to contribute to this fund.

Faith PCRC Church, Guam

Para Tech Ministries was happy to be able to spearhead the following projects for Faith Church, Guam during January and February of 2022:  

• Telephone system upgrade
• Installed a physical wired ethernet computer network and centralized data equipment rack
• Enhance WIFI connectivity throughout the church allowing better service video streaming of live events
• Increase internet quality with a guaranteed service level agreement
• Removed a website that had become infected with malware and found volunteers to rebuild church’s website https://www.faithchurchguam.org
• Enhanced security with an external camera monitoring system and security lighting
• Repaired a fire alarm control system
• Repaired a roof leak
• Began research for the cost of a central Air Conditioning system replacement.

Many thanks to technoclete volunteers David Gregson, Phil Leppke, Ellis White, and Jimmy Chen for their assistance

Faith Presbyterian Christian Reformed Church of Guam heartily endorses Doug and Denise Gregson of Para Tech Ministries. Para Tech Ministries made it possible for us to not just make progress on a number of projects, but to complete them.

KTWG Christian Radio Station

KTWG (AM 800), originally a TWR owned and run station, has been broadcasting quality Christian programming and music to the island of Guam (and immediate surrounding islands) since 1974. Recently an FM broadcast has been added. Para Tech has come alongside the station with technical assistance (Jan-Feb 2022):

• Fire control system repair
• New firewall installation
• Network security and configuration changes
• Configuration of Radio Link between KTWG office and transmitter site