Hearing Problems

June 24, 2026

A man thinks his wife is losing her hearing and calls the doctor. The doctor says he can do an experiment to determine the severity: “Ask her a question from the next room in a normal tone of voice, and keep asking while coming closer until she can hear you. That way, you know the range of her hearing.”

That night, while his wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, he asks from the other room, in a normal tone of voice, “What’s for dinner?” She doesn’t respond, so he gets up and walks to the kitchen doorway and asks, “What’s for dinner?” She still doesn’t respond, so he walks closer and asks, “What’s for dinner?” She still doesn’t say anything, so he gets right up beside her and asks, “What’s for dinner?”

In frustration, the wife yells, “For the fourth time, Stan, we’re having chicken!

This illustration reminds us how impactful a hearing problem can be.

As followers of Jesus, we want everyone to respond to the Gospel. We know how Jesus transforms our hearts. He sets us free from sin. He gives us hope for this life and eternity. The message is simple. By His grace, God freely offers salvation to all. We receive it through personal repentance from sin and faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to earn this salvation.

Young and old alike can understand and receive this message. So why don’t more people do this?

For a staggering number of people, it is a hearing problem. They cannot put their faith in someone they have not heard about. That is the case for an estimated 3 billion people, almost 40% of the world’s population. They have not heard the Gospel and therefore have not had the opportunity to respond to it.

Our vision has always been to go where the Gospel is least accessible, and we believe God is opening new doors to countries and communities that have never heard the saving message of Jesus Christ. We plan to walk through those doors because Jesus is worthy, 3 billion people are a heartbreaking number of lost souls, and the Lord has given us a commission to reach as many as possible.

As we approach our 80th anniversary milestone, The Tide is preparing to unveil a renewed and expanded vision. It includes a strategic initiative to identify and enter new geographic regions where the Gospel has not yet reached. We will formally introduce it at the 80th anniversary celebration this October, marking not just a milestone but a bold new chapter in the ministry’s global work.

You are invited to join the Board of Directors and Staff on Saturday, October 24, 2026, to hear what God is doing. We also invite you to pray for those who have not received Jesus, whether they are around the world or around the corner from you, and consider how God might use you to bring good news to their ears.

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

You can find more details on our 80th Anniversary, including registration, by clicking here.