Good Soil, Good News: Media That’s Feeding Zimbabwe—Body and Soul

One of our partners, Renew World Outreach, created the LightStream, a small offline WiFi server that lets nearby phones download and watch gospel and training media without the internet. After a request connected to the government of Zimbabwe for 1,000+ LightStreams, these devices began traveling with agricultural extension officers, missionaries, and local trainers into remote communities. The key advantage is accuracy and reach: trainees leave with the original videos on their phones, so the message stays faithful as it travels village to village.

The catalyst for this media distribution has been farmer Brian Oldreive's "Foundations for Farming" initiative. He began teaching two cornerstone practices—no-till and permanent mulch—that dramatically raised yields (reported up to tenfold) and spread widely. Building on that momentum, Renew World Outreach provided Lightstream devices to spread the initiative.

What’s on the devices? 

Foundations for Farming training, The Jesus Film, the Audio Bible (Faith Comes by/From Hearing), God Provides (Crown Financial Ministries), Walking with Jesus, and other discipleship resources. Media is often copied and shared phone-to-phone, keeping both the agricultural instruction and the gospel close at hand.

As officers and farmers watch lessons on soil health, erosion, and caring for the land as God designed it, many recognize they’ve been working against those principles. During one training cycle, 300 government officers surrendered their lives to Christ; on a later day, 10 more did the same. In neighborhoods, families who watch the Jesus Film and other content together are also turning to Christ. Because the media stays with them, Scripture and follow-up teaching continue long after the trainer leaves.

The LightStream ensures high-quality content is available offline, on demand, and unchanged. Trainers don’t have to rely on spotty connectivity or memory. People can replay lessons, share them widely, and discuss both farming practices and the gospel in their homes.