DALLAS — The largest state Baptist group in the nation wants Christ's message of hope heard in every home in Texas — about 9 million of them — by Easter.

That's a challenge in a state where more than a third of households speak a language other than English. Besides Spanish, Hindi, Tagalog and Chinese are increasingly heard.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is promoting a multilingual, multimedia CD that allows folks to listen to key biblical passages in their native language.

It's part of a three-pronged campaign dubbed Texas Hope 2010 to convey what “we really believe; that there's hope in Christ,” said Randel Everett, the Baptist group's executive director.

Pop one in a car CD player or load it onto an MP3 device and hear the third chapter of John explain how “God so loved the world” in English or Spanish.

Slip it into a computer and download the entire New Testament in one of more than 400 languages, complete with dramatic pauses, sound effects and background music. Organizers say they're not snubbing the Old Testament; the audio is not yet available in all those languages.

“I really think that people need to hear the Gospel in their heart language, whether they read and understand English or not, people need to know that God speaks their language,” Everett said.

The CD includes a toll-free telephone number and six two-minute video testimonies of black, Anglo and Hispanic Texans sharing their personal stories, some in Spanish.

“They're not celebrities, just ordinary people throughout Texas who have been rescued through Christ,” Everett said, recalling one woman on the video who said she thought about killing her kids and herself before she found the Lord.

The Baptists' effort is in addition to a campaign by dozens of churches in San Antonio to give out free audio clips of the entire New Testament in connection with a citywide campaign to bolster biblical literacy. That giveaway is part of “You've Got the Time,” organized by the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry. Scholars say the Baptist group is well-positioned to reach every household by its April 4 deadline.

“I think realistically they could do it, the delivery system can be very effective if they can convince Baptist churches around the state to participate,” said David Mills, assistant professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Baptist group is relying on its 5,700 congregations and 2.3 million affiliated members to purchase and distribute the CDs, which cost them $1 each.