Snapshots of Ministry Regions
“People are coming to the Lord in
droves. They have nowhere else to
place their hope except in the Lord. I
thank God the door of ministry is
open and that Bible League’s
ministry is growing stronger.” —Bible
League’s national director in
Zimbabwe
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Africa & Middle East
Since 1977, Bible League has played an important part in placing Bibles and discipling Christians in 14 of Africa’s sub-Saharan countries. Today in sub-Saharan Africa, there are more than 250 million Muslims—32 percent of the population. In Niger and Senegal, more than 90 percent of the population is Muslim. Yet, here and across the Middle East, Christians there are leading Bibles studies and sharing God’s Word every day.
In 2008, the Frafra Bible translation reached Ghana; the Wolaytta Bible translation and the newly revised Igbo Bible went to Nigeria; the out-ofprint Zarma Bible was republished for Niger; and delivery of the Dinka Rek New Testaments brought joy to the people of southern Sudan. Praise God that His Word is speaking to more African people in their heart languages!
Right now, millions will read the Bible if we can get a Bible into their hands.” Fifty percent of sub-Saharan Africans are under age 18. In South Africa, a faithful Bible League-trained Christian led more than 70 children through Bible studies during 2008. This is especially significant for a country in which an estimated 1.6 million children are AIDS orphans.
Will you make a difference and break the Bible famine?
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Latin America
Many people in Latin America understand the Bible to be a respected book but they have never read it for themselves or learned how to have a relationship with Jesus. For others, spirit worship, traditional religions, cults and confusion prevent people from accepting Christ. As others come to Christ, they need God’s Word to remain faithful. But in this region where 43 percent live in extreme poverty (U.N. 2005), millions of Christians can’t afford to buy their own Bibles.
“We don’t hand the materials out,” says Bible League’s Vice President of Latin America and Asia Ministries. “We strategically place them in the hands of people who desire to study and learn from God’s Word. Each year, Bible League places millions of copies of God’s Word throughout Latin America—providing the Holy Scriptures that are vital for evangelism and discipleship.”
“I am studying the [Bible League] study booklets, and have already been baptised,” shares Rodrigo in Colombia. “Joy and true peace have come into my life after many years of addiction to gambling and nearly losing my family.” Today, Rodrigo is rebuilding his life with Christ as the centre.
Will you make disciples by placing Bibles? |
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Asia
Since 1989, more than 12.7 million Bible studies have been completed throughout Southeast Asia. Millions of people know the glory of God’s name and His love and faithfulness.
In Cambodia, Christian volunteers were trained and mobilised to share God’s Word in 24 provinces and with 10 tribal groups. “We have grown in wisdom and discernment to know the needs of people, and to share with them prudently about how Bible League’s resources can best help meet those needs,” says our national director in Cambodia.
Natural disasters, unstable governments, rebel fighting, and high inflation plagued Southeast Asia—but did not keep Bible League workers from sharing God’s Word. “In spite of these odds, there is hope as people never forget that God exists; a sovereign God who is still in control,” says our national director in the Philippines. “Filipinos have learned to take things as they are. Bible League is instrumental in the channel of hope.”
Over 50 million Christians in China are still waiting for a Bible. Will you answer the prayer of millions of people across Asia by placing Bibles?
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Eurasia
Bible League-trained workers in Eastern and Central Europe, Central Asia and countries from the Newly Independent States (NIS) reported growth in the number of people completing Bible studies.
Adults and children are being reached. A Christian ethics study produced by Bible League was again part of the curriculum in many public schools in Ukraine. Kids in summer day camps in Eastern Europe studied God’s Word.
Pavel was a 30-year-old inmate in a Moldova prison when a Bible League-trained Christian—who leads a prison ministry—invited Pavel to a Bible study. “I began to read and study the Bible and I accepted Christ into my heart,” says Pavel. “Then a different kind of battle began inside of me but God helped me to stand up and follow Him. The Bible study helped me to grow stronger in my faith and to get to know God personally. Today, I am a different person. The Lord is living in my heart. Real life begins only with God.”
Will you help more people come to know Jesus Christ through reading the pages of the Bible? |
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