Become a Bible-A-Month Partner!

Phalla Chrey let her brother take her most sacred possession — her Bible — when he moved away. Now she only reads the Bible on Sunday, side-by-side with two or three others. "It's a struggle. They sometimes read faster than me, and then I try to catch up," Phalla explained. "I don't find I am able to listen to God when we're sharing the Bible back and forth."

"If I had a Bible of my own, it would be just me and God. I would read it slowly, and savor it word for word," she says.

AFRICA — Abina's* life was one pain-filled chapter after another. Living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she suffered through bloody civil unrest that killed millions and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes into refugee camps. During that chaos, her husband abandoned her, leaving her alone to raise their children.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on earth. And with more than 800 indigenous languages spoken there, it presents quite a few challenges when it comes to Scripture translation. Traditionally, translation work is carried out by foreign missionaries who often live among the locals for years, gradually learning their language and culture.

 

Domestic violence is on the rise in Suriname. It affects every tier of society and every neighborhood, wreaking damage not only on individual women but on their families and communities, too. Yet it is seldom spoken of.

Inside the Ouagadougou Sunday school classroom in the suburb of Gounghin, approximately 50 children sat captivated by the lesson. The colorful graphics and illustrations in the Bible materials provided by friends like you through the Bible Society of Burkina Faso brought the story of the Prodigal Son to life. Afterwards they sang songs and recited passages from special children's Bible booklets. Then on a cue from their teacher, they all clapped their hands six times and exclaimed "Jesus!"

Since the oil industry catapulted the Arabian Gulf's economy onto the world scene, workers like Prakash from India have poured into the Gulf States. Prakash wakes up each morning surrounded by sand, heat and a burden of loneliness. He lives in a cramped, dusty labor camp more than 1,000 miles away from his family. He spends his days working near Sharjah, the third-largest city in the United Arab Emirates, and returns to the desert labor camp at night.

"I would pray the Word of God over the city Ramadi where we were stationed. I would ask God that the enemy would fall. And they did. The enemy would attack when we were in a strong place, just like David asked." In addition, during the city's daily calls to prayer, Lieutenant Regan's troop would read Scripture over the city.

Decades of conflict have devastated the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Disease, food insecurity and foreign rebels have killed millions of Congolese, leaving behind countless widows and orphans. To help these shattered lives heal, the Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo supplies churches and orphanages with materials you help provide so they may hold Bible studies, counseling sessions and worship services.

The human wreckage from the violent breakup of the former Yugoslavia is enormous. Today, the scars of brutality and mass casualties still haunt this country's youth. They've been orphaned, taken into social care institutions, and live in extreme poverty. The Bible Society in Serbia and Montenegro knows children in crisis need God’s love and support. So, when religious education classes were introduced in schools, the Bible Society, supported by friends like you, took this opportunity to help students learn about God’s Word and receive the hope and comfort it brings.

When six-year-old Xiao was brought to a Shanghai orphanage, she was in terrible shape. Dirty, malnourished, fearful and withdrawn, the little girl had been abandoned by her parents and was all alone in a very dark world. You see, Xiao was born without sight. It took time for Xiao to adjust to life at the Huge Grace Disabled Welfare Center. Understandably, she lacked trust and, without her vision, she had many fears. However, things changed when Xiao began listening.

 

Expect celebrations this spring when churchgoers hear the Scriptures, specifically the Gospel of Luke, in Jamaican Patois for the first time. This is the language spoken by five million people in Jamaica and across the world. Despite being so widely used, Patois is often seen as an inferior language, making those who speak it feel ashamed. Reverend Courtney Stewart, General Secretary of the Bible Society of the West Indies, supervised the translation project. He says, "Patois has always been regarded as the language to communicate music and folklore, so this is of great significance. It means we will be able to communicate the Word of God at a deeper level in churches. And God's Word will reach people in a way that has previously not been the case."

It's an exciting time in Vietnam. The church is growing rapidly as many thousands of the country's young people are accepting Christ. However, something is missing . . . a critical tool, the Bible. As more and more new believers turn to Christ, it is essential they have God's Word to strengthen them in their faith. In fact, it is estimated that the average annual need for Bibles in Vietnam is at least 20,000 Bibles and 20,000 New Testaments!

 

The story of the Chilean miners is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving the collapse of the mine, then surviving for 69 days underground, 33 men quickly captured the hearts of all who followed the incredible rescue operation. However, while the miners were below, their families could only wait outside enduring heartbreak that undoubtedly tested their strength, patience and faith.