In West Papua, a province of Indonesia, the term Christianity is used as a label. Whether a person believes the Gospel or not, they are identified as a “Christian” because of cultural tradition. But in many parts of the area, people who are labeled as Christians have never even heard the Gospel. Some don’t even have access to Bibles.
This was the case in Urundupi Village. The village was started by a group of Papuan tribes around 10 years ago. A simple, wooden church building stands in the center of the community and is a place of gathering and singing, but there was no pastor or Gospel-centered preaching.
There’s no public transportation in the village, but it’s become a shortcut for cars traveling to other areas. Because of the traffic, local children realized they could profit off of these passing cars. Young people would block the roads, often wielding weapons, to rob the drivers. They would drink alcohol and steal from their parents, even damage their own homes.
This community was desperate for the Gospel, and thanks to your support, they got it.
A local pastor who was raised in Papua was trained to teach Project Philip Bible studies and spread the truth of the Gospel across his country. “Bible League programs are the answer to the spiritual challenges I’ve faced in the mission field,” he says. He trained members of his church to lead Bible League’s Project Philip Bible studies and sent them out to villages just like Urundupi. One of those members, Frida, visited Urundupi for two months to host a Project Philip Bible study for kids and adults.
“When I started to come to Urundupi, there were no Bibles available at all,” she says with tears in her eyes. She encouraged the villagers to attend the Bible study held in the local church building. After they completed the study, each graduate received their own Bible. “When it was time to give them the Bible, they were so happy,” she says. “They cherish their Bibles and they want to keep reading them.”
The impact of your generosity continues still today, well after that graduation day. Parents in the area report that their children have changed completely. The kids are no longer drinking and robbing the travelers; now, they are welcoming and friendly to the visitors. Parents say the children are now well-behaved, and it’s all thanks to the Bible stories they are studying.
Thanks to your continued generosity, entire villages and communities are changing through the Gospel. This Christmas, know that your support allows children in Urundupi Village and around the globe to read the Christmas story from their very own Bible. Thank you.
Fleeing from Idolatry
Angela idolized pop stars and celebrities. She was disrespectful and rude to her parents and friends. But all that changed when she started studying the Bible.
“My parents were worried about my behavior, but they had no solution for me,” begins 15-year-old Angela in Armenia’s Zoravan village. “They wanted to help me, but I refused to listen to their advice. Things went from bad to worse, life became a drag to me, and I didn’t trust anyone anymore.”
Angela had idols among Armenian and international pop stars. She dreamt about them and was passionate about them. This obsession somehow made Angela disrespectful to her parents, rude to her friends, and violent to her sister.
Then one of her friends invited her to a Christian Christmas event. It turned out to be a fantastic event for Angela, and she felt that the people there were loving and sincere. They gave her a booklet called Questions and Answers from Bible League Armenia. Angela loves reading, so she was glad to start studying something new. Indeed, it was full of exciting questions and answers for Angela. She learned more about the love of Jesus, the One deserving a “superstar” title compared to her other idols. While learning more about Christ’s love and greatness, she felt hunger inside to know more about Him, so she continued to study the Bible.
Her heart full of questions, Angela joined a Bible League Project Philip Bible study group. “I haven’t missed a single meeting,” she says. “The first booklet we studied was called, Who is God. It made me discover that God has a plan for my life. I also understood why Jesus died for me. I learned to pray, and I learned many things about Jesus that I hadn’t heard before. During the Bible study, I decided to give my life to Jesus. He has changed my life through His Word. One of the things I learned was that we need to flee from idolatry. I realized that people could also be idols. I asked God to help me and to free me from those pop idols that I had. God heard me and helped me.”
Angela also finally realized how important it is to respect her parents. She went to them and her sister to ask for forgiveness. They were touched and realized that God had changed her life. God filled her empty life.
“I thank all those people who are helping to provide these amazing booklets from the Bible League. Many thanks to all of you. Through these study materials, my eyes were opened to see God and to receive Him in my life. I am sure that these can be helpful for others also. May God bless all of you. Thank you for the wonderful Project Philip Bible study program.”
Yvan’s Faith Grows Stronger
Yvan is a 17-year-old student at Mwaro Secondary School in Burundi. He’s the firstborn in a family of two children. His family is traditionally religious, and Yvan grew up going to church. Though he describes his parents as loving and excellent, they were also quite strict.
“My parents were so strict to the point I grew up afraid of making mistakes,” he explains. “If anyone did wrong, my father would punish them seriously. But I feel blessed still to have both of my parents. I know many young people orphaned by the civil war that lasted more than 20 years in Burundi.”
He admits before he gave his life to Jesus, he was very rebellious. “I avoided places where people talked about God. I would try to show a good side to people and be a different person alone.” However, Yvan’s life changed when a Christian friend invited him to church. He says, “I fell in love with the Word of God. I understood God is so gracious to us.”
After hearing the Gospel at this church, Yvan gave his life to Jesus. He notes, “My life changed. Now I desire to please God and walk in holiness.” Since then, Yvan has continued to grow in his faith through a Bible League Project Philip Bible study at his school. The teen explains, “The program strengthened me in my Christian life. It helped me understand how much God cares about us and God’s will in my life. I felt challenged to read the Bible.”
Yvan is also grateful for the Bible he received, and he believes it will help him to grow in knowledge of God’s Word. He now feels God is calling him to share the Good News with his friends and family.
Five years ago, Mexican authorities captured El Chapo—one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world. Today, the Sinaloa Cartel kingpin is serving his life sentence in a U.S. prison. For years, a man named Pablo was on this very same path to destruction until he found the narrow path that leads to life.
On this Action Podcast, join host Michael Woolworth and his Bible League colleagues, Ryan and Denisse, as they share the amazing story of this former cartel hitman who now proclaims, “Seeing Sinaloa’s mountain range transformed by Christ is our vision. We want Sinaloa filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
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Listen: https://www.bibleleague.org/stories/action-podcast-ep16/?show=true/
Bible League International Prayer Calendar
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In the last year, more than 2 million people studied God’s Word through Bible League’s Project Philip Bible studies, Church Planter Training, and Bible-based Literacy. Nearly 100,000 people were trained to share the Good News in their communities. Praise God for the amazing work He is doing!
Over the next year, people in more than 55 countries around the globe will study God’s Word. Plans are underway to launch ministry for the first time in Pakistan. The Lord continues to create opportunities to draw people to Him. As we look to the end of the year, let’s pray over the opportunities He is creating and over the people He will reach.