I recently heard of Pandemic Fatigue. We are tired of hearing about the virus, fretting about the health of our loved ones, waiting for a vaccine, planning for the new normal. Adding to our apprehension is the contentious election season that is upon us. Hopefully, the election will be over in a month. Some of our friends will be happy and some unhappy. All of us will be disappointed sometime in the future if we place too much hope in politicians, after all they are mere humans – just like us. We want to share the good news about Jesus, who will not fail us. He is our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. Thank you for partnering with us as we strive to share the love of Christ with those we have been called to serve.
The effects of the Covid pandemic are becoming more apparent as the months go by. Historically, the Appalachian region is among the first to feel the effects of an economic slowdown and among the last to enjoy a recovery. Adding to the affliction is the feeling of loneliness and isolation. The question of how we can share God’s love during these difficult times is answered by looking for ways to make a difference one opportunity at a time. The opportunities included helping an elderly lady without family that needed to move to a different residence. An opportunity did arise to join forces with another faith organization in distributing food boxes. This past month over 2,000 boxes of food were distributed in Jackson County. Our thrift stores are also providing a blessing to area residents.
Recently, we received a note stating that “we can never repay or thank you enough for your help to us”. That thanks goes to you through your partnership with us. Your prayer support is cherished. You are helping us to make a difference in our community.
Located on the coast of Indonesia, Manokwari is the capital city of West Papua. Unlike the rest of the Muslim-dominated nation, the majority of the residents there identify as Christians. In the 1800s, Christian missionaries brought the Good News to people in the area. At the time, people there were known for worshipping nature and practicing black magic.
Despite being known the “Gospel City,” few there know the true meaning of salvation, or are engaged in the Word of God. Instead, Christianity is more of a tradition or a label than a lifestyle. “These people know who Jesus is; however, that doesn’t mean that they recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior,” says Romi, Bible League International’s communications specialist for the area.
But, thanks to people like you, pastors and religious leaders in the area are working to change that. Local churches in Manokwari are now introducing Bible League’s Project Philip Bibles studies and Bible-based Literacy to help residents learn about true salvation. Bible-based Literacy is especially appealing to people in the capital city, one of the poorer towns of West Papua. Many there have limited educational opportunities, so they embrace the opportunity to learn English. They know it’s a skill that can open many doors. But even more important, the adults and children taking part in Bible-based Literacy are learning the Gospel.
The government of Manokwari is supportive of Christianity, and even helps build churches around the city, especially in under-resourced areas. But buildings aren’t what make believers. Thanks to your support, people in Manokwari are learning the true meaning of Christianity.
LATEST STORIES
A New Church in Haiti
When Pierre was growing up in Cornillon, Haiti, life was by no means easy. His commune is in a very neglected area without infrastructure or sanitary systems. Many are farmers or people who sell goods on the streets. He notes, “We don’t have good roads, hospitals, or drinking water.”
While Pierre was able to go to school, he had to walk an hour and a half every day to do so. “But I didn’t think it was a problem,” he explains. In high school, he left his community to go to Port-au-Prince to attend a public school.
Though Pierre grew up going to church, he didn’t see God at work in his life until he went to a friend’s church. He explains, “That day, the Holy Spirit persuaded me, and I received eternal life. From that moment on, I made it a priority to serve God and go to school.” Pierre finished college and got married. He’s been married for nine years. After college, he returned to Cornillon to work.
Pierre felt God calling him to plant a church in his hometown, but he wasn’t sure how he would do it. Then, a friend told him that he was going to Bible League’s Church Planter Training. He notes, “So, I felt encouraged to enroll as well.”
As he began, Pierre realized his true mission in life and how he could work for the Lord. His pastor helped him implement the skills he was learning in the training.
Pierre has successfully planted a church that now has about 150 members. He’s using what he learned through Bible League to help his church members engage in the Word. “Today, we use Bible League International’s materials because they are very easy for our people to understand,” he beams. “Many people here have received eternal life through Bible League’s programs.”
Influencing His Family
Elidio, a 24-year-old in Mozambique, grew up in a Christian family. But he admits that at one time he was a “backslider.” Brothers and sisters from the local church kept inviting him to Project Philip Bible studies, but he wouldn’t go. He had no desire to go to church. But one day, that changed.
“I thought to myself, ‘No, this is not happening by mistake. It is God who is encouraging me to come to this program. Today, I’ll go and see what’s going on at that church,’” he remembers.
He headed to the church that day and found people learning about God through a Project Philip Bible study. He had always thought that his family’s church was the only good church, but he soon learned that it was not about the church itself, but about God. “Until that moment, I was living according to my own desires. But when I came to this church, I discovered that Jesus wants us to live according to His will,” he says.
For years, Elidio was very judgmental. “I even judged my own parents,” he says. “But since I’ve been here, I have discovered that the Bible says to not judge. I was looking down on other churches and believers. Here, I learned it is not about the churches. No, it’s about Jesus who called people to be in the Church. We have to live according to the will of God.”
Today, Elidio is praying for his father, a Christian who has now gone astray. “My mother and I are battling to change his mind,” he says. “It’s not easy to live in harmony as a family.”
Despite his father’s resistance to the Word of God, Elidio doesn’t stop. Many days he sits with his father and his Bible, trying his best to share the Good News. “Often, he says he doesn’t want to speak with me about that, so I’m limited,” he says.
Still, Elidio is thankful for the materials that changed his life and will hopefully change his father’s life. “The Project Philip materials are like gold. We are receiving so many good things from those booklets.”
Give While You Shop!
Did you know that you can have a portion of your Amazon purchases donated to Bible League? The AmazonSmile Foundation recently surpassed $200 million in donations to charities worldwide, including Bible League International! With holiday shopping quickly approaching, be sure to head to smile.amazon.com, choose Bible League International as your charity, and a portion of your purchase will be donated directly to the ministry. Thank you!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bible League International Prayer Calendar
Join friends around the world in prayer! Click here to download the October prayer calendar.
Additional Prayer Requests
Bible League Brazil is providing 1,500 Bibles to doctors and nurses across the country. Pray that these health care workers would find comfort and rest in the Lord through this initiative!
Praise God for nearly 2,000 people in Ethiopia who recently completed Project Philip Bible studies and received Bibles! Pray that they would continue to study the Word of God and draw nearer to Him each day!
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Your gifts to Bible League International help provide Bibles and training to a world in need.
Things are starting to settle down a little and we may soon be starting to feel a rhythm.
Because of Covid, the students aren’t able to meet in groups in the school building, but only outdoors. So since our family has a big enough yard, we have invited students over for us to get to know them, and even for them to get to know each other. We had 50 show up for our bonfire night and they really enjoyed getting to actually be together without masks and just hang out.
The next weekend we had a game night held outside. We underestimated how many people would show up and after the 3 tables were full we had to start up a bonfire for the rest of the people. We can see how they love being together and are really looking for opportunities to spend time together.
Please pray for the students as it gets cold outside to find ways to be able to spend time together as groups. A huge part of Bible School is community and they are trying to make a way, but it sure looks different in these Covid restrictions.
Staff can only have a couple students in our home at a time. Please pray for good ideas and ways to reach out and connect with the students who are really needing it.
PRAISES
1. Dave is teaching Bibliology, where the Bible came from, and the students are learning about the reliability and authority of God’s Word. This is HUGE! They are asking so many questions and meeting with Dave everyday!
2. Dave really enjoys his Hebrews teacher at seminary and is learning so much! He will be using what he is learning in classes here, and also at a church he will be speaking at these next few Sundays.
3. I love spending time with my mobilization team and they make me feel valued and appreciated! We are starting quite a few new initiatives, and it is exciting being in on the action right from the beginning!
4. Clark really likes his welding teachers at college and is acing his work!! He looks forward to going to class and is learning tons! He’s also doing well in his regular 12th grade classes!
5. Reece is busy at buses and taking care of all “his school kids” in masks.
Thank you so much for praying for us in these first 2 weeks! We are each settling into a routine and so thankful to be here, even if this semester looks pretty different with masked faces! God has GOOD GOOD plans for each of us!!!
Partnering with you,
Dave, Kim, Reece & Clark Field
I have been listening to a sermon series based on Habakkuk questioning God about the many calamities surrounding the prophet. At the end of his book we read: “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights”. (3:18-19 nlt) As we struggle to figure out what the “new normal” will be and how we can proceed safely with our programs, we also are mindful that we can rejoice!
A few of the schools in our area are having in-classroom sessions. Most students are attending classes over the internet. And a few schools are offering a hybrid approach to learning. Plans for winter activities are in a “holding pattern”. As we plan for next spring and summer, we are thankful that some new options for outreach are being presented to us. We ask for your prayers for wisdom as we contemplate what programs can be feasible in the new normal.
We rejoice with the donation of kitchen utensils for the planned kitchen in Lincoln Hall. The utensils are located in Wyoming, MI. We are asking for help in bringing them to Annville. There are enough boxes to fill a van. If you know of someone traveling to our area and can bring part (or all) of the boxes to us, please contact Tommy. They are presently being stored in a garage and need to be moved before winter arrives
During fall, many churches have a mission festival. We are willing to help through video conferencing (zoom, face book live, etc. ) Your support is helping us to make a difference in our community. Thanks again for your prayers. With the apostle Paul may we “ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 nlt).
Thank you for taking the time to read our monthly e-newsletter that communicates Mission news, updates, prayer requests, needs, events and success stories.
Keeping the Mission Safe & Healthy
As we are entering the seventh month of disciplined practices related to the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure safety throughout the organization we want to thank all of our donors and volunteers as you have faithfully supported the work that’s changing lives. Of course, many are still unsure what will transpire over the fall and winter months with COVID-19 cases, but the Mission is fully committed to the task of keeping our homeless community as safe as possible. Thank you for your ongoing prayers and gifts of support.
Addiction Recovery Program Spotlight
Our most recent graduation ceremony of four men in our addiction recovery program took place this past July. (left to right) Devin, Chris Ernie and Simoeon have completed the Mission’s year long program and our now preparing to leave the nest and start a new life in Christ.
Volunteer Service Opportunities
We are currently seeking volunteers to give of their weekday time to support our emergency clothing program and fundraising department at our Caring Center facility.
Visit our website and register as an individual or group today. We’ll be sure to follow up when we receive your inquiry.
Program Manager for Women’s & Children’s Transitional Housing (Full Time) Now welcoming candidates to apply who have a background in community services or case management.
Case Manager for Emergency Shelter (Part Tim
e) – Previous experience in residential or shelter environments helpful.
Here’s a great way to support Open Door Mission programs and services during the holiday season.
Sell our Mission Dove Decals for a $1.00 donation in your business, church or organization and then put them on display on a wall, door or bulletin board showing your support of the Mission.
Contact Chris at cscribani@opendoormission.com for more information
What To Pray For
1. Pray for the salvation and restoration of all those we serve with emergency shelter, food, clothes, addiction recovery, transitional housing, life skills and job readiness programs.
2. Pray for peace and health to all of our staff and their families.
3. Pray for the families that just came into the Coldwater House and for those who recently moved out into their own permanent housing.
4. Pray for continued success for the men who recently graduated from our addiction recovery program and for those just entering the program.
5. Pray for the necessary resources to maintain our daily expenses.
Over the last week, a group of our student leaders have spent time learning what God’s Word says about imitating Christ in being humble servant-leaders and preparing for the rest of our student body to arrive this weekend.
This year is unique for each of us. Dave: He will be teaching a class of students who have masks on! He will need to learn to read their understanding in a new way! The classes are also divided in half, so he will teach one class and then go to the next group and teach the same material. Kim: I am joining the mobilization department! I am excited to be a part of the team as they try new ideas of online efforts to invite prospective students to come visit. I am really looking forward to learning so much this year! Reece: We are thankful we get to have him back at home for this year. He will be working full-time and waiting to see what the Lord has for him next. Clark: He is a senior in high school! He is enrolled in community college and taking welding classes to get his certificate by the end of the year!
Students: There are quite a few covid-changes: like only 2 people per table in the cafeteria, only 2 people per dorm room, and classes divided for smaller sizes. However, all the amazing classes remain the same! In 2 years they will have been taught the Bible from front to back with an emphasis on God’s heart for our walk with Him and for those who don’t know Him.
Another thing that has not changed is how we staff get to have students in our home and there is no distancing or masks required!
We are super excited for this Sunday when we get to start off the semester!! Dave is one of the main speakers for the kick off, so please pray for him Sunday evening as everyone will be sitting in the grass on the school lawn for social distancing. Please pray that the squirrels and birds and mosquitoes would all disappear for a couple hours.
Thank you for supporting us with your love and partnership as we begin our 12th year here at Bible School!
Dave, Kim, Reece and Clark Field
As goes marriage, so goes society. Marriage is society’s prime institution, first in history and first in importance. Predating government, the union of a man and a woman has happened in all societies for all time. Marriage is the thread of society’s fabric. A marriage is a micro-society. When a man and a woman marry, a new family is born. And when a child arrives, the future of society is sealed.
Since marriage is the skeletal system of civilization, how it is engaged acts as a thermometer to the health of the body politic. Marriage rates1 in the U.S. have plummeted to 34% since 1990 and those who do marry push it off to later2 in life. Today,3 a minority of young adults 18-34 are married (30%), while just 40 years ago a strong majority were (nearly 60%). Sex is divorced from marriage and marriage from childbearing, with now 40% of all babies born to unmarried4 women and most young couples choosing to cohabit rather than tie the knot. Despite studies proving children born into single-parent homes do worse in school, are more prone to behavior problems, are six times as likely to be poor, and whose daughters are three times more likely to be unwed mothers themselves, marriage continues to diminish. But worse than setting up children for failure is the destruction of those children. For every 100 babies born in the U.S., 19 are aborted.
Yet, statistics can only tell us what has happened, not why it has happened. They confirm that society’s belief about the purpose of marriage shifted. Nothing underscores this changing view of marriage more than the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges). The Court’s majority insisted that the purpose of marriage is the well-being of the individuals who choose to marry. But Justice Alito, dissenting from the majority, pointed to the cultural pendulum swing saying, “This understanding of marriage which focuses almost entirely on the happiness of persons who choose to marry…is not the traditional one. For millennia, marriage was inextricably linked to the one thing that only an opposite-sex couple can do: procreate.”
Is Justice Alito’s take on marriage and childbearing biblically grounded? God through the prophet Malachi links faithfulness in marriage through childbearing to faithfulness to Him, saying: “Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth” (Mal. 2:15).
God made marriage the primary human relationship because it is key to man’s purpose to reflect His image: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26a, 27).
Mankind is to reflect God’s glory back to Him. Sin cut us off from God, blinding our eyes to our purpose, miring us in the mud of selfishness. Jesus, God in the flesh, came to heal us and set us on the right path again through the cross. Now, as disciples of Christ, we are charged with fulfilling that ancient goal of glory once again as Peter says: “Like the Holy One Who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior” (1 Pt. 1:15).
If man is made in God’s image and His relationship with the world is Creator and Sustainer of all life, then how does marriage factor in? Marriage stands apart from all other types of human interaction precisely because it carries the possibility of creating and sustaining new life. In fact, God directly links man’s image-bearing purpose to procreation saying, “And God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it…’” (Gen. 1:28a). As society dodders off the path of this ancient wisdom, we see in our behavior a reversal of those commands. Instead of subduing the earth, we subdue ourselves, letting the earth run wild.
The marital act is a unique picture of God demonstrating the power of a total giving of one to another with an openness to the life that may result. Divorcing the marital act from marriage or even to continually sterilize it within marriage fails to reflect the fullness of God’s image. Not only is the spouse in danger of becoming an object of pleasure, but the goal of future childlessness becomes a means to self-gratification. There are many reasons Christian couples give for not having more children: finances, loss of personal time, interference in their career or school plans, relationship pressures, and even the number of existing children. Should we be alarmed that these are exactly the same reasons women use for justifying their abortion?
Marriage and the intrinsic marital act reflect a good God, sacrificial and faithful. Godly marriage is hopeful believing that together with God, there is enough grace, enough strength, enough of everything needed to provide for the fruit self-sacrifice begets. There is no clearer picture of heaven on earth than a godly marriage. To the extent culture divorces marriage from childbearing, abortion will remain a tortuous reality. It is the Church that has the light of God’s purpose for civilization – not government, education, or medicine. The church alone can lead culture back to health with godly marriages courageously lived according to biblical beliefs. Future civilization hinges on a pro-family church.
Transforming fear into confidence,
Rev. James R. Harden, M.Div.
President/CEO
P.S. In these inhumane times, together let us deepen our commitment to that which truly lasts.
Jen’s life is filled with new pressures because of COVID-19. As she adjusts to life as a first-time mom while struggling financially, she discovers she is pregnant again. Sleepless nights ensue as Jen considered what to do about this new life within her. Finding CompassCare online, she called for an appointment.
In the exam room, Jen tearfully shared the overwhelming fear she is experiencing as a new mom. She admitted she would feel more confident not aborting if her boyfriend supported her. But due to his lack of commitment, she sees abortion as her only choice. Yet, even as Jen told CompassCare’s nurse that she feels she is bearing the weight of her decision alone she revealed, “I won’t abort a baby with a heartbeat!”
Because Jen is in the early days of her pregnancy, her ultrasound only exposed a tiny gestational sac with no discernable heartbeat. Her boyfriend, now in the room, seemed disengaged. When her nurse asked how she is feeling, Jen replied, “Killing my baby is hard.” She went on to explain that the baby is part of her and it is hard to even think of “getting rid of it.”
Jen allowed her nurse to pray for her. After prayer, Jen said, “God allows things to happen for a reason, but I just don’t know what to do.” She scheduled a return appointment for test results and another ultrasound to confirm viability.
A few days later, Jen’s nurse called to see how she is doing. Jen told her she is determined to abort because of how overwhelmed she feels. She appreciated the call and agreed to keep her follow-up appointment at CompassCare.
Jen came for her second appointment and received another ultrasound, her pregnancy had progressed to the point where her nurse could see, not one, but two healthy babies growing inside her! Feeling resolved now to carry her pregnancy to term and raise her children, Jen said, “I’m not getting rid of them! Besides I’ve always wanted twins.”
Her nurse shared the Gospel with her in that moment and Jen prayed to receive Christ. Jen told her nurse that with God’s help, she knows she can be a good mother to her twins.
Disclaimer: Names and details have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides a massive increase in tax deductions for charitable giving. Leverage your gifts in 2020 to save even more lives! Go to erasingtheneed.com/donate to learn more.
Mission Results
Scoreboard: 01/01/20 – 07/31/20
Vision Tours are 75-minute educational events designed to give pro-life Christians an opportunity to understand how CompassCare reaches and serves women seriously considering abortion. You will have a chance to meet the leadership, hear firsthand accounts of women served and babies saved from a CompassCare nurse, and learn more about the mission to “erase the need for abortion by transforming women’s fear into confidence.” Light refreshments are provided and children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Guests can choose to attend the Vision Tours virtually or in-person.
Buffalo
Tours occur monthly on the 2nd Thursday (7:00 PM – 8:15 PM) and 4th Saturday (9:30 AM – 10:45 AM)
Join hundreds of fellow believers in prayer for women seriously considering abortion. Sign-up to receive regular prayer requests from the exam room by clicking below.
Leverage your time and talent to serve women and save lives by joining the CompassCare team as a volunteer. Click below to contact the Buffalo or Rochester office.
Things seem to be changing all the time, yet things seem to stay the same. The everchanging news/guidelines seem to have the same theme of uncertainty. We read in Psalm 43 of living in discouraging times and having hope at the same time. It is reassuring to have our foundation built upon the Rock during these times of storm (Luke 6:48)
At the present time Annville Christian Academy is scheduled to open on our campus in a classroom setting on August 18 while the public school will probably start with online classes a week later. This could change by the time you read this email and that makes for frustrations in planning youth programs. We are also excited to explore the possibility of offering a camp highlighting God’s blessing to us through nature.
The trade stores continue to be open two days a week. Residents are thankful for the opportunity to “shop in a smaller venue” and “appreciate that everyone is wearing a mask”. The schedule does allow for a deeper cleaning between open days and customers have thanked the staff for their diligence. We are grateful for the gifts of used clothing and miscellaneous items that continue to arrive at the stores. Your gifts also have allowed us to help area families as they face unique challenges.
Our Board of Directors met last week. While present conditions contain many operational trials, they are also thankful to see your ongoing support for our efforts. They also are thrilled about the gifts towards the Lincoln Hall Restoration Project that are allowing us to proceed with the project. Architect drawings have been approved and the next phase of the project will be put out for bids. This phase includes handicap accessibility to all floors, along with restrooms for the building. This phase should also make the first floor useable again.
Your support is helping us to make a difference in our community. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 2) If you have any questions or have concerns you want to express, please contact us. We are also available via video conferencing if you so desire.
Longpre longs for people in her village to know the hope that she has found in God’s Word. This 23-year-old wife and mother lives with her family in a remote area of southern Bangladesh. There are no vehicles and no public transportation. She must walk two hours to reach the closest market.For years, Longpre and her family worshipped nature.
But when her daughter got sick, a local pastor—and Bible League-trained church planter—began to comfort her family. “Pastor told us that Jesus would heal our daughter, and I believed him,” she says. “Miraculously, she was healed.”
The pastor continued to visit the family, teaching them God’s Word. Longpre began to worship God, and she saw major changes in her life. “We had many struggles in our family. Our marriage was not very easy,” she says. “Now, we have a lot of peace and understanding between us.”
She credits the change to her family’s time in the Word. “Jesus has transformed my life and my character,” she says. “My neighbors did not like me, as I was known to pick fights for small issues. But God taught me peace.”
Longpre no longer worships nature, but the one true God. “My house is just below the mountains and is made of bamboo. We do not have electricity; only the sun gives us light. When I look at the mountains, the hills, the sky, and everything, I know that God created it all.”
Her hope for the future is that people in her village could know Jesus. “This really is a changed life,” she says. “Many women like me in the village are struggling. My prayer is that Jesus changes their lives as He changed mine.”
LATEST STORIES
Overcome with God’s Love
Woman in Armenia Accepts Jesus
July 13, 2020
Metaqsya, pictured with her children, was born and raised in Armenia. She remembers growing up in a prayer-filled household. She explains, “When I was still a kid, my parents became believers. I remember my father and mother would read passages from the Bible every night, after which we prayed together as a family.”
As she got older, she began to neglect her faith. Then she fell hard for a boy. She reveals, “As a teenage girl, I fell in love with a boy who was not a believer. My parents weren’t happy about that. I neglected their advice and married him. I was blinded by love; I thought my boyfriend was the perfect man. But I was wrong.”
After having two children of her own, Metaqsya discovered her husband was not the kind man she thought. He became physically violent with her. Eventually, he left the family for another woman. A friend heard about the situation and came to see her. “I have a close friend who is a believer,” she says. “When she heard about what happened to me, she tried to visit me several times, but I refused to listen.” In her frustration and despair, Metaqsya fell to her knees and cried out, “Oh God, please help me!”
She says right at that moment her friend showed up. “She told me about Jesus Christ,” Metaqsya says. “Then she invited me to join something she called ‘Choose Life,’ a Project Philip Bible study. The name of that program sounded so attractive to me. I decided to participate. I loved it!”
She goes on to share how she realized she’d been against the Lord for years. She says softly, “I felt how God gave me peace. Day after day, I experienced God helping me. I’m telling you, it’s because of the study group that I am growing in my Christian life. Thanks to all of you who are supporting the Bible League ministry in Armenia!”
Imprisonment Brought Freedom
Man accepts Christ through Prison Ministry
July 6, 2020
Peter (left) had a good life. At 26 years old, he owned a welding business and had a working farm in his village in Zambia. He and his wife had children and they were building a house.
One day, as he was returning home from work, Peter was attacked by three men. In an act of self-defense, Peter hit one of the attackers with a pole, killing him. Peter was arrested and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
During his sentence, Peter decided to join a Project Philip Bible study for inmates. “I found most of the inmates being so serious with the Word of God, studying nearly every day. I decided to be born again and gave my life to Jesus Christ before I was released,” he says.
Peter learned so much about the Bible through discussions in his Project Philip group and the lessons in the Your Journey to Freedom Prison Bible he received. “It was really interesting to meet as a group and discuss the questions together as a team,” he says. “We could help each other and agree in conclusion after each topic. I thank God for such arrangements.”
Peter was released after eight months in prison. But he didn’t receive the welcome home he had hoped. His wife had remarried and his children were now living with her and her new husband. “I was in shock and fell into depression,” he remembers. “My farmland and house were being occupied by someone else and nothing was left.”
But Peter kept hope. “I am grateful and inspired, having received a free copy of the Bible from Bible League during my imprisonment. It was my tool and weapon to overcome such challenges in life,” he says. “I learned not to repay evil with evil, but good for evil. I am now using the same Bible to share the love of God with other people and my family. I am now a changed person and thank Jesus for setting me free through Project Philip.”
Peter reflects on the personal changes he’s seen since accepting Jesus as his Savior. “Previously I was short-tempered, even when I was in jail. But after receiving the Word of God, I am now a changed person and my temper is gone.”
He’s using his knowledge of Christ to share the Gospel with others, including his children and family. “What is different now in my life is that I have managed to bring back my children and I am moving on with my new life,” he says. But he’s not stopping there.
“I feel that God is leading me to minister with His Word to many people. I would like to take part in the prison ministry so that I can help inmates as well,” he says. “By spreading the Good News about Jesus and what He did in my personal life, I can contribute towards growing His kingdom.”
Bringing God’s Word to Japan
Young people in Japan have embraced the print and digital versions of the bilingual (Japanese and English) Alive New Testament easy-to-read translation. This generation is learning that their heavenly Father loves them and wants a relationship with them. Watch the video to see how this translation is transforming lives.
“Who is Jesus?”
Today, if you were to ask that question of people in Japan, especially young people, few would have a clue. Some might say, “Is He an American? Is He a movie star?”
For many years, Jesus and the Bible felt distant and stern to the Japanese people, especially among the younger generations. The only Japanese Bible translation available made Jesus seem to be a strict teacher or drill sergeant who commands people.
Today, young people in Japan have embraced the print and digital versions of the bilingual (Japanese and English) Alive New Testament easy-to-read translation, released in 2017. This generation is learning that their heavenly Father loves them and wants a relationship with them.
Now, our team is working on the Old Testament translation so that the people of Japan can have a complete Bible in a language they can understand. Believers in Japan are eager for the Old Testament.
Your support will help complete the Old Testament so that the full Bible will be available to all Japanese people. Help bring the Word of God to Japan.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Join friends around the world in prayer! Click here to download the August prayer calendar.
Additional Prayer Requests
Praise God that in the Correctional Services of South Africa, some Project Philip Bible study leaders will be able to resume their prison ministry programs. While only few will be able to start now, the rest will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Pray for the health of all involved, that the rest of the programs could start soon, and that God would use these Bible studies to change lives.
Pray for the online Project Philip training in the Philippines with 50 people starting soon. Pray for stable internet and for Pastor Eli who is conducting the training.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Your gifts to Bible League International help provide Bibles and training to a world in need.
This email was sent by: Bible League International, 3801 Eagle Nest Drive Crete, IL, 60417, US
As goes marriage, so goes society. Marriage is society’s prime institution, first in history and first in importance. Predating government, the union of a man and a woman has happened in all societies for all time. Marriage is the thread of society’s fabric. A marriage is a micro-society. When a man and a woman marry, a new family is born. And when a child arrives, the future of society is sealed.
Jen’s life is filled with new pressures because of COVID-19. As she adjusts to life as a first-time mom while struggling financially, she discovers she is pregnant again. Sleepless nights ensue as Jen considered what to do about this new life within her. Finding CompassCare online, she called for an appointment.
Jen came for her second appointment and received another ultrasound, her pregnancy had progressed to the point where her nurse could see, not one, but two healthy babies growing inside her! Feeling resolved now to carry her pregnancy to term and raise her children, Jen said, “I’m not getting rid of them! Besides I’ve always wanted twins.”
