Providing New Testaments to Comfort and Instruct

Sitting alongside a dusty road in Togo, a soldier fills the empty hours by reading from his French New Testament. Here he finds hope and truth.

In a clinic waiting room in the remote hills of Haiti, a woman clutches a Kreyol New Testament. Although she is a believer, she has never had her own New Testament to pore over day after day, soaking up the love of God.

In a dingy, dirty prison cell in Colombia, a man moves to what little light is available so that he can read from his new Spanish New Testament.

Testimonies like these reinforce the need to help meet the hunger for God's Word. When Johan Gutenberg invented the printing press almost 600 years ago, he sensed what God would do through that marvelous new tool - "...a press from which shall soon flow in inexhaustible streams the most abundant and most marvelous liquor that has ever flowed to relieve the thirst of man! Through it God will spread His Word. A spring of pure truth shall flow from it! Like a new star, it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine among men."

WMP produces New Testaments on a limited basis in Spanish, French, Kreyol, Arabic, Persian, and other languages for distribution where people cannot afford to buy them or where they have not been readily available.

In South America a spiritual explosion has brought hundreds of souls to new-found faith in Jesus Christ. WMP distributors are pleading for New Testaments to help establish and encourage these new believers. More than 8,000 New Testaments are designated for Ecuador and Nicaragua. In addition, 6,000 copies each are planned for Mexico, Argentina, and Dominican Republic.

An exciting opportunity exists to send more than 16,000 Spanish New Testaments to Cuba. Christian leaders in Cuba are eager to help strengthen Cuban believers for whatever they may face in the coming months. [Spanish New Testaments with Bible Study Supplement cost us 74 cents each to produce.]

The book of Acts is a living reality in many countries today. What joy these believers must sense as they read of the exciting, Spirit-filled days of the early church! What encouragement and direction they must find from Paul's letters!

Several years ago, WMP provided French New Testaments for distribution among the military in Togo, West Africa. Edoh Fiozandji, WMP's national coordinator in Togo, has asked for an additional 12,000 copies to distribute among recent recruits. Much fruit was harvested from the initial distribution, and a new harvest is ready. [French New Testaments cost us about 80 cents to produce.]

In Benin, the birthplace of voodoo, believers need "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" to withstand the enemy.

In Haiti, Kreyol Bibles are scarce and expensive. Many pastors and churches have only one Bible for an entire group of believers.

Many French-speaking African nations are experiencing threats from Muslims seeking to gain extended footholds and deter the spread of the gospel. Again, believers need to be firmly grounded in the Word of Truth in order to stand in the face of persecution and confrontation.

"The French New Testaments for Congo will be so much appreciated! The Congolese are in an area of much violence and tremendous suffering. To have God's Word to read regularly and whenever they need comfort and instruction is something most of them have never experienced." -J.T.

As you contemplate the peace and comfort you receive from sitting down with your Bible, consider the many believers who have only a few verses or even none at all to read. They need this integral part of God's armor as well as the instruction and hope it provides.

[Contributions of $20, $50, $100, or even much more will help significantly in producing and providing New Testaments for those eager to read them. It is a great thing to put a New Testament into the hands of poor or persecuted believers in other lands.]

The Way to God in Public Schools and at McDonald's

The Paraguayan Bible Society has developed a wonderful ministry in the schools of Paraguay using The Way to God Scripture booklet from World Missionary Press. Alfredo Altamirano of the Paraguayan Bible Society sent this encouraging report:

"What the Paraguayan Bible Society is doing with these booklets is not just giving them away. Through our promoters, we are teaching [the booklets] in the schools. We use them extensively. The promoters go weekly to public and private schools, and thousands of children and youth study the Word of God. At this moment many schools are calling, asking the Bible Society to please come and teach the Bible to them. Isn't that glorious! We are so thankful to you for your support and help."

In Bolivia, missionary Gustavo Schlamp and his team go into rural schools using The Way to God received through the Bolivian Bible Society. Gustavo and his fellow worker Rene travel at times over almost impassable roads to reach children in remote areas. In one community they were at first refused access to the schools, as the city is strongly Catholic, and they had not permitted any other ministries for over ten years. When they asked Brother Rene what denomination he represented, he explained that he was not with a denomination, but rather with the Bolivian Bible Society. The principal responded that he wanted his students to know the Bible, so Brother Rene and the Scripture booklets were welcomed with open arms. Many children and parents in that community received the Word that day.

A child in Minnesota came to Christ through The Way to God. Her mother wrote, "We are a Christian family. We've never pushed our children to make a profession, as we've trusted the Lord to move in their lives in His time. Last night, we were at a McDonald's - two small movings of the Lord, as I wanted to go to Taco Bell, and we never dine in.

 "An older lady approached our family and offered each of the children your The Way to God booklet with our blessing. On the way home, our 5-year-old daughter, Abby, asked her 12- year-old sister, Hope, to read her booklet out loud. Hope agreed. Abby listened intently, asked many questions, and stated that she wanted to be saved!

 "At home, my husband and I talked with Abby to make sure she understood what she was doing. Hope continued to read aloud from the booklet, and Abby prayed to the Lord as her Savior for the first time! We wept tears of joy with the angels!

 "Thank you for your well-written literature. I’d like to request 100 copies for my family to distribute and to include in our VBS packets which we'll be giving out in June."

Praise God for these opportunities to reach upcoming generations in many countries with the truth! It will make a difference in their lives and in their countries for years to come.

[A gift to touch the lives of children will impact open and eager minds. Every donated dollar provides for 25 powerful Scripture booklets.]

"Half-Million Missions Marathons"

How helpful it is when church groups or family groups arrange to come to WMP for a "Half-Million Missions Marathon" and divide into two teams to serve at one or both binderies for 16 hours straight -  binding, trimming, boxing, weighing, and strapping 500,000 Scripture booklets!

As WMP production grows, it is increasingly important to keep our binderies going strong.

At present, marathons are scheduled for August 10-11, September 14-15, October 19-20, and possibly November and January.

Marathons require 16 to 20 people - whose ages can range from 14 to 65 or above - willing to work in shifts through the night. Marathons are fun and significant - and have an eternal impact in reaching people with the gospel.

For more information, or to schedule a "Half- Million Missions Marathon," please contact Jay Benson at 574-831-2111 (ext. 212) or e-mail Jay@wmpress.org.