I met Mike, a cycling enthusiast and supporter of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS). Mike is an admirer of William Tyndale, a pioneer of the Reformation who fought to translate and publish the Bible in a language the English people could understand in the 16th century. Mike actively distributes Bibles at his community centre near Bath.

The room was very busy one Wednesday morning, so we chose a quiet spot in the sunshine to chat whilst enjoying a coffee on a ‘pay-what-you-can’ basis.

Spiritual bread for everyone – Mike’s story
“We have a programme called ‘bread and bread’, where we provide food whilst inviting people to explore the Bible together,” said Mike. “We don’t shy away from the difficult parts of the Bible; instead, we let those passages speak to us.”

The weekly communal meals and Bible study sessions at this community centre are growing in popularity. People from all walks of life come to eat and study the Scriptures together. Now, many people are coming to Jesus, following Him, and some of them have even been baptised. Whilst Mike and I were chatting over a cup of coffee at the community centre, one of the regular visitors, Gary (name changed), approached us and shared his testimony.

“I used to be terrified of dying—afraid of eternal emptiness. However, after studying the Bible and now believing in Jesus, I know that I will ‘go home’ and live with Jesus. This has also made me much more at peace. I used to get emotional and lose my temper very easily. Now I don’t get angry as often as I used to. God’s Word has truly helped me a great deal.”

Gary’s story is just one of many people whose lives have been transformed through reading the Bible, not only in this community but across the country. We are seeing many Christians experiencing greater spiritual openness in their communities and beginning to take steps to share the Bible and its messages with others. I asked Mike why he was so passionate about doing this. His answer was quite simple, and I think you’ll agree: “If you truly want to know God, you need to know the Scriptures.”

Tyndale: a man willing to sacrifice everything for the Bible
William Tyndale may have lived 500 years ago, but he and Mike share the same commitment: to help people come to know God through the Bible. At a time when the Bible was only available in Latin and only the educated could read and understand it, Tyndale fought so that ordinary people could read and understand the Scriptures for themselves. He spent more than a decade in exile in Europe translating the New Testament from the Greek manuscripts into English (published in 1530), printing it illegally, and smuggling it into England.

When I asked Mike what inspired him about Tyndale, he said, “When you get to know the man and his work—he gave up his life, gave everything so that people like me, you, and even a simple farm labourer could have access to the Bible. He had to leave the country he loved, never married, gave up a good job—he gave up all that so that we could all have access to the Bible. And that sacrifice cost him his life. He gave everything so that the Bible could be accessible to everyone.”

A 750 km journey inspired by Tyndale
This summer, Mike cycled from Vilvoorde in Belgium—where Tyndale was executed—to Cologne, Germany, where Tyndale first attempted to print his Bible, and then continued on to Konstanz in southern Germany, where Jan Hus (another key figure in the Reformation) was executed. He carried a copy of the Gospel of Mark in his cycle bag to distribute along the way, whilst also raising funds so that people around the world can access study Bibles and various supporting resources to understand the Bible and make its teachings a way of life.

Offering the Bible—is there still a risk?
Today, the Bible is available in countless versions and translations—something Tyndale could only have dreamt of. We are living in an extraordinary era for mission, in which we are witnessing a growing spiritual openness in our country. Bible sales have soared, and more and more people are coming to churches and community centres—such as the one where Mike works—to ask their questions.

We who live in the present day do not face the same risks as Tyndale did when distributing the Bible. Our lives are not at stake as his was, nor are those of our fellow believers in various countries where Christians face persecution.

Nevertheless, placing this precious book into the hands of strangers or neighbours remains a step fraught with uncertainty. Yet we continue to try. There are many Christians across the country who are stepping forward to welcome these seekers of spiritual meaning. They discuss challenging questions and present the Bible as an invitation to encounter the God who loves them. If you are one of them and feel that this mission is risky or beyond your capabilities, let Tyndale’s story strengthen your resolve.

Translated from: biblesociety.org.uk