The Happiness of Having a Bible

Grace Nyirenda is a 64-year-old widow from Songowela heartland in Nkhata-bay district, northern Malawi. She is a remarkable woman of resilience and unwavering faith. She is the pillar of her family, not only taking care of her two beloved daughters, but also nurturing her four grandchildren. Grace's life is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Grace Nyirenda is a female role model who can shake your faith. She has long followed Christ and faithfully worships in the New Apostolic Church. It has been 40 years since she was born again and joined the church. In all that time, Nyirenda has never had her own Bible. She has relied on her sharp memory for Scripture verses read by preachers in church services or through radio programs or elsewhere, where the Word of God is delivered. The Word of God that she receives, she meditates on and then shares with the people around her. For Nyirenda and some people in her village, the cost of buying a Bible is still too expensive due to the limited income of the average citizen.

Fortunately, fate gave Nyirenda a wonderful surprise. One blessed day, Timothy, the Promoter of the Program Scripture for Families from the Malawi Bible Institute visited Nyirenda's village and met with the Christian community there. Hearing Nyirenda's longing for a Bible, Timothy presented her with a precious one.

Nyirenda remembers the event as an extraordinary one for her. Her joy was so great that it was beyond words. “I always wanted to have it, for more than 40 years dreamed of it, but never expected more than that, ” said Nyirenda. ”But now I have it, the Bible is the best guide for life, it's never too late to receive the Word of God, ” she continued. One of her favorites is reading the Book of Psalms, which  becomes a source of encouragement and strengthens her faith every day.

The influence of God's word on Nyirenda's life was immense. Before she had her own Bible, she struggled with malice and envy. However, through diligent reading and meditation on God's word, Nyirenda's life changed. The Bible helped her to discern between good and evil, and taught her that jealousy and envy are sins and God hates them.

Nyirenda now has her own Bible. At home she can review the teachings or sermons that have been delivered by the pastor at church. Nyirenda's perseverance reminds us of the people of Berea in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. The people of Berea were humble and pious. They diligently studied and searched the Scriptures. Nyirenda was no different.

Today Nyirenda's heart was filled with the desire for everyone around her to value the Bible as much as she did. Following the teaching she received in the Scripture for Families Program, she holds Bible Studies for her daughters and granddaughters to ensure that they interact with the word of God. The only problem she experienced while reading the Bible or reading the Scripture for Families Program guidebook was the decline in her eyesight as Nyirenda aged. She can no longer read the Bible for long, as it makes her eyes tired and sore.