Jiao has long wished to have her own Bible. Almost everyone in her village is Buddhist. But Jiao's parents and grandparents are Christians. Inheriting the faith of her grandparents and parents, Jiao has accepted Jesus since childhood. Unfortunately, Bibles are so rare in her hometown.

Growing up and even starting a family, Jiao faced many challenges. Her husband was abusive and Jiao was distressed by his behaviour. "I didn't know happiness," she recalled. "I never felt peace... My heart was empty and I lost the feeling of love. My heart was empty and I lost the feeling of love for God.

In the midst of my timelockdowndue to worsening COVID-19, Jiao finally received what he had been longing for for 40 years: a new Bible. ”This is my first Bible, fully owned by me,” he beamed.

 

During this timelockdownduring the prolonged period, she and her husband took turns reading the Bible aloud in the middle of the family. “I read the Bible every day. I never thought that this Bible reading habit would change our family and our whole house. Our lives have changed in a positive direction, and our married life has become much happier.” 

Thanks to generous Bible Institute partners, many of our brothers and sisters in China now have their own Bibles so they can grow in faith and share the hope of Jesus with others.

National Bible institutes in various parts of the world, to this day, continue to strive for the word of God to be spread to the ends of the earth. The Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI) is no different. Through the Satu Dalam Kasih (SDK) programme, LAI becomes a channel of love from generous partners to God's people living in remote parts of the archipelago who have difficulty owning a Bible and have longed for the presence of the Good News in their place.

Thanks to the generous support of LAI's partners, many people now have the opportunity to read the Bible in a language they can easily understand and relate to. Like Jiao in China, through His word they feel the Holy Spirit touching them and making their lives change, for the better and happier.

Pray for and support the ministry of LAI in spreading the Bible and its parts to every corner of the country. Every time the Bible is put into the hands of souls who long for it, there is a life change that will last forever. How appropriate is the Psalmist's statement, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). The support of Bible Friends large and small has brought light to the lives of many.” (Psalm 119:105).

Adapted from: Americanbible.org