Each Christmas, we celebrate the incredible miracle of Jesus’s birth — the Son of God humbly becoming a vulnerable little child.
That makes this an especially good season to report back to you on some of the ways you’re helping children discover the love of Jesus Christ!
In Kenya and Uganda, your generosity is placing Biblica’s Joy Children’s Bibles in the hands of boys and girls through our partnership with Compassion International. One of those children is Charles, who lost his mother and now lives in a boarding school in Kenya.
Life was very difficult for Charles, but receiving his Joy Children’s Bible gave him a source of great comfort. “Whenever I miss my mum, I read my Bible,” he says gladly. “I love my Bible because it has nice pictures and is easy to read.” His favorite verse is Isaiah 41:10a: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (NIV)
Polycarp lives in the same boarding school and also received a Joy Children’s Bible. “My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 119:105,” he exclaims. “I know that God’s Word is the lamp to my feet and light to my path. I use my Bible to read and see my ways.”
Together, Charles and Polycarp are helping a younger friend, Joseph, learn to read his Bible. God loves to multiply the impact of your generous gifts!
In Uganda, the Joy Children’s Bibles you sent are transforming the lives of children, their friends, and their families.
Regina says, “I had a big challenge in life, and I did not know how to go about it. When I received my Bible, I chose to read it three times in a day amidst a tight schedule at school. I did this for 3 days and the challenge got solved.”
Lydia reports, “The moment I received a personal Bible, I started mobilizing my friends. We are now five. We have planned to start Bible study sessions every lunch time at school. I was also able to share in one of the fellowships at school because I have a Bible that I read every day.”
And Vitoria shares, “When I received a personal Bible, I immediately started reading it at home. Whenever my mother saw me reading, she would ask, What are you reading? Since then, I started sharing the Word with her. She has not accepted Christ, but she started going to church.”
As you know, Compassion International serves kids whose families are experiencing great poverty. For them, owning a “personal Bible” was once only a dream. God is truly using you to answer prayers!
God is also using your support to grow the church. Youth ministers tell us that children and young people who receive their own Bibles are more interested in attending church. They’re proud to carry the Bibles with them to church and even school. And because they can read and understand their Bibles themselves, they’re excited to follow along during Sunday school and church services.
In all, more than 300,000 kids and youth served by Compassion have received God’s Word around the globe this year with your help.
Scripture tells us how important it is to give children a strong foundation to shape their future. Thank you for the gift of so many Bibles — so that this Christmas season, more young people can read the story of Christ’s birth for themselves!
For these children, owning a “personal Bible” was once only a dream.
