Opening Bibles, Opening Hearts

He* didn’t want to go to and serve in the hostile country—one that harasses, jails, beats believers—at first, but he knew that’s where God was leading him. And when God connected him with a man there who had mentored him in high school, the door was open. So he moved to one of the cities in this country and began his ministry.

That was more than 20 years ago, and he says things have changed. When he began his ministry, just taking the Bible into the country was extremely difficult. There were stiff penalties even for discipling believers, and some of his colleagues were arrested.

But now, he says, it’s possible to have small groups in Bible study without members having to keep their voices down. Meetings with up to about 25 participants are safe, and they can worship out loud with music and overhead projectors. Leaders are no longer followed and questioned by security police like they once were. Whereas Christian students used to want to leave the country when they finished their studies, some have now decided to stay and serve where they are.

The result is that families are reading the Bible more, students are attending small groups, and people are generally more engaged in Scripture. He used to minister only to kids who had never read a Bible before, but more and more often lately, they are already familiar with it when they come to him.

That doesn’t mean there are no restrictions; this country still only recognizes another religion and makes no promises or laws about freedom of religion. One believer was imprisoned for a month and beaten, but when authorities let him go, they said to him, “Okay, we know what you’re doing. Go do it, but just be discreet about it.” Laws may not have changed, but enforcement has loosened up in recent years. And Bibles have begun to be opened more often.

That’s where Walk Thru the Bible comes in. He is always in need of small-group resources, and many of our materials are perfectly suited to the cultural and social context of his ministry. Students are learning Scripture through our overviews, devotionals, and character studies like Detour (our Biblical Character Series study on the life of Joseph) and Crucible (our Biblical Character Series study on the life of David).

He took the bold step of renting a public meeting place a couple of years ago, and so far, there have been no serious repercussions. For now, his groups no longer have to move around or meet in a different place each month. They come together discreetly but not secretly, learning the Bible together, often through our resources. This country’s society has shown signs of opening, slowly but surely. Families are becoming more open to God’s Word. Hearts have opened even more. Our resources are being used by God, to comfort and to teach and to inspire, in this hostile-to-believers place.

And God’s truth is making its way into more hearts each day.

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*Name withheld for security reasons.