Philippines (MNN) ― Christian Resources International recently sent Bibles to a church in the Philippines.
The ministry takes used Bibles and other Christian materials and sends them to others around the world who can't afford their own.
According to CRI, more than 122,000 people become Christians every day, and most of those people are in Africa, Asia, and South America. They're attending churches where even the pastors have no Bibles.
Across the U.S., research indicates that the average American Christian owns nine Bibles and is actively in the market for more. That means that resources are stagnating on many bookshelves--resources which could be given new life in the developing church.
CRI encourages believers to send resources to them which are no longer being used, and CRI in turn will send them overseas to churches that do not have access to Bibles and Christian literature.
Back to the story of the church in Ilocos Sur. Filipino church leaders report many of their congregation members were thrilled to have a copy of God's Word for their very own. Many had never owned their own copy and were unable to put it down.
CRI shares one story of an elementary school teacher who read late into the night the first evening she had her Bible. She had school the next day, and her mother warned her that she wouldn't be able to get up in time if she didn't get to sleep. She said that she set her alarm very early in order to read more of the Scriptures before leaving for school.
The Filipino believers' thirst for the Gospel is seen in their unmistakable smiles at the distribution.
To find out more about donating Bibles, Christian reference books and Bible study materials, click here.
