International (MNN) — The impact of one Bible in the lives of nine people in Pakistan underscores a growing need for Scripture for those seeking Christ around the world.
Although FMI has already reached 440-percent of its 2019 fundraising goal for Bibles, as the organization enters the 2020 calendar year, “[we] aim to dedicate more than twice the amount of resources for Scripture distribution than we budgeted for this year,” says FMI’s Bruce Allen.
By reaching this goal in the first half of 2020, FMI can put even more Scripture in the hands of believers and seekers around the world.
The power of a single Bible
In Pakistan, a 60-year-old man named Sadaqat sat at a crowded roadside restaurant mourning the death of his father. The father-son relationship is one of the most powerful bonds in Pakistani culture – even more so than marriage.
As Pastor Adam, a leader supported by FMI, took a seat near Sadaqat, he recognized the Holy Spirit’s urging. Allen says Pastor Adam told him, “‘the Lord prompted me to share Romans 8:38-39 with Sadaqat’:”
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sadaqat holds up the Injil (Bible) he received from Pastor Adam.
(Photo, caption courtesy FMI)
Pastor Adam saw “[Sadaqat’s] eyes ‘light up’ upon hearing the words of this riveting book that had such beautiful words,” Allen continues. The pair spoke for more than an hour about Jesus Christ, the Holy One. Pastor Adam then offered his personal copy of the Bible, which Sadaqat received appreciatively. He kissed it and expressed his eagerness to read it.
Sadaqat later called Pastor Adam, telling him he wanted to learn more about Jesus. Sadaqat met with Pastor Adam in an FMI-underwritten safe house for three days, which resulted in Sadaqat received Christ as his personal Savior. Over the following three months, Sadaqat met with Pastor Adam for discipleship and, in turn, led eight of his family members to salvation in Christ.
How can you support FMI?
FMI supports indigenous pastors and church planters in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nations. Since Bibles go hand-in-hand with church planting and discipleship, you can support this work for as little as $7.
You can support FMI by giving to the “tangible resources” fund here.
Please pray God will continue to provide resources so that His Word can impact more people like Sadaqat.
Header image is a stock photo courtesy of Aaron Burden via Unsplash.
