International (MNN) – Christian Resources International hands out hundreds of free Christian books every year in countries around the world. Yet, because the books are often time only in English, many have wondered if the books even help.
They do.
(Photo courtesy of Christian Resources International)
“When you look at English being the financial language of the world, and you look at wars and just the spread of Great Britain throughout, you’re looking at people who speak English that we might not even expect,” CRI’s Jason Woolford explains.
“For instance we’ve sent, everything that we sent we sent over-seas. Three-hundred million dollars’ worth of free stuff to 171 nations. And that’s been to Africa, India, the Philippines, and you have people, that of course there are people in certain areas that don’t speak English, but the ones that do, which there are a lot of them, we send too.”
In a sense, the English language is functioning like a linking road, much like the Greek language did during Paul’s time. And with English being a common language, it helps speed up the Gospel’s spread.
“We’ll get somewhere in Africa and the person from Africa will speak five languages and one of them is English. You, we have people who actually cherish getting something that’s in English,” Woolford shares.
(Photo courtesy of Christian Resources International)
In fact, though the books sent through CRI are used, they’re still usually worth more than half a some people’s monthly wages, Woolford says.
So many Americans have books sitting on their shelves that they’ve already read and maybe it’s time to pass them on.
Will you help?
CRI has a few ways you can get involved! For one, the ministry needs used Christian books donated in order to send the word of God. Secondly, the ministry also needs financial support. Though the books themselves are free, the ministry still has to pay for the books’ transportation overseas.
Thirdly, CRI needs volunteers who are willing to help sort and prepare books for packaging. So if you don’t have books you’re ready to donate and are unable to financially join CRI, there’s still opportunities to serve with the ministry with personal time.
Finally, if you would please pray for CRI’s ministry and God’s hand in its work. Pray also for the people who are receiving these books and possibly God’s word for the first. And pray that all Christians, both those in the United States and abroad, would be Christians whose faith and action meet at the feet of Jesus.
Learn more about sending books, volunteering, or donating to CRI, click here!
