On May 4, Carl Junction, Missouri was hit by a tornado. The next day, a Bibles for America volunteer was watching a television interview with a storm victim who said, “I lost everything; even my Bible was blown away.” She called and shared this information with a volunteer in Kansas City. Through fellowship, volunteers in the Midwest decided to drive the Bibles for America motor home to southwest Missouri to distribute free New Testament Recovery Versions to storm victims.

We arrived in Carl Junction around noon on May 17 and checked in at the Salvation Army headquarters. We were given permission to hand out Bibles in the tent used for serving meals to workers and storm victims. A young man who was in charge of the meal tent greeted us and soon told us that he wanted to be the first to receive a free Recovery Version. He cleared off a table at the front entrance of the tent and said that we could set up our display there. Our display table was the first item people saw as they entered the tent!

A young woman came to us and expressed interest in receiving a Bible. As we explained how to use the various features of the Recovery Version, it seemed that she was really touched by what she saw. About ten minutes later, she returned and asked for a Bible for her sister living in Florida. That day, we handed out 22 Recovery Versions.