Sunday, December 2, 2001 - Today we had a wonderful time with local volunteers here in Memphis, Tennessee. We split into two groups to go to the city of Memphis and to the University of Memphis. One group went to the city to hang an offer of a free New Testament Recovery Version on the doors of homes. A young volunteer who was already a little nervous about doing this ran into a schoolmate. When he gave her the offer, she asked for four more for her friends—he was quite happy that he came. The group put 758 offers on doors in two hours.

The other group of BfA crew members and volunteers went to the University of Memphis. There we gave away 92 Bibles and 287 BfA college brochures offering the students a free New Testament.

At the Music Hall on campus, we met the director of the University of Memphis Gospel Choir right before the choir’s performance. We asked if we could make a presentation of the Recovery Version at the end of the performance. The choir director agreed to this and introduced two of us before the performance to say that we would address the audience at the end. Before we knew it, we were standing on a stage making a presentation to a captive audience of 150 people with a gospel choir shouting, “Hallelujah” behind us! We concluded the presentation by reading these words from Hebrews 9:14 and its footnote:

"How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14)—"The blood of Christ was shed for the forgiveness of sins, and the new covenant was consummated with it. It accomplished an eternal redemption for us and purchased the church of God. It washes us from our sins, purifies our conscience, sanctifies us, and speaks something better for us. By this blood we enter the Holy of Holies and overcome Satan the accuser. Therefore, it is precious and better than the blood of goats and bulls. We must value it highly and should not regard it a common thing, like animal blood. If we do, we will suffer God’s punishment" (footnote 1).

Afterwards, the reception of gift packs was unprecedented! One woman asked for fifty for her church meeting tonight. An elderly woman said to a BfA rep, "Get me an offer now," and a man behind her said, "And give me thirty." Then another person asked for thirty. The older ones in the crowd were eager to get what we had.

To Him be the glory,
The "Word of Truth USA" Crew