February 2003 Issue

The BfA Update is intended as an encouragement for all those laboring in the distribution of Recovery Version New Testaments throughout America. We hope that, for everyone’s mutual encouragement, you all will send us reports of your experiences.

From the office:

• One of Bibles for America’s two motor homes will begin traveling throughout the southeastern U.S. beginning this month for the mobile distribution of New Testaments in Georgia and Alabama. Each weekend, the motor home and volunteer crew will travel to a shopping center or college campus to distribute free Bibles and brochures advertising the gift offer. Our second, smaller motor home is currently touring the northwestern U.S. to distribute Bibles.

• We will soon launch a newly designed Internet web site featuring an updated look and improved navigation. We will also unveil our new monthly electronic newsletter, so please stay tuned!

From our volunteers:

• Nine area volunteers participated in a motor home outing in the Southeast on February 7. At Columbus State University (Columbus, Georgia), volunteers distributed 207 Recovery Versions New Testaments and 398 gift offer brochures in three hours. The campus police plan to use the Recovery Version for their Bible study. Later at a nearby Wal-Mart store, volunteers gave away 119 Bibles and 140 gift offer brochures in two hours. An employee approached the volunteers outside and offered them something warm to drink. She said the store tries to give something to Christian groups set up in front of the store. Later, a store employee came to visit the team and a volunteer asked about her job. She said that she is the switchboard operator and announces store specials on the PA system. Our volunteer recommended that she announce the offer for a free study Bible in front of the store. Without comment, she went back into the store, and shortly after, the table was flooded with requests.

• A Bible recipient in Pomona, CA, enjoyed the Recovery Version so much that she contacted us and asked if she could become a volunteer distributor.

  “The first time I heard about your ministry was when someone sent me, an advertisement about you and how I can get a free Bible. WOW! When I read what you were doing, my heart just leaped within me!”

  As a lupus support group facilitator and community representative for southern California, she has handed out over 100 Bibles for America wallet-sized cards in two weeks to her support group members. She also delivers food every third Friday of the month and hands the cards to people she meets.

  “The wallet size cards are great! There have been very good responses to the gift cards I’ve passed out. I hope they have been following through with a call to you guys!”

• Christian students in southern California invited Bibles for America volunteers to two college campuses to distribute free Recovery Versions and gift offer brochures last month. At Cypress College (Cypress, California), over 15 volunteers, including the Bibles for America office staff and members of a campus Christian club, distributed 50 Bibles on January 21, the first day of classes. The next day, volunteers at Long Beach City College (Long Beach, California) distributed 66 Bibles and 296 gift offer brochures.

From Bible recipients:

• “Thank you for helping me to get closer to Jesus!” —Redwood City, CA

• "As a pastor, I would highly recommend the Recovery Version NT to anyone wanting a better understanding of God's Word. I look forward to hearing of a [Old Testament] version of the same." —Council Bluffs, IA

• "Bible translations intrigue me. Your offer to send a free, new translation of the Bible excited me. After browsing around, I found an extra glimmer in the jewels of God's Word—the footnotes. Nowhere have I found such a deep and somewhat intimate explanation of Scripture. Good work!" —Brunswick, GA

• "Thank you so much for making the Recovery Version available! It has truly helped me understand the Bible better and my relationship with God is daily being renewed." —Des Moines, WA

• "I really enjoy the Bible and use it often as a study guide. I've also recommended it to several of my friends and family who also enjoy it. I wish it was both Old and New Testaments. Thank you so much!" —Indianapolis, IN
  

For your prayer:
Please pray for the distribution of Recovery Versions in the southeastern U.S. Please pray that the Lord will provide the venues for distribution and bless the participation of all of the volunteers.

More on the Bible:
In this new feature of “BfA Update”, we’ll direct you to articles and interesting Bible information that we’ve found on the Internet. We invite you to share with us any web sites that you think would be of interest to our readers.

• Find out more about the history of the Bible and see a timeline of Bible translations.

May God continue to bless America with the Recovery Version!!

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