Giving the Word

World Magazine's Susan Olasky touched based with me recently to ask about Bible rebinding. Her article "Giving the Word" in the June 14 issue focuses on ministries that help you donate used Bibles -- Christian Resources International and the Bible Foundation -- and ends with some remarks of mine about why people choose to rebind worn Bibles. (Note: the linked article will require log-in to read in its entirety.)

I wrote about "Giving Your Bible Away" back in September. I'm wondering: have any of you participated in Bible drives or similar donation programs? I'd like to hear about it. Also, in addition to the organizations mentioned in the article, are there any other engaged in such work that we should know about?

Comments

[John Dunn]

Mark,
Something I do personally if I do get a new bible, which is too frequent for my wife, is donate the older ones to a prison ministry my church is involved in. I've been told the prisoners use the bibles for a pillow (they are not allowed a real pillow) but I can't imagine a better time to have the word of God handy. Blessings,
John

[David Dewey]

In the UK we have a Christian organisation called Book Aid. They pass on Bibles and theological books to pastors and churches in developing countries, mostly (for obvious reasons) to the English-speaking parts of Africa. Having recently seen the library of a theological college in Sierra Leone, I can testify to the need. The library, serving perhaps two dozen staff and several hundreds of students, had only very old and very fragile books: my own pastor's library is infinitely better equipped.

[Matthew]

Wow....talk about right up my alley.

It's always been a passion of mine to collect used bibles and get them in the hands of people that NEED them and cannot get them. Thanks to Jerry Kingery at Bible Foundation, he's helped me gain a lot of focus and insight on how to go about not only gathering them, but has helped me out tremendously in learning the cheapest way to ship bulk books around the world. Sadly, however, USPS has almost quadrupled the pricing structure for bulk "M" bags (mail bags) containing nothing but periodicals or books. As a result, I can no longer afford to ship by myself. Thanks to Jerry, he educated me in that there are several drop off locations around the countries where ministries will collect used bibles and bible parts, wait until they have enough to fill up a sea container, and then ship them over seas where they can get into the hands of missionaries and ministries that can get them into the hands of the thrirty.

It's been a little dream of mine to build a wood container (about 2' wide, 2'deep, and 3 1/2' high) with a slot in the top where people could donate used bibles at our church. I wanted to set it right outside our bookstore so, even if no one has old bibles to donate, they can purchase the inexpensive Nelson NKJV one dollar bibles and drop them in there. In turn, once the box is full, I can transport the bibles to a distribution center for delivery. My donation box could even visit other churches to get others involved as well.

But it's just a dream of mine......

[Matthew]

Wow...sorry about my spelling in that response. Must be getting late. :)

[Rod Summers]

A few comments. First, we have taken our used pew Bibles at church and donated them to local missions, poor churches, and folks in other countries where English is spoken. Second, there are non-profit Bible societies that translate and provide Bibles to non-English speaking nations. They are always looking for monetary donations. Interesting side note, the translation "God's Word" was translated for English readers using the same principles of translations for foreign countries. As I understand it the approach is to use grammarians and rhetoricians of the receptor language to edit the text and make it more readable as well as using more common words to express some concepts like grace, righteousness, baptism, etc. And what was the format chosen initially? Single column in a very readable font!!

[Fr. Bill Klock]

I'm not generally one to get rid of Bibles, because I don't generally purchase Bibles I won't use, and when a daily use BIble wears out I shelve it because it's full of my notes that I want for future reference.

As Matthew commented above, it is getting very expensive to ship printed material overseas -- even in bulk. In most cases it's no longer cost-effective to send Bible to the developing world. It makes more sense to distribute them domestically or locally. There are a lot of ministries that are able to produce the Bibles needed overseas in relatively close proximity to the ultimate destination. Over the years I've supported a number of those ministries, which are typically able to provide five or ten Bibles produced locally for what it might cost to ship two or three used Bibles from North America. In one recent case, a ministry producing Russian Bibles could produce and distribute 100 Bibles for CAN$85. I don't even think you could ship that many Bibles to Russia for that amount.

We have a basket in our narthex for old/used Bibles. One lady in the congregation frequents the Salvation Army thrift shops, which give away the Bibles on hand. She brings them to the church and regularly fills the basket -- and the Bibles disappear quite rapidly. It does seem like the AV's are the first to go.

[Joel]

You asked about Bible donation programs. I found a very simple one available to you wherever you live: Buy paperback KJV Bibles at your local dollar store for a dollar plus tax each and give Bibles away on the bus, at bus stops, on the street, and wherever else you can. I started this two years ago when I saw three hundred paperback KJV Bibles gathering dust on a high shelf where no one could reach them at my local Dollar tree store. I thought to myself "What a waste!" I bought a dozen to try giving them away on the bus I ride. I know how bad it feels sitting on a bus for an hour with nothing to do, so if nothing else I would help my fellow bus riders out with something to read. Amazingly enough, people accepted the Bibles! So I went back to the Dollar Tree and bought some more to give away. I thought nothing of this until one day I went into the Dollar Tree and saw that that upper shelf was empty! So I began buying Bibles from other Dollart Trees and other dollar stores (Dollar General and Family Dollar) as well. I soon diversified, buying gift Bibles for five dollars apiece and giant print Bibles for ten dollars apiece, and giving them away, especially to people who decline the paperback Bible because they can't read the small print; I show them the giant print Bible and ask "Is this better?" By now I have given away over a thousand Bibles on the bus, at bus stops, and while walking around the city. People are very nice to me, even those who decline a Bible. This is probably because my motive is to bless them instead of earning Brownie points by preaching at them. I have no problem with pride, because I tell everyone that I'm nothing special because I do this because it's something that anyone can do. Is there anyone else out there that gives away Bibles as a private individual?

[RONALD B.NYABINGE]

RONALD B.NYABINGE
TOMBE CHRISTIAN YOUTH MINISTRY
P.O. BOX 4037
KISII-40200
KENYA E.AFRICA.
WE NEED BIBLES AND BOOKS FOR OUR EVANGELISM WORK.PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT TO HELP.EMAIL;ronald_nyabinge@yahoo.co.PHONE;254-734-190073.

[Dessa]

God has placed on my heart to collect used Bibles to give out to the children that are in the foster care system. It was brought to my attention by a child that is in the system that kids don't have Bibles unless they are in a christian home. I'm not sure how to get the Bibles to them but I'm working on that also. I know alot of the children's homes are secret due to parents abusing them but I'm wanting them to know that God loves them too. So any ideas and thought on this is most welcome.

[Pastor Oligye Ezekiel]

We request you some Bibles in English for people that are too poor to buy one. The people of Islands and rular areas where we preach need your kind hand to read the word of God Thank you.
Send to P.o.Box 197, Mukono, Uganda

[custom essays]

WOW, this'll keep me busy for years. I've been subscribing to your RSS feed for months, but somehow I missed this great list.

[Bob]

We recently started a ministry in an attempt to provide free Bibles to those in need and possibly extend this ministry to missionaries.

My wife and I felt that there was probably a need to provide free Bibles to those in need and thus started our ministry "Feeding On His Word Ministries". Everything is still at the beginning stages, including our web page http://feedingonhisword.witnesstoday.org . However, with God's help, the ministry will grow in His honor and for His glory.

Our question to you is, can we help? Do you need Bibles for your ministry? We'd love to hear from you. These Bibles, if needed, would be provided at no cost to you and is made possible by the generous support of fellow Christians.

[Ev. Jared Oreto]

Hi.
Reaching this page is an answer to my longtime prayer.
I am a Seventh-Day Adventist Volunteer Lay Evangelist who really need literature for Bible study sessions with friends I meet in my missionary work. I, my wife together with our team of 11 volunteer evangelists have started a foundation to help in providing Bible truths filled literature and SOP books.
Would you please help.
Our Address is:
GOFAM FOUNDATION.
P.O Box 589, RONGO (40404)
KENYA, EAST AFRICA.