At the end of 2012, the Gospel of John, the first complete installment of the Africa Study Bible, was completed. Since then, print copies of these Gospels of John have been making their way throughout Africa in the hands of our ministry partners. Below is a special field report from one of our ministry partners on the impact of these Gospels. This report is excerpted from our 2013 End of Year Stewardship Report, which can be read in full here.)
Read more about the Africa Study Bible Project at www.africastudybible.com
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Field Report from Scott Pederson, Ministry Partner at Willow Creek Church
[On] my recent Malawi trip, I took several copies of the Africa Study Bible Gospel of John to give to some of our church partner and technical partner leaders as a gifts. Each and every one of them were very grateful and were looking forward to the completion of the entire Bible.
But the neat part of the story is that the little hotel we were staying in had several young men who would clean our rooms each day. I had some conversations with them each day to say thanks. One of the days I had left a copy of the Gospel of John on a table. When I returned to my room, the young man came quickly down the hall and confessed that he had read part of it and really liked it, and wondered if I had an extra copy he could have. Of course I gave him the copy and he was overjoyed. A little while later I left my room and as I went outside there he was, with a friend reading it. I walked over to them and they both had huge smiles and the other guy asked if I had any more copies, which I did, so I got him his own copy as well as an extra for anyone else they wanted to give it to.
Then on Sunday I went to the front desk to ask a question and I got into a conversation with the gentleman working the desk. He was a Believer but usually had to work on Sunday, so I went back to my room and grabbed my final copy of the Gospel of John and took it to him. He too was very grateful and was happy to learn about the fact that African Christians had done the notes and comments. I was really happy I took some extra copies and I believe that all those who received them will enjoy reading the Bible as well as the comments written by fellow African Christ followers.
We are so thankful for all the work Oasis is putting into this special resource. I know that when it is complete it will have a huge impact in the African church, and individual lives.