Being a Blessing

When the opportunity comes to be a blessing to others, you take it.  Bibles For The World provided such an opportunity to a group of World Racers and a group from Project Cure last week.  The groups combined with staff from Sielmat Christian Hospital to bless the lives of thousands of residents of Churachandpur, a community in northeast India’s Manipur State.  A free Medical Camp was held to provide services and treatments to people in poverty who would, otherwise, be unable to afford medical care.

“We had quite a four-day event,” said John Pudaite, president of Bibles For The World.  “And we’re very grateful for the volunteers both from Project Cure and from World Race who came a very long way to India to help with this outreach.

For a quick look at the impact of this event, please take a look at the video below, prepared by World Racer Bernadette Beacham.

Remembering Billy Graham

Billy Graham preaches at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1955. Photos courtesy of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Bibles For The World joins with millions to mourn the passing of Rev. Billy Graham. BFTW founder Dr. Rochunga Pudaite met Rev. Graham in Glasgow in 1955 where the evangelist was preparing to hold crusades. “Ro” was a young student at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow and had volunteered to help promote the upcoming crusade by the American evangelist.  Ro was surprised to receive phone call inviting him to meet Graham at his hotel.

“I’ve heard reports from various prayer groups that your whole tribe back in India is praying for our crusade in Scotland,” said Graham.

“It is true,” Ro replied.  “My father has organized all-night prayer meetings and a chain of prayer from one village to another.”

“And is it true that your father walked over a hundred miles to read a Bible after he was converted?”

Ro was amazed at just how much was known about him and his people.  He responded to Graham’s question with more of the story of his father’s conversion, the results of a lone missionary introducing him to a Gospel of John.  Ro spoke of his fathers’s efforts to evangelize his tribe of headhunters and of his own quest to translate the Bible into his native Hmar language.

Impressed with Ro’s enthusiasm for translating the Scriptures, Graham offered to sponsor the young man from India to pursue graduate studies at Wheaton College in Illinois.  Accepting the generous offer, Ro was able to enroll at Wheaton in the fall of 1955.  The “rest of the story” is available in Fire on the Hills – The Rochunga Pudaite Story a biography by Joe Musser and Marti Hefley.

John Pudaite, Franklin Graham and Rochunga Pudaite

The relationship between the Graham family and the Pudaite family extended to the next generation, as well.  Ro’s son, John, and Billy’s son Franklin, were acquaintances.  Both sons eventually played significant roles in their fathers’ ministries with Franklin Graham eventually taking over the leadership of Samaritan’s Purse and John Pudaite’s appointment as president and CEO of Bibles For The World.

Until his death in 2015, Ro never forgot Billy Graham’s kindness and attributed much of his early ministry success to the example of the evangelist. What a tremendous impact Billy Graham made for God’s Kingdom in countless millions of lives that he influenced through his tireless work proclaiming the Gospel!

Day for the Unreached – May 20, 2018

Pentecost Sunday is the International Day for the Unreached

Bibles For The World is once again part of an alliance of globally focused ministries that is promoting May 20, 2018 as the International Day for the Unreached (IDU).  The intent of IDU is to inform, inspire and mobilize Christians to help reach out to more than 2 billion people around the world who have yet to hear the gospel.

The annual observance is sponsored by the Alliance for the Unreached, a group that includes Reach Beyond, Bibles For The World, Operation Mobilization, Missio Nexus, Mission Network News, Partners International, World Mission and ZimZam Global.

“Bibles For The World is happy to be involved in calling attention to the billions of people around the globe in desperate need of the good news of Jesus, but who have never heard His name,” said John Pudaite, president and CEO of Bibles For The World.

Each year the Day for the Unreached launches a variety of efforts to raise awareness.  Many major media networks and stations around the country promote the event for weeks leading up to Pentecost Sunday. Pastors around the country are urged to preach sermons on the topic, while small groups focus on Jesus’ command to go to the nations. Individuals have the opportunity to join a 30-day prayer movement, interceding for the salvation of the unreached.

“Last year, we participated in a Facebook broadcast of a 60-minute special program that featured leaders of the Alliance ministries and a special message by author and missions leader David Platt,” Pudaite noted. “Recording artist Phil Stacey was a guest host and provided a mini concert that was really challenging to those who saw the program.”  That program was recorded and is available on Youtube.  Click here to watch Day for the Unreached 2017.

If you’d like to learn more about the plight of unreached peoples or how to get involved, you can download a free Great Commission Action Guide from the website, DayForTheUnreached.org. An abundance of other resources are available at the site, including bulletin inserts, sermon outlines, promotional posters, web banners, videos and radio spots.

Information is also available on the International Day for the Unreached Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dayfortheunreached.

Partnering to Build Schools in India

The Just Let Me Learn foundation is a valued partner with Bibles For The World in bringing Christian education to children and families in remote villages in India.  Mrs. Sandy Nelson and her son, Dean, have made a powerful difference through their efforts to help build schools that are serving hundreds of children.  Dean also heads a group of tech professionals called Infrastructure Masons, which has contributed heavily to these school-building efforts.

One of the founding principles of Infrastructure Masons is to Give Back. In the video below we travel to the remote mountains of Northeastern India to visit a village called Sesawng. This is where the Just Let Me Learn foundation has just completed their second school. Infrastructure Masons donated $50,000 dollars which they raised at their Inaugural Networking event last May. This made them them the largest single donor for this project. Infrastructure Masons agreed to let Bibles For The World show members, supporters, sponsors and the world how this donation will change the lives of children today and for many years to come.

Provide Healing and HOPE for this Young Man

This from Mrs. Lawm Pudaite, administrator of Sielmat Christian Hospital…

Mr Seikhogin Seiboi hails from a small village called Lajangphai in the outskirts of Churachandpur district, Manipur. He has five brothers and three sisters. He is the second eldest of all. He is a 27 year old divorcee and has a six years old son named Thangboilen. Seiboie graduated from college in 2011 and holds a bachelor of commerce degree. Due to poverty he could not pursue further studies. 

As he comes from a poor family, to earn for his son‘s education and to supplement his family income Seiboi went to Delhi to work in a private company. It was during this time that he had a tragic accident with long-lasting consequences. On September 27, 2015 he fell from a four storey building while sitting on the railing. This accident resulted in paralysis of his lower limbs due to severe spinal injury. As his family was poor they could not efford to take him to a good hospital nor consult with a medical specialist. As a result, Seiboi was confined to bed full time. Lack of proper medical care worsened his condition. He suffered from depression and was frustrated and began to lose all hope. He blamed God for all that had happened to him. He also started developing bed sores.

On October 2016 a team from the World Race came to India and stationed at Sielmat. During their involvement in the Lord‘s ministry, a medical camp in collaboration with Sielmat Christian Hospital was held at Lajangphai village where Seiboi lives. The team met him and the Lord touched their hearts. Seiboi was brought to Sielmat Christian Hospital for a medical checkup during the free medical camp held at the hospital. He was admitted so that he could receive the assistance of the medical staff at the hospital. 

By the grace of God, Seiboi improved daily and his bed sores are healed completely. But, unfortunately, full recovery and walking is not expected without a miraculous intervention from God. The best he can expect is sitting on a wheelchair after regular physiotherapy. After five months of hospitalization the young father  is now discharged from hospital. However doctors advised him to go for further treatment with a good physiotherapist. We’re praying that Seikhogin will completely recover — and we’re grateful to the World Race Team for their generosity and prayer support. 

But here is what YOU can do to help:  Seiboi’s family does not have the financial means for him to work with a physiotherapist. The Sielmat Christian hospital team is once again praying and seeking God’s help to help Seiboi for his further treatment. We trust God that He will send help and bless him — but would appreciate any help you might provide.  

You can give to help provide physical therapy for Seiboi!

International Day for the Unreached 2017

Day for the Unreached is June 4 – Pentecost Sunday

Bibles For The World is once again part of an alliance of globally focused ministries that is promoting June 4, 2017 as the International Day for the Unreached (IDU).  The intent of IDU is to inform, inspire and mobilize Christians to help reach out to more than 2 billion people around the world who have yet to hear the gospel.

The annual event was announced during a press conference at the annual National Religious Broadcasters convention in Orlando last month and is sponsored by the Alliance for the Unreached, a group that includes Reach Beyond, Bibles For The World, Operation Mobilization, Missio Nexus, Global Mapping International (GMI), Partners International and World Mission.

“We want to remind people that there are literally billions of people around the globe in desperate need of the good news of Jesus, but have never heard His name or story. We’re called to bring it to them,” said Wayne Pederson, executive director of IDU.

Scores of Christian leaders are urging people to get involved. Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren made a direct appeal to all Christians:

“With more than 2 billion people who haven’t had a chance to meet Jesus, it’s time for the Body of Christ to take a radical stand and say, ‘This has to end in our generation.’ Join me in committing to pray, give, go, and advocate for those who need to know Christ by participating in the International Day for the Unreached.”

The Day for the Unreached will include a variety of efforts to raise awareness.

Many major media networks and stations around the country will promote the event for weeks leading up to May 15. Pastors around the country are urged to preach sermons on the topic, while small groups focus on Jesus’ command to go to the nations. Individuals have the opportunity to join a 30-day prayer movement, interceding for the salvation of the unreached.

People interested in learning more about the unreached or to get involved can download a free Great Commission Action Guide from the website, DayForTheUnreached.org. An abundance of other resources are available at the site, including bulletin inserts, sermon outlines, promotional posters, web banners, videos and radio spots.

Information is also available on the International Day for the Unreached Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dayfortheunreached.

It’s fitting that The International Day for the Unreached falls on Pentecost Sunday, the day the Holy Spirit came upon the first followers of Jesus, empowering and charging them to share the gospel with people from all over the world.

“Thousands of people heard God’s Word preached in their own language on that day, and more than 3,000 were added to the number of believers, said John L. Pudaite, president of Bibles For The World. “Let’s not forget that the return of Christ is tied to every nation hearing the good news. We’re not saying we can usher in the Second Coming. But we can be a part of a last days move of God that is foretold in scripture. And that’s both a privilege and a profound responsibility.”

Individuals, churches and media outlets can learn about creative ways to participate in the International Day for the Unreached by visiting DayForTheUnreached.org.