I’ve got the NIV Study Bible in my PDA, Bible Gateway in my Firefox search bar, and a shortcut to BibleIn90Days.com at the top of my browser. Then there are the hard copy Bibles: paperbacks, hardbacks, the classic black leather with gold trim and red letters, thin line, giant print, military desert camo, woodland camo, children’s Bibles… NIV, NASV, TNIV, KJV, NKJV, Greek Interlinear. This isn’t a list of what is available at the local Christian bookstore, this is a list of a few of the Bibles in my house right now.
I’m Spoiled. Are you?
Do you realize that people die for the chance to own their own Bible? That’s not a metaphor or exaggeration. They actually give up their lives for the opportunity to read the Word of God. Entire villages share one copy of the book of John. And they treasure it. They hide Bibles in their mattresses, in holes in the wall, buried in the back yard. They risk imprisonment and death by smuggling the scriptures across hostile borders.
The Voice of the Martyrs prints scriptures on vinyl bags and fills them with helium. The balloons float into North Korea at night. North Korean soldiers scramble to shoot down the balloons before their message is received. They’re not just shooting the balloons. They’ll shoot those who try to gather them. This doesn’t keep everyone away. People risk everything by picking up the balloons, saving, studying, and sharing them. [source]
I read about these brave, persecuted Christians when I was a teenager. I dreamt of smuggling Bibles into China or North Korea. It sounded like such an important, exciting adventure.
Want to start smuggling Bibles but don’t have the resources for a trip to China? Here’s your chance:
Bibles Unbound
With Bibles Unbound, you mail New Testaments into restricted countries.
“The cost is only $30.00 per month for each pack of five Bible mailings and includes everything you need to participate in the program.”
“In cooperation with UPS and the international re-mail system, The Voice of the Martyrs is able to mail Bibles directly into many restricted nations using non-U.S. postage. And because the New Testaments are mailed individually and anonymously, issues of “illegal” distribution and citizens of the restricted nation having contact with the West are avoided.”
This would be a great project for kids. They can help get the packages ready and can track the Bibles they send online.
Please consider becoming a part of this program. If you have the money, but don’t want to spend the time mailing Bibles each month, then let us know. The kids and I will mail them for you. We don’t have the money to sign up right now… But guess what I want for my birthday…
Carnival of Beauty
March 1st Theme: Bible
Host: Marla Swoffer
Read the other submissions.
That is really cool. I did the whole Bible recycling thing in High School, sending my old Bible to the Bible League and then they would send it on to someone who needed it.
I actually did help smuggle Bible’s and literature into China, from Hong Kong, while I was there. It was exciting, and scary, and yet, very anti-climatic.
This program sounds like a great thing to do, and is much more affordable than going overseas yourself. (you may even do more good, as you are less likely to get caught and the Bible’s go directly into people’s hands, not to a “safe house”)
Thanks for a great post.
Comment by Hillery — February 28, 2006 @ 3:29 pm
Thanks for reminding me what a precious gift it is to own the Word of God. I often take it forgranted when I have so much available to me.
Comment by Heather — March 1, 2006 @ 9:54 am
I read the book “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn couple years ago and that reminded me how blessed we truly are. I don’t have a PDA, but I do have the stuff in my browser :)…
We really need to be thankful for what we have…
Comment by eph2810 — March 1, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Found you through Carnival of Beauty.
Wow! What great information. And you’re right - what a wonderful way to involve kids in getting God’s Word to others who may never otherwise have a chance to read it. Thanks so much.
Comment by Carol — March 1, 2006 @ 8:00 pm
I am interrested in doing some work for God, where can I find more info on bible smuggling or any other service requiring people.
Comment by Dewald — March 20, 2006 @ 9:51 am
Sorry Dewald,
I’m not sure who you can contact in your country. Do you live in Mauritius?
Comment by Amy — March 20, 2006 @ 10:10 am
I want to read that book.. reminds me of “God Smuggler” by Brother Andrew. What an awesome way to be a part of sharing God’s word!
Comment by Myra — March 28, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
I want to smuggle bibles into restricted areas. Do you know how or where I can get hooked up with a organization?
Comment by Sandy — March 9, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
I am so saddened by what I have read on this page. Don’t you people understand and respect the rights of other people to their own belief system and culture? This is how cultures and civilizations have been, and continue to be, decimated by those whose arrogance leads them to believe theirs is the only way - and following this decimation is the inevitable loss of indigenous identity forever
I will pray for you all that God may enlighten you as to His presence in all forms for all people.
Comment by Merlene — August 17, 2007 @ 2:01 am
In response to Merlene’s comment, what is unique about keeping people from reading certain kinds of material? How does that preserve their culture? How can anyone have a true identity of any kind if its only what’s forced on them and they’ve had nothing else too choose from. Also no one is forcing people to read them, if someone receives it and doesn’t want it they can dispose of it. If people in North Korea are dying to get to this material doesn’t that tell you they want it and its not being forced on them by arrogant people trying to push their beliefs on others?
Comment by Mike — May 31, 2008 @ 8:04 pm