Thursday, May 25, 2006
The Bible on the Front Lines in Iraq
God’s Word Makes a Difference in Soldiers’ Lives
By Elizabeth Honeycutt and David Sanford
Special to ASSIST News Service
PORTLAND, OREGON (ANS) -- Roadside bombs,
suicide bombers, and mortar attacks can't hold back the spread of God's Word.
The Bible is dynamically ministering to soldiers on the front lines in Iraq.
For over a year, Brad Blauser has been collecting the Bibles from friends and
family in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and distributing them to
soldiers in Iraq. One of the men who received a Bible began to pass them out to
his bunk-mates, eager for fellow troops to discover the truth as he had. A few
weeks later--the day after his nineteenth birthday--Nils Thompson was killed in
action. Thompson's testimony only intensifies Blauser's and other personnel's
acute awareness that they may face eternity the next time they leave the base.
When Blauser decided to begin a class for soldiers who had recently trusted
Jesus Christ, he realized he was missing one crucial element--Bibles. So, he
issued a plea over the Internet to his friends and family back home in Texas to
buy Starting Point Study Bibles and send them to him in Iraq.
Blauser didn't have to wait long for a response. A children's Sunday school
class from his home church took a collection to purchase the Bibles, and several
small group Bible Studies took on the project as well. A Methodist Church in
Irving, Texas, chose to send some Bibles as part of their quarterly missions
effort. So far, Blauser has given away over 600 Starting Point Study Bibles, and
this year he has a lofty goal: to give away 6,000 study Bibles to soldiers who
are daily asking if a Bible has arrived for them.
"This Bible is a great addition to any care package headed for the front lines
in Iraq and Afghanistan," Blauser said.
Blauser also pointed out that the introduction of the Starting Point Study Bible
includes a presentation of the gospel message and an explanation of how a person
can become a Christian, making it a great witnessing tool for soldiers who are
seeking answers. The Christian soldiers there are eager to receive more Bibles
that they can give to their bunk-mates and friends.
"Right now when they arrive, the Bibles never last more than ten minutes on the
shelf. Usually after Chapel service, I just turn to those sitting around me and
offer them, and they are snatched up, with other soldiers standing around
looking at me as if they were left out. I honestly can't get enough of these to
meet the demand of soldiers who want to know more," Blauser said.
Since its release in 2002, the Starting Point Study Bible has sold well over
60,000 copies. It was developed by the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association in
partnership with Youth With a Mission, and includes multiple features that help
the reader dig deeper into God's Word. A "Frequently Asked Questions" section
covers issues that interest new Christians, and other articles, maps, charts,
and indexes help the reader navigate through the life-changing Scriptures.
For more information log onto:
http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=421762&forum_id=15
http://www.agreaterfreedom.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=root.displayNewsItem&article_id=293