Tools for the Job

Another farmer and I travelled to the Sudan to do a farm project under Cal Bombay Ministries. When we arrived in Kampala, Uganda, we stayed at the African Inland Mission (AIM) guesthouse. The AIM compound has a distribution centre for AIM pastors in Uganda. I left three How to Find God NTs with them and also gave a Bible to a security guard who, I assume, was not a Christian.
Then I left for Sudan to work with the farm operation. Later, when I got back to the AIM office in Kampala, the security guard told me that the Bible I had given him was the first one he had ever had that he could understand. Of course, I was delighted to hear that!
When I returned home I had an e-mail from Kwagala Sande, who works under AIM. He wrote: “I lead a project called Tools for the Job, which provides African pastors with suitable study books. Some of the pastors open churches without any training or any Bible knowledge, so our vision is to provide them with the materials they need. Some of them request Bibles because they can’t afford to buy them. I have done a lot of travelling in Uganda and get the same request wherever I go.
“It was a blessing to meet a missionary from Canada. He told me about LifeLight Ministries and gave me a copy of a New Testament, How to Find God. I’m sure many people are blessed by your ministry of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to many parts of the world. God bless you all.”
Henry Dyck

Our Readers write...

Thank you for the Bibles you provide for prison ministry. We use them in chapel services so that
we are all on the same page (pun intended!). The inmates use them to do Bible studies in their units. Many have recently read the book of Proverbs, finished the Bible studies and have received a certificate. One evening several inmates were sitting in the middle of the hallway. With their Bibles open, they were reading and helping each other to finish a Bible study I had given them in chapel earlier that day. The next day they shared with me how they enjoyed reading their Bibles and working together to learn and earn a certificate. May the Lord bless those who provide these Bibles and pray for prison ministries!—Mrs. R.

We have received two consignments of Bibles from LifeLight in the past, and they are well received by the inmate population of the jail. We have been using The LifeLight and How to Find God. Recently I received a copy of The LifeLight Message. I think it would be ideally suited for our situation since many of the inmates have a low reading level, and I think it would help them enormously. Would it be possible to receive a case of these Bibles? Since we have no budget allowance and are unable to purchase Bibles, we rely on the generosity and kindness of the Christian community to supply our needs. Thank you for your help in the past, and I hope that you will be able to continue to support our ministry.— Philip

I serve in The Salvation Army Correctional and Justice Services. I was looking through your copy
of How to Find God, and I find it to be a good level for many of my clients. I work with women and children who have been affected by the justice system in some way. Recently a new client, who had just received Christ, asked for a Bible, and I felt that How to Find God was perfect for her. Our program has limited funds, so I am writing to request a donation of some of your Bibles.—Sara

Upon receiving a shipment of Sports New Testaments, I realized the exciting potential of
these Scriptures. The athletes’ testimonies will be very appealing to many younger readers. These NTs will be distributed to inmates and youth in various settings. Thank you for making them available.—Lorne

I am an inmate, and a friend of mine (also an inmate), showed me a New Testament that I had never seen before: Hope for the Highway. I have been reading it and learning things I never knew before. My friend is going home soon, and I asked him where I could get one of these NTs. He gave me your address, so I’m writing in hopes of getting one for myself. I’ve been in here since September 2007 and, hopefully, I will get out in June. I asked our chaplain if we have these Bibles, but he said we didn’t, so can I please have one sent to me if it isn’t any trouble. Thank you very much.
—Brian

I am an inmate and first heard about The LifeLight New Testament through my ex-girlfriend. She is struggling in her life at this time and told me that she doesn’t understand the Bible when she reads it. She was asking me if I could get her this book because it gives a clearer understanding of who God is and about His Son, Jesus. It would be greatly appreciated
if you good people at LifeLight Ministries could send her this New Testament. —Kenneth

I am an inmate, and someone gave me a Journey of Recovery New Testament with the 12-Steps in it. Can you send me something else that talks about the 12-Step Program? I am a drug addict and about to lose my family. I have a long road ahead of me and look to others for help. I don’t
have any money, and my family is not willing to help. —Joel

I am presently incarcerated, and I have been reading the Bible. I find some things hard to understand, but I keep on reading. I ask the chaplain questions as much as I can, but I only get to see him for about fifteen minutes every Saturday. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone else concerning God, the way of life and what life is like having Him in it. If there is anyone who has time, could you please write back or come and visit me so I can learn more. —Eduard

Bike Show

As part of the ministry of House of the Risen Son, we do an annual motorcycle show at Stony Mountain. The inmates really appreciate the bikes, and this event lifts their spirits and, hopefully, also their morale. Each year we build relationships with some of the inmates, which leads to further visits, and often we get to share our faith.
On one visit I was discussing the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a man and what the Bible says regarding forgiveness. On my next visit I took a copy of the Serenity New Testament, and I left without it. On a future visit I found out that this inmate was sharing his Bible with the other men.
The inmates are there for crimes from fraud to murder. Some are gang members, and others are there just because they did something they shouldn’t have done. Many of them have never heard a personal story of Christ which they feel relates to them. As a rider, I can give them another view of the Christian faith. I am often surprised as to who will take a Bible and read it when they realize that it’s free—no strings attached. Jesus, inmates, bikers and Bibles!
Please support LifeLight Ministries, pray for those who distribute Scriptures, and always carry a few Scriptures with you to give away when God gives you the opportunity.
Chuck Sheridan
Director of House of the Risen Son, a ministry comprised of the Bondslave Motorcycle Club, Lazarus House (for men in addiction recovery), a food bank, Overcomers Outreach, a
prison ministry and a youth outreach program.

An Ongoing Drought

In my eleven years of ministering at the Winnipeg Remand Centre (WRC), I have experienced a vast change in the profile of residents—not in terms of their charges but in terms of their personal and communal foundations. The great majority, especially those in their twenties, seem not to have had any upbringing in the Scriptures and seem not to have lived within a religious tradition/community.
While this lack of scriptural knowledge might indicate no need for the Bible, it is quite the contrary! I firmly believe that the increase in requests for Bibles over the last decade is due to an ongoing drought and pain felt within the hearts of inmates, where God’s Word has been written—in its entirety! People who have no history of faith, scripture and religious community are responding to their hearts!
WRC was built in 1992 to hold a maximum of 275 residents; last week we were 400. We’ve gone through a lot of Bibles from LifeLight Ministries, as well as Bibles from other wells. We certainly need a well that keeps providing Scriptures!
I am grateful for the generosity of LifeLight donors who give so unselfishly so that many have the opportunity, often for the first time, to read and hear God’s Word.
Joseph Lintz, Chaplain

Volunteer Gives Hope

John* walked into the room. It was supposed to be the last time he would see anyone. Tonight was going to be the night where he would free himself from his old demons of the past, present and future. What future? he wondered. I’ll be dead.
As he joined in a game of darts in the prison programs area, his spirits lifted. He noticed a volunteer who was visiting. The volunteer came up and introduced himself, and from that moment something changed. Hope! The volunteer treated him as a person, not a number or an inmate. Every day, for the past seven years he had been in prison, had been humiliating. Every day he experienced rejection, shame, hurt and loneliness. The burden had become too much to bear, and John had come to the point where he could see no way out.
John found it interesting that a “new” man had come to the prison. The group had not had a volunteer for many years, so this was unique, as well as challenging, since this guy was now in his “home” and on his turf.
John wondered whether he should continue the conversation. He decided he had nothing to lose or gain. Slowly the talks progressed, over months and years, as the volunteer continued to visit the prison evening program. Should he tell him about his family? Could he trust the volunteer not to laugh at his weaknesses and failures in his life, jobs and family? He decided to open up and see if the volunteer would laugh or run! Instead, at the end, the volunteer asked, “May I pray with you?” He also offered him a Bible to read about God’s hope and love. John accepted the Bible because he believed this volunteer was genuine.
John has now been released into the community, is reading his Bible (Life Recovery Bible), is working full time, and is a believing member of a local fellowship. John is one of many whom the Lord Jesus loves deeply.
* Name has been changed
Gerard Scott-Herridge
Presiding Elder of Bride of Christ Ministries

Jesus Walks the Halls

Prison is a lonely place, a place where many suffer from depression and hopelessness. For those who are locked in a cell for twenty-four hours a day, life can be extremely dreary. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to talk with these desperate men and pray with them. In the darkest hours of life, Jesus is walking the halls and reaching out to prisoners. Chaplains have a wonderful opportunity to help inmates find their way to God.
It is a joy to give Bibles to men who are asking for help. In our last chapel service the volunteer who was leading the service asked if anyone wanted a Bible. At the end of the service a young, sad-looking man asked me for a Bible, and I was able to put a copy of Free on the Inside from LifeLight Ministries into his hands. What a privilege to give a Bible to a young man searching for hope!
The stories the inmates share of an abusive childhood break one’s heart. No wonder so many young people get into trouble and end up in prison! Through God’s Word they can find hope and purpose in life. There really is a God who values them! Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, including those wayward souls who sit behind prison walls.
I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:36). Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. And remember those who are treated badly as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3).
Pray for those behind prison walls. Pray that God will open their hearts to His Word and save them.
Chaplain Earl Cathers

Lessons from Prison

Selfish reasons initially drew me to prison ministry. In 1975 I was into risk and adventure. When an ad appeared by way of a poster at my university asking for volunteers to meet with prison inmates at a local church once per week, I was there!
My immature “us-and-them” mentality quickly gave way to “Hey, these guys are us!” They had families, emotions, educated opinions, hopes and dreams, insight, and usually a great sense of humour.
One night sticks out in my mind as if it were yesterday. The night’s activity was a “Trust Walk.” We were divided into groups of two. One person was blindfolded while the other one led the more vulnerable one around the natural physical obstacles inside the church, as well as outside.
In our daring duo, I led first. My partner, Mark, was fairly tall, while I was (and still am) five feet nothing! At one point he asked me to slow down. “So you don’t trust me,” I quipped. And the challenge was on!
We came to a low doorframe, and guess who made it through and who bumped his head! At this point Mark slowly took off his blindfold and said, “I think your turn starts now.” Mark did a much better job of leading me around. He described the environment around us, told me the distance between objects and even stopped to let me feel them. He made sure I stayed safe. He also asked me about my faith and discussed his, wondering where he could get a Bible he could understand.
It’s now 2008. Inmates are no longer allowed out in groups to visit local churches during weeknights, but the question is still the same: “Do you have a Bible I can understand?” Thanks to LifeLight Ministries, I can answer with an enthusiastic “Yes!” In fact, if I walk up to a cell unit with five or more Scriptures, they are gone in less than sixty seconds! The female inmates I now minister to also ask me to deliver copies to their families on the outside.
The sad fact is that we do not have enough Bibles, but thanks to donations from people like you, we hope to obtain more easy-to-read Bibles soon. Thank you, LifeLight Ministries, for heeding God’s call to provide others with easy-to-read Scriptures.
Shon Louise McLaren
Shon has been involved in prison ministry in Ontario, Manitoba and the USA for more than thirty years. She and other staff from Inner City Women’s Ministries International Inc. offer Sunday worship services to female inmates at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and follow-up with Bibles studies/support after the inmates are released.

2008 Fur Auction

Trappers come from all over northern Manitoba to sell their furs at the annual fur auction in Thompson. Fur buyers examine the furs and offer a price to the trappers. Coming to Thompson just before Christmas is an exciting time for trappers who may have spent many days and nights alone on the trap line.
A few years ago a friend of mine who is on the board for the Thompson Fur Auction invited me to have a LifeLight Scripture display at this event, and I was delighted to do that. This was the fifth time I have had this display, and it was good to see familiar faces, as well as some new ones. My wife, Caroline, and our grandson Tyson Kroeker came with me.
The auction took place in a large church hall, and it was impressive to see the trappers walk in carrying their sacks of furs. As their number was called, they approached the first fur buyer and continued around the room.
There were fewer trappers this year than there have been other years. I was told that part of the reason for this was the late frost, which resulted in the low-lying areas not freezing up on time. Even with the lower attendance, we gave away 225 Scriptures and 50 LifeLight newsletters. Whatever was left we donated to Continental Mission; they will be used at Moak Lake Camp this summer.
The local RCMP also made a couple of rounds in the hall, and Tyson had a new experience when he presented one of them with a Peacemakers New Testament (and it was accepted!).
Besides the furs, there was also a variety of crafts for sale: mukluks, mitts and other leather goods. Canadian Tire sold goods needed by trappers and other northerners, such as sleds, tarpaulin enclosures, mitts and flashlights. A raffle, with valuable prizes to be given away, generated excitement.
The annual fur auction is a wonderful opportunity to meet trappers from remote northern Manitoba areas, as well as local people, and offer them the greatest gift of all: God’s Word.
Peter & Caroline Loewen

Just What We Needed!

In the last issue of the newsletter we featured a request for free Scriptures from a church in downtown Vancouver. They wrote, “Every week we have many requests for Bibles, and we never seem to have enough to go around.” Shortly after this, we received a call from a women’s group who wanted to give a donation to LifeLight Ministries in memory of someone who had passed away recently. I mentioned this need to them and suggested that their donation could go for this project. What perfect timing!
Immanuel was so appreciative of the Scriptures we sent them. He sent a note of appreciation to the women’s group:
“Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. The Bibles are just what we needed and are filling specific needs for specific people. Many have already benefited and were so delighted to receive a Bible. As soon as we opened a box there was someone who wanted and needed one right then and there. PTL! She had asked for a Bible, in the New Living Translation, but we didn’t have any. To her delight, the Bibles we received were in that translation!
“We have a small distribution table and someone is stationed there to help people get what they need. Some of the Scriptures deal specifically with addictions. The person at the table was delighted but, at the same time, a little reluctant to suggest to people: ‘This one is helpful for addictions,’ not wanting to offend anyone. However, several people came and asked for that particular one, with comments like ‘May I have one too?’ and ‘I hear you have Bibles for addicts.’
“The person at the table was excited! The next Sunday he wanted us to announce that we had Scriptures available specifically to help people with addictions—so he went from wanting to be very discreet to boldly advertising it!
“I am sharing these experiences with you so you can rejoice with us in the lives that are being touched. We are grateful that we can work together as one body in Christ, impacting people for eternity. God bless you abundantly.”
Immanuel

2008 Fur Auction

Trappers come from all over northern Manitoba to sell their furs at the annual fur auction in Thompson. Fur buyers examine the furs and offer a price to the trappers. Coming to Thompson just before Christmas is an exciting time for trappers who may have spent many days and nights alone on the trap line.
A few years ago a friend of mine who is on the board for the Thompson Fur Auction invited me to have a LifeLight Scripture display at this event, and I was delighted to do that. This was the fifth time I have had this display, and it was good to see familiar faces, as well as some new ones. My wife, Caroline, and our grandson Tyson Kroeker came with me.
The auction took place in a large church hall, and it was impressive to see the trappers walk in carrying their sacks of furs. As their number was called, they approached the first fur buyer and continued around the room.
There were fewer trappers this year than there have been other years. I was told that part of the reason for this was the late frost, which resulted in the low-lying areas not freezing up on time. Even with the lower attendance, we gave away 225 Scriptures and 50 LifeLight newsletters. Whatever was left we donated to Continental Mission; they will be used at Moak Lake Camp this summer.
The local RCMP also made a couple of rounds in the hall, and Tyson had a new experience when he presented one of them with a Peacemakers New Testament (and it was accepted!).
Besides the furs, there was also a variety of crafts for sale: mukluks, mitts and other leather goods. Canadian Tire sold goods needed by trappers and other northerners, such as sleds, tarpaulin enclosures, mitts and flashlights. A raffle, with valuable prizes to be given away, generated excitement.
The annual fur auction is a wonderful opportunity to meet trappers from remote northern Manitoba areas, as well as local people, and offer them the greatest gift of all: God’s Word.

Peter & Caroline Loewen

From Riches to Prison!

A universal need
Teenager convicted of manslaughter sent to prison—Newspapers are full of headlines like this and, every day as we watch the news, we hear about horrendous crimes. In the mind of many, these criminals are stereotyped as being cold, mean and unrepentant. Society does not easily embrace those in prison. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a common viewpoint.
As chaplain for The Salvation Army, I visit four correctional institutions in the Winnipeg area each week: Stony Mountain, Headingley, the Remand Centre and Rockwood. There are approximately 1700 men in these four institutions, sitting in 7 x 9 foot cells, sometimes two per cell, some of them locked up for 23 ½ hours each day.
Many times when I listen to a man tell me about his thoughts, desires, temptations, sins, I see a reflection of myself—not because I have committed murder or violated the laws of the land. But I’m able to connect with my own nature and acknowledge that I have sinned: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are sinners, but God’s grace and forgiveness sets us free, whether we’re inside or outside of prison.
God has placed in all of us the longings for security and significance. Many who are in prison, in their attempts to have these longings met, have resorted to criminal methods—joining gangs, addictions, violence, lust for money or sex. Many men outside the prison walls try to find their significance and security through their work, their material possessions, their achievements or hobbies. As I hear the stories of how men try to meet these needs, I am reminded of my own struggles in this area in my younger years.
A life of leisure
In 1992, when I was living in Vancouver, I started to work for a major winery, tasting and evaluating wines. After five years I had worked my way up to the position of winemaker. Life was going well. In the mid-90s I started to invest my money in the stock market. My investments were doing so well that I decided to quit my job and become a full-time stock investor, so this became my full-time occupation. My priority was to live a comfortable, stress-free life and make lots of money. My life primarily consisted of playing golf a few times a week, visits to the gym, and sleeping in. After eight months of this lifestyle, I thought to myself, Is this it? The euphoria of living a life of leisure was quickly fading.
Around that time the stock market started to take a big dive and, seeing my vast portfolio shrink quickly, was very depressing. I often felt like not waking up, knowing that I had just suffered another day of big losses, and sank into a very painful depression. …Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).
I was attending church; however, I was a “Sunday Christian.” I never prayed or read the Bible outside of church. That summer my pastor stated in a sermon. “If you are not moving forward in your faith you are actually moving backwards.” I realized that my faith was stagnant and that this had gone on far too long.
An awakened faith
It took a great test of faith for me to decide that I wanted to have God at the centre of my life. On October 22, 2000, I truly accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I was excited about fully trusting Him, yet frightened at not knowing where He would lead me. Who could have known at that time that he would lead me to prison!
During this awakening of faith, my portfolio continued to spiral downward. During that time I realized that God had given me a valuable experience. He gave me wealth, something many people aspire to as their lifelong goal, but when I got to taste what I thought I wanted, it really didn’t satisfy. Through the financial losses, I felt the pain and despair that many other people feel in their lives. It was God’s way of preparing me for future ministry. I realized that the things of this world easily pass away, but I knew that I could find true peace with God and that I am loved regardless of my achievements or bank account statement, without having to earn this love from Him.
A new focus
After I committed my life to Christ, my focus shifted to volunteer work, and I started helping at Union Gospel Mission. This gave me insight and empathy for people in distress and provided the opportunity to discuss spiritual and deep-rooted issues with the youth, yet I did not feel qualified for this ministry. After much prayer and counsel, I answered God’s call to enter Providence Seminary to study counselling.
As I conduct weekly chapel services at Headingley and Stony I often think what a blessing it is to share God’s love and hope with people who are often forgotten by most of society. There is a big need in correctional institutions for the love of Jesus to be made known to the prisoners. LifeLight Ministries plays an important role in this by providing Bibles such as How to Find God, Life Recovery Bible and Journey of Recovery. Over the years I have had many favourable comments from inmates telling me how much these Bibles have aided in their understanding and application of Scriptural truth to their own lives.
Harold Park

Correctional Chaplain, Salvation Army in Winnipeg

Our Readers Write

● Many new immigrants from Mainland China are finding their way to our church to enquire about the Christian faith. Many have never heard of God or Jesus before. God has given me the privilege (and challenge) to explain God’s Word to them. How to Find God is the first book I give to them, and they are very pleased to receive it. God bless!—Bette

● Our Women’s Ministry would like to get some Bibles for the kids in our youth group (high school). What would you recommend? Some of them don’t come from good homes and have very little Bible knowledge.—Susan

● Thank you so much for the prompt delivery of the Bibles I requested. One of them will be sent to a young boy I counselled at camp last summer.—Ron

● As a member of the newly formed Salvation Riders Motorcycle Club, an evangelistic outreach, I am looking for Bibles to distribute at motorcycle shows. We have seen the one used by the Christian Bikers Association and find that they are very pleased with it. Please send us information on how we can obtain a hundred of these Scriptures, as well as any related to truckers, police, firefighters, and others.—Carolyn

● Please send me a New Testament. I read my son’s Bible when I was staying with him. It’s easy to read and understand. I found I could “keep on reading” because of the easy translation and explanations, but I do not have one of my own.—Michelle

Bible Reading Program

Family Life Centre, a program of Union Gospel Mission in Winnipeg, hosts a Women’s Gospel Meeting every Wednesday at 12 noon. Lunch is served, followed by a Gospel presentation. Clothing and food bags are then distributed. Other Bible programs are conducted throughout the week.
The Word of God continues to be the main focus of the women’s ministries. Each of the thirty-four women who completed the six-week Bible Reading program received a diploma and a How to Find God New Testament (from LifeLight Ministries) We congratulate these women and celebrate with them the place that the Word of God has in each of their lives.

GOD MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Permanent or Temporary Change?
A scientist came to me the year he retired. He claimed to be an atheist, but he was in trouble because his son Stewart was going blind. He had lost most of his peripheral eyesight, and the doctor said his tunnel vision would also be gone and everything would be totally black by age thirty. His wife had become a Christian six year earlier, and he was angry with her. But now that the doctors had given up on Stewart, he said to her, “What will we do? It has been over two years, and Stewart will be blind.”
She asked him if he was willing to try anything, and he agreed that he would do anything for his son. She told him, “Go see Al Friesen.” He responded, “I will not go see him.” But, behind her back, he called me but didn’t really know what to ask. I told him he wanted change in his family, and he said, “Yes, that is what I want!”
I asked him whether he wanted permanent change or temporary change. He responded, “What kind of question is that! Of course I want permanent change. Everyone does!”
“There is one recipe for permanent change and about a million for temporary change,” I told him.”
“As a scientist, I would like the one recipe, please,” he answered. I suggested to him that he was not firing on all five cylinders—emotionally, socially, mentally, physically and spiritually.
“Spiritually?” he asked, “I am an atheist.” I told him that atheism is actually a religion!
“Let’s imagine,” I said, “you and I are on an escalator going down. Just in front of us is a woman on crutches. Because I hate crutches, I kick them out from under her and she goes tumbling down the stairs, taking others with her. What would you do?”
He said, “I would attack you and leave you in a puddle of blood!”
“Exactly,” I answered. “You have been kicking the crutches from your wife’s spiritual body for six years. If I would use your measure, I would rip off your ears, break your nose, carve up your tongue and poke out your eyes.” He just looked at me for a moment and then, with tears, in his eyes, asked me to lead him to Jesus.
His next question was, “Now, what do I do?” I gave him a Bible and told him to go home, wrap his arms around his sweetheart and ask for forgiveness for kicking the crutches from under her. “Then tell her, ‘Since God’s number one purpose for us is to honour Him and Jesus teaches us to present our needs to Him, let’s combine the two and pray.’ Tell the Lord to use Stewart’s blindness to honour His name in a huge way and to make your family strong enough for whatever that means.”
Three days later Stewart had his three-month check-up. It took a long time, but eventually the specialist came out and said, “Sir, sorry for the long wait, but my technology people have made some mistakes the past three times your son was here. His eyesight is better today than it was a year ago, and that is not how this kind of blindness works.” This new Christian scientist offered a humble explanation of how he had given his life to Jesus and that he suspected that the Master Physician had played into this.
I could you tell story after story of how I use the Scriptures from LifeLight Ministries. The ones I use most are How to Find God and The Living LifeLight. I really appreciate the description at the beginning of the NT of how a person can begin walking with God and how to use the Bible as a help in this new walk.
Al Friesen

PETER’S TRAILS

Fisher River
A native pastor from Fisher River called me and invited me to attend the funeral of a 13-year-old boy and to hand out Scriptures. I was happy to go.
This was a very sad funeral. The boy who died had had an argument with his foster parents, and when they went to his room later, they found he had committed suicide. The boy’s father and uncle, who are both in prison in Alberta, were brought to the funeral, in chains, by four prison guards. After a visit with them, I offered each one a copy of The LifeLight, and all six of them gladly accepted it.
Following the funeral, the pastor requested that we go to the school at Fisher River, where we had not been previously, to hand out New Testaments. A month later Carl Whiteway and I returned and had the opportunity to distribute five hundred Scriptures in the school. The teachers were so happy, and one of them prayed aloud, thanking the Lord for these easy-to-read NTs.
Carl is a native, about sixty years old, and has a great love for the Lord and a desire to have his people to get to Him as well. He has gone with me on a number of trips to reserves and is waiting for the winter roads to freeze up so we can travel to the more isolated areas.
Peguis
Peguis claims to be the largest reserve in Manitoba. I met one of the Peguis councillors one day in Arborg, and he asked when we would bring New Testaments to their school. The Peguis School has about a hundred classrooms and approximately a thousand students. The students in Grade 4 and up each received a NT. I had been asked to bring nine hundred NTs: seven hundred for the students and two hundred for the staff. At the band office I left a box of Scriptures for the chief and councillors.
Jackhead
It had been three years since I had visited the Jackhead School, and Carl and I had a great time giving LifeLight NTs to the grades four to six students. One of the students welcomed us by saying, “I told you Pete was coming back, and here he is.” He turned to his brother and said, “Now you will have your own New Testament and don’t need to read mine anymore.”
Carl and I also visited Mr. Ross, a native pastor. He had asked me three years ago to come to the school. One time, when he came back after two weeks of holidays, he found that all his books at the church had been packed and a sign hung on the church door: “We don’t need you any longer.” Mr. Ross has a strong desire to serve the Lord, but now he has no church. Instead he teaches several weekly Bible studies and does a lot of personal witnessing. He asked for a case of The LifeLight to give away.
Pine Falls, Bissett, Sagkeeng
Henry Penner and I went to schools at Pine Falls and north of there. We distributed eight hundred Bibles that day. At Sagkeeng we handed out LifeLight NTs to grades four, five and six students. The teacher said he liked these Scriptures because they are easy to read and understand. At the high school the principal eventually accepted the NTs, although he was hesitant at first.
We left NTs at Pine Falls for the students in grades four to six. This was the first time we had been there. Since we had never been at the elementary school in Bissett, we gave New Testaments to all the students there.
Peter Loewen is on the LifeLight Ministries Board and travels to northern Manitoba regularly to distribute Bibles in the schools.

Not Enough Bibles

I am on the Board of Deacons at Rainbow Community Church in downtown Vancouver. I am writing to see if your organization would be able to assist us in our ministry of sharing the Good News with the poor and homeless in our area.
We have a worship service every Sunday at 6 p.m. and then serve a delicious home-cooked meal to about 150 people. Many of them are homeless, and many are dealing with HIV/AIDS, as well as drugs and alcohol addictions. We also serve a number of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
So many of these people are broken and hurting, and it warms my heart to see their hunger for the Word! Many have had their lives turned around after accepting Jesus as their Saviour and have been successful in getting off drugs and off the street, finding jobs and becoming productive citizens. But it grieves me that we can’t give a Bible to everyone who requests one.
We have a literature table set up in the dining room with a variety of inspirational materials, which we share with visitors. Every week we have many requests for Bibles, and we never seem to have enough to go around.
Peter Weir

Note: We frequently get requests like this from ministries that do not have the resources to purchase Scriptures. One of our goals is to provide these ministries with the Bibles they need, even if they are unable to give us a donation. In order to do this, we depend on the generosity of our many donors. If you would like to help us provide Scriptures specifically to those who are unable to give a donation, please mark your gift Free Scripture Fund.

Not Enough Bibles

I am on the Board of Deacons at Rainbow Community Church in downtown Vancouver. I am writing to see if your organization would be able to assist us in our ministry of sharing the Good News with the poor and homeless in our area.
We have a worship service every Sunday at 6 p.m. and then serve a delicious home-cooked meal to about 150 people. Many of them are homeless, and many are dealing with HIV/AIDS, as well as drugs and alcohol addictions. We also serve a number of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
So many of these people are broken and hurting, and it warms my heart to see their hunger for the Word! Many have had their lives turned around after accepting Jesus as their Saviour and have been successful in getting off drugs and off the street, finding jobs and becoming productive citizens. But it grieves me that we can’t give a Bible to everyone who requests one.
We have a literature table set up in the dining room with a variety of inspirational materials, which we share with visitors. Every week we have many requests for Bibles, and we never seem to have enough to go around.
Peter Weir

Note: We frequently get requests like this from ministries that do not have the resources to purchase Scriptures. One of our goals is to provide these ministries with the Bibles they need, even if they are unable to give us a donation. In order to do this, we depend on the generosity of our many donors. If you would like to help us provide Scriptures specifically to those who are unable to give a donation, please mark your gift Free Scripture Fund.

Offering New Life

Our association with LifeLight Ministries started three years ago when our youth group planned a yard sale. The young people were trained to share the gospel with those who came to browse or buy. It was a blessed day, and they gave out 176 LifeLight NTs and other Scripture portions. The $1200 that was raised was given to The Sanctuary, a Christian home for the homeless. We have used the easy-to-read LifeLight NTs since then for outreach.
In September we started a new assembly, New Life Bible Chapel, in Mississauga, Ontario. We are located in an area that has a large immigrant population, many of whom have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Our two main goals in starting this church are to reach out to the community with the gospel of Christ and to see Christians grow spiritually. Here again the Scriptures from LifeLight Ministries come in handy.
Prayerfully, we are putting together five hundred gift bags, each containing a copy of The LifeLight, a gospel CD, a Jesus DVD, a tract and our contact address.
As a church we are praying that we would be channels through whom God’s Word can reach the untouched hearts in our community, and we thank God for the faithful partnership of LifeLight Ministries in this important outreach. …my Word…shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11) is God’s attestation to the power of His Word.
Viji Roberts

Bibles Put to Good Use

We like to have plenty of Bibles on hand. Usually we order a case of the large-print NIV Bibles, which are used in the Bible study group that meets every Wednesday at the church. Invariably someone asks for a Bible, and it’s so good to have some on hand and simply give them away as gifts. We are so thankful for the opportunity to get Bibles from LifeLight Ministries for a small donation. If the recipients want to help with the costs, we suggest that they put a donation in the offering sometime.
We gave a Bible to a Christian woman who was very sick. As she lay dying in the hospital, we watched her son pick up her well-marked Bible, where she found the comfort needed during her last days on earth. The Lord called her home in September. It is good to see her son bring his mother’s Bible with him now when he comes to church.
We have also given Bibles for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, or just as a gift to someone who needs one. They are much appreciated and put to good use.
Dennis & Amanda Anderson

Dennis and Amanda are missionaries in The Pas, Manitoba, with Northern Canada Evangelical Mission.

Western Lifestyle Attracts People

The Way for Cowboys has been a tremendous outreach tool for us at The Cowboy Church in Sherwood Park, Alberta. I (pastor) carry a couple of them with me at all times, as do a number of other people from our group. I frequently encounter people who start a conversation based on my everyday dress, and before you know it, the Lord provides an opportunity for me to share the gospel, give them a copy of the New Testament and tell them about our church.
This past summer our house band was privileged to perform for one of the special event days at Alberta’s Ukrainian Heritage Cultural Village. People with no church background at all stopped to enjoy the music, and we gave away many copies of The Way for Cowboys.
A few months ago I was at a cowboy gospel concert put on by the Rawlings Brothers. At this event I met a teen with an interest in the western lifestyle. I gave him a New Testament, and last month he appeared at one of our youth group events.
During the Canadian Finals Rodeo week in Edmonton, we stopped at a local restaurant. The waitress was an unchurched rodeo fan. I did not have the opportunity to share the gospel with her, but she was thrilled to get a copy of the NT for cowboys.
Wherever and whenever I meet people with an interest in the western lifestyle, I look for the opportunity to share the gospel with them and give them a New Testament. Often small children are quite uninhibited and thrilled to see a “real cowboy.” Their excitement often leads to a conversation with the parents and an opportunity to present them with a NT. The photos and testimonies of cowboys make them an attractive giveaway.
Many unchurched people have preconceived notions about church. Having these Scriptures as giveaways often breaks down walls and preconceptions and paves the way for them to come and check us out. We also have a table at our church with these NTs, and we have given out hundreds of them over the past three years.
Kevin Corbin

Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap is an event takes place annually on the Siksika Reserve. It’s an opportunity to bring natives and white people in contact with other and bridge the gap between them and help the Blackfoot people understand the love of God. Singers are brought in and experiences are shared. More than five thousand people attend this event, most of whom do not attend a Christian church.
For me it’s also an opportunity to distribute Scriptures, and it’s thrilling to hear the favourable responses from those who receive them.
Peter Loewen and I visited the college (university classes) in Siksika. Some of the teachers there are Christians, and they said they could make use of eighty Bibles. Later we left 120 copies of the The LifeLight at the crisis centre. One of the women had already received this NT at the college. She showed the others how much she had already read and was excited about how easy it was to read and understand. .
We get many positive responses to the Scriptures from churches and individuals who have received NTs. It helps if we take time to show them the special features of these New Testaments and share with them the testimonies and reports in the LifeLight Ministries newsletter, The LifeLight.

Alvin Lepp

Alvin Lepp is a missionary with Native Ministries Outreach of the Mennonite Church of Canada. He regularly visits reserves in Alberta

Broken Lives Restored

Hannah’s Place, Siloam Mission’s emergency shelter, opened its doors on May 1, 2007, to Winnipeg’s homeless. Hannah’s Place is located on Princess Street in Winnipeg and offers a hundred emergency shelter beds to Winnipeg’s less fortunate. A woman who stayed at Hannah’s Place on the opening night, commented to shelter staff, “This was the best night’s sleep I have had in many months.”
Jack*, a solvent abuser, is often high. He visited our shelter a few weeks after it opened and asked for a place to stay. Siloam Mission is a dry shelter, and we have a firm rule of non-intoxication. I explained to Jack that we would love to have him but not in an intoxicated condition. Two days later, Jack returned. “I’m okay, I’m okay,” he said with a smile.
I knew he was clean and happily let him in. After Jack had a shower he requested one last item: a Bible. The next morning Jack volunteered to clean up the shelter with some others who had stayed overnight. Jack continues to spend some nights at the shelter. He has become cleaner and more talkative and is making positive changes. A new beginning!
At Siloam Mission we see many broken lives. We also see that brokenness is a way to create new beginnings and, every day, we see lives being restored and filled with new hope. Together we can help make change happen in the hearts of Winnipeg’s less fortunate.
Recently a volunteer asked if we could use some Bibles in our emergency shelter. I told her we could, and shortly after Christmas two cases of Bibles from LifeLight Ministries were dropped off. This blessing will be used with great appreciation. We have an area at our front desk where we have books and magazines for patrons to read before bedtime. They can return them or keep them if they wish. Included are these Bibles, and we are happy to tell them that they are welcome to take them and keep them.

Wayne Smith

Soldiers Honoured

Two local heroes were honoured in Niverville, Manitoba, on January 6 at an event sponsored by Canada Awakening Ministries. Ringo Klassen and Gord May will be leaving for Afghanistan in February. A local band played the national anthem, and Pastor David Reimer opened the meeting in prayer. Greg Fehr welcomed the guests, and MLA Kelvin Goertzen brought greetings.
Roger Robert (Canadian Bible Society) presented Ringo and Gord with a special edition of the Bible specifically for those who are in the army. He also showed a powerful video clip, Operation Bible, which shows how eagerly Bibles are being requested and used by the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.
I had the privilege of presenting Bibles, Finding Hope Beyond the Battle, to three spouses of soldiers, as well as to several other relatives. This Bible, from LifeLight Ministries, is specifically designed for military families and has stories of military spouses and the fear, anger, loneliness and other challenges they face. These Bibles were gratefully received by family members who are believers, as well as some who are not yet believers.
Both Ringo and Gord gave a brief report on what their involvement will be in Afghanistan. Peter Braun, pastor of the Maranatha Good News Centre, the home church of Gord May’s family; and Nick Klassen, Ringo’s brother, led in prayer for the soldiers. They prayed for their protection and for peace between the various tribes in Afghanistan.
The final item on the program was a powerful prayer from Brian Doerksen's latest album, "Our Father in Heaven," a prayer for safety in the present and also for the ultimate permanent peace that will come with the coming of His Kingdom. Then the audience of two hundred, from all walks of life in Niverville, both churched and non-churched, prayed the Lord's Prayer together.
The families mixed and mingled for at least an hour afterwards, expressing support and the assurance of prayers to the family members.
We are so thankful for this opportunity to plant seeds in the hearts of people, and we know it will result in good fruit. A Bible especially for family members of people in the military is much more likely to be read than a generic edition of the Bible. Thank you to LifeLight Ministries for your part in this special evening.

Roger Armbruster

Roger and Marge Armbruster are bridge-builders who minister cross-culturally, Marge by teaching English to new immigrants in southern Manitoba, and Roger by helping to build the indigenous church in Canada’s North, particularly among the Inuit.

A Gentle Nudge

The idea came into my head in October, around the time of my birthday and Thanksgiving. First, it was like a nudge, a whisper, which I shrugged off as weird. Later, it became a persistent thought, one I could not shake. Then as the New Year dawned, it became a strong conviction that this venture was something God wanted me to just step into in faith
The idea was simple: Share about God with one unknown-to-me Canadian per month, chosen from a different province each month. I would simply pick a name from the phonebook, something I recall doing in Winnipeg during a Concert of Prayer for Canada. I would send the chosen person a “Good News Package” in the mail, though exactly what to put in it besides a personal letter and Christian music CD, I wasn’t sure yet.
No doubt, my church’s adult Sunday school series on witnessing provided some impetus for my plan. We were being challenged to get out of our comfort zones to reach non-Christians with the message of salvation in Christ.
We live in a country where people are more likely to know the names of ten brands of beer than the Ten Commandments. Does that concern us? Few Christians have a sense of urgency for the many lost souls who are unprepared for eternity. We are too much like that fireman in the US who was so busy fiddling around with the new radio in his fire truck that he was oblivious to the family trapped and perishing in the burning house beside him.
So January found me looking and praying for materials to put in the Good News surprise package for someone in Vancouver, B.C. It also found me at the optometrist’s office to get my glasses, which had been accidentally stepped on, fixed. As I was leaving, a sign on a nearby door caught my eye: Come in for your Free New Testament.
I recognized LifeLight Ministries as the organization that had provided Christian literature for our church to distribute after a Christmas concert. The word “vision” popped into my mind. Maybe I could find stuff for my mailings here! Sure enough, the lady at LifeLight was enthusiastic about my project. She helped me find all kinds of interesting resources, including a Who is Jesus? DVD and attractive pocket New Testaments. Now we trust God will match just the right person with the right materials each month.
I’m so glad our paths converged and that together we can share in this adventure of reaching people for Christ across Canada. Please pray for spiritual fruit as we carry out God’s mission. After all, it’s His idea!
Darlene Kaus