Orthodox Bible Study Update
“The seed is the Word of God…” Luke 8:11
Well folks, it finally happened. The requests for the “Free Orthodox Study Bible to non-Orthodox listeners” just overwhelmed us and we’ve had to temporarily (we hope) suspend the offer. However, we are not suspending sending Bibles to those who have requested one. Even if you have not ordered one, we ask that you read this article.
One of the things that Bill and I avoid like the plague is sounding like “televangelists” and plying our listeners for money in every program and email. We’ve really taken a low key approach to fundraising and sharing our vision for the evangelistic possibilities of Our Life in Christ, perhaps too low.
We have a handful of faithful contributors who have helped us send well over 1,000 Orthodox Study Bibles to non-Orthodox inquirers all over the world in the past 2 years. Every Bible we’ve sent represents someone who is seriously studying the Orthodox faith. Unfortunately, the requests for the Bible have been steadily increasing but donations have not kept up with the demand. We are currently over 500 Bibles backordered and we have about $1,200.00 in the bank. In order to fulfill all the current requests it will require about another $9,000.00. This is both the exciting and distressing part of the problem. We currently have over 200 requests from African nations, mostly from Ghana and Nigeria. Many of these are young men who are in training for ministry in non-Orthodox seminaries. These are the future Christian spiritual leaders of those countries. What this boils down to is we have an opportunity to put the Scriptures with an Orthodox commentary in the hands of young men who are committed to God and to serving Him. To put an Orthodox Study Bible in their hands is to plant the seeds of the Kingdom in Africa. It costs us about 26.00 a Bible to mail a Bible to Africa. We have tried to find a parish or priest in Ghana to act as a distributor for us, but there are no Orthodox Churches there to distribute Bibles to seekers…. Yet.
What do we need? A parish, an individual or an organization that will sponsor these requests and the hundreds of others from all over the globe. Maybe you know of someone who has a vision for Orthodoxy to the world and you can share this need with them. Maybe you are part of a small group that can pass the hat and make a donation once a month. Chances are you can’t sponsor 200 Bibles, but perhaps you can sponsor ten, or maybe just one. If you can’t sponsor one, perhaps you can either buy the Bible ($16.00) or the postage and mailing supplies ($12.00 overseas, $2.50 domestic). If you can’t afford a Bible or postage, perhaps you can send a “widow’s mite”, but a lot of “mites” eventually add up to a Bible and a stamp.
So, this is our serious appeal. Thank you to all who have contributed in the past, those who have committed to regular donations and those who have “reimbursed” us for the Bible. There are so many worthy causes and needs. We know how hard it is to say “no” to so many appeals for so many good things, we have to do it ourselves. All we can ask is that you pray for us, for our listeners and if you can, help us spread the word to the world about the Faith once, for all delivered.
For those who have ordered the Bible but have not received one yet, we will be mailing Bibles as we receive donations in the order we received the requests. For those who can afford to purchase one and wish to do so, we suggest that you wait a couple months and order the Old and New Testament Orthodox Study Bible from Conciliar Press. This was a six year project and is a new translation of the Old Testament from the Septuagint with Orthodox commentary. If you wish to be removed from the waiting list, PLEASE email us so we can remove your name and send the Bible to someone else.
Steve and Bill