When did you get your first Bible?
Was it special to you?
I remember my first Bible. I think I was 6 or 7 and mostly remember looking at the pictures inside it. My older sister has written my name in calligraphy on the dedication page. If I remember right, I received it as a Christmas gift.
Admittedly, it was not extremely special; Bibles were easily purchased and there were several available in my home.
Imagine with me for a minute that there were very few English Bibles available. Politics and market demand cause a lack of availability. Most Bibles that were available were in another language and those that were in English would cost between $500-$800. Would you own one? Maybe if you could find one to purchase.
Would everyone at your church have one to bring?
How would you follow the sermon?
How would you study the Word?
What if your pastor couldn’t afford a Bible?
This is not imagination for Portuguese Creole speakers in Guinea-Bissau. This small country on the west coast of Africa has a troubling history of slave trade, colonial rule, war, and coup-de-tats. Bibles in the Creole language have been difficult to obtain and those that are available cost an average of 2-3 days’ wages.
For my American mind it is hard to comprehend how the church is growing with such a lack of resources. However, the church is experiencing exponential growth in this region. While this is a good thing, it also presents a problem because people become susceptible to heresy and syncretism.
Over a year ago, our admin team at Heralds of Hope learned about this need and decided to see if we could do something about it. After some research and discussion, we proceeded to order a 20 foot container load of Creole Bibles for Guinea-Bissau. By October 2023, the container of 17,136 Bibles made its way to the city of Bissau.
On December 1, 2023, a team visited the pastors and leaders who oversee distributing the Bibles. We were able to visit a few churches and personally hand out some of the Bibles. What a joy they had when they held a Bible for the first time. Some hugged their Bible while others opened to the first page and began to read.
I was challenged in how ungrateful I am to be able to have a Bible to read and study. I am so blessed.
I also was blessed to be able to connect generous believers in America with the needs in Guinea-Bissau, Africa.
-Anthony High