Darfur Bibles Delivered
Revelation 5:1-5 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it, and I began to weep loudly. … And one of the elders said to me, ‘weep no more, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll… .”
The Bible and human experience speak to the fact that silence can be a very good thing. There is even an idiom that says silence is golden. However, the silence in heaven and earth that caused the Apostle John to weep was not a good thing. Those who have never heard the gospel of a crucified and risen Savior live continuously in the condition that caused John to weep. Such folks do not understand that Jesus is the Lamb who was slain, and by His death and resurrection, He conquered death and purchased the forgiveness of sin for all who believe in Him. Our mission as disciples of Jesus is to shatter that silence by sharing His Word.
Because of the generosity of CRM’s donors, this month, 2,000 Arabic language Bibles were purchased and delivered to the people living in “gospel silence” in an area of Darfur in Sudan known as Jebel Marra.
Here are some of the testimonies we have received from those who were blessed with one of them:
“I will be very clean here forward, for the Word of God will wash me. Then I will help others to know the Lord.”Another person said, “as we have received Bibles, our eyes will be open, and we will see the world from another angle. May God pour out His love on those who helped us with this heavenly resource.”
A young man said, “I am so happy now that I can share the Word with my parents. I was struggling to remember verses to share, but now I can read from my Bible. Thank you so much for this is an eternal gift. May God bless everyone who contributed to his work.”
An incredibly historic opportunity exists in that section of Darfur. Christians have been called to supply Bibles and Christian literature to Jebel Marra, so that the millions of Sudanese who have fled there may hear the gospel and turn to Him, the Prince of Peace. Supplying Bibles and scripture resources to the Sudanese refugees in Jebel Marra is CRM’s top priority throughout 2024. We invite you to keep praying for and giving toward this amazing opportunity.
Oloika Children’s Home Ministry
Because you gave, during the first two weeks of January, a CRM team of 25 people ministered to approximately 130 children who attend the school located on the Oloika Children’s Home compound in the southern Kenya bush and taught the Acts Story Cloth to 25 Maasai church leaders. The team included six members aged 18 and below. Five of them were accompanied by a parent or grandparent. This was the first mission trip for most of the team’s members. Team members represented nine different churches, hailing from Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Tanzania.
Though inexperienced in working cross-culturally, the team came together, worked hard, and did a marvelous job. The children were blessed to hear Bible stories, watch Christian videos, make wonderful crafts, sing with Ms. Holly, and play a variety of games and sports. Each child received a new pair of shoes, a hygiene kit, a colorful T-shirt with an amazing logo developed by Leslie Boyd, and the 8- and 9-year-olds received a Bible.
Through the generosity of CRM’s donors, the Oloika Children’s Home has a dependable supply of clean water, two dorms, and a kitchen. New latrines are under construction. CRM intends to give $1,400 to the directors of the home to create a garden that will make the home and school self-sustaining. And most importantly, all the children have heard the gospel, been touched by the love of Christ, and given many reasons to smile.
Special thanks go out to Wendy Custer for supplying the games and craft materials, to Memorial Baptist for sending 9 of its members, to Sonya and Richard Coffman for providing the hygiene kits, and to Austin Henry for the amazing job handling logistics, and keeping everything and everyone organized.
In closing, on behalf of myself, CRM, and the Board, I want to express our deepest appreciation for your strong support for every project and appeal made in 2023. Many lives were rescued out of war zones. Refugees received food, clothing, medical care, school fees, and a roof over their heads. Many thousands of people heard the gospel. A summary of the major ways you blessed many different unreached people groups in 2023 is posted on our website. For now, we enter 2024 with the expectation that we shall see the King of glory do even more in this new year.
David Crane,
CRM President
