Issue 9 - 2011 - Asia Pacific Hungry for God's Word - Biblica

The greatest ofthese is love“My roommate agreed, pointing out that such love could only come with God’s help.Funny thing, over the next few weeks I kept running into that very passage—randomlyseen in the Bible that a pastor had given me, heard in a sermon, and written on abookmark. I found myself writing verses from 1 Corinthians 13 over and over. I couldn’tget away from those words! And I wanted that kind of love!”Ying became a Christian during her student days, a decision that her family met withopposition. When she was graduated, she returned home. They still opposed her faith,but finally agreed to come to her wedding. Ying’s husband (also a Christian) moved intoher family home. Tension over their faith often comes up, especially because Ying worksfor a Christian organization.Ying now serves as an interim national director of the Biblica work in Thailand,supervising translation and distribution of Bibles there. She gives her life to Bible workbecause she knows personally the transforming power of God’s word.—Philip YanceyAuthor of What Good is God,What’s So Amazing About Grace,and Where is God When It HurtsIn the spring of 2010 I went on a tour of Asia, helping Biblica celebratetheir 200th anniversary. Our stop in exotic Thailand was the most memorable.I’ll not soon forget the abundance of orchids, the 107 degree temperatures, and thetrained elephants that painted flowers and played soccer. We held one meeting justa block away from where Red Shirt protestors had taken over a section of downtownBangkok, barricading themselves behind barbed wire and bamboo. (One week later theArmy routed them, with scores of deaths.)One memory stands out as a strong reminder of why Biblica exists. For days my wifeand I had been hosted by a cheerful young Thai woman named “Ying.” She arrangedour hotels and meals, had books in place at every event, and supervised a crew ofperpetually smiling volunteers. As we shared a meal together on a boat trip down aBangkok river, I got a chance hear her story. “Were you raised in a Christian home?” Iasked Ying.“No, not at all,” she said. “My parents were devout Buddhists. I first encounteredChristianity when I was studying in the university. My roommate kept a Bible on herdesk, and one day, thumbing through it, I came across 1 Corinthians 13, the greatchapter on love. ‘This is impossible!’ I said to myself and my roommate. ‘Nobody has thiskind of love.’4Biblica InDepth • Issue 9 • 2011Biblica.com 5

...we encountered the kind of thirst thatexists within Asia for God’s Word.After weeks of waiting, I was thrilled to find advance copies of the ChineseContemporary Bible (CCB) waiting for me at my hotel.I walked to a nearby bookstore to get some copies gift wrapped. A young man in hisearly twenties appeared at the counter from behind me. He asked, “Is this a Bible?They say it is the Word of God?”“Yes, it is. Have you ever read the Bible?” I asked.“Yes, I have been to church with my friend and I have read his. It is not easy to findBibles,” he said. “I like to read the Bible, because it gives me peace and comfort.”I’ve been privileged to spend my entire life working in ministry in Asia in oneform or another. It is amazing to see the progress that the gospel is makingin many parts of this continent—the growth of the Church in China is simplyamazing. Churches in Vietnam are springing up like tiny shoots, giving birth to new hope.Translations are being completed, making God’s Word available in the Philippines, Thailandand throughout Asia.On a recent trip to China with a colleague we encountered the kind of thirst that exists withinAsia for God’s Word. As you read about his divine encounter, please prayerfully consider therole you can play in reaching the people of Asia with the transforming power of the Word.Group Vice President, Asia PacificI asked him, “Would you like to have this Bible? It is easy to read and understand.” Heresponded excitedly, “Yes! It will be my first Bible. Thank you! You are my teacher now.Can I write you if I have any questions?”We exchanged contact information, and I wrote 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on his Bible:All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting andtraining in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped forevery good work.As we parted, we promised to write. Who would have thought that I would be givingaway the first copy of the CCB during an unexpected bookshop encounter?This is just one story of how God is working inAsia. With your help, we can continue to bring thetreasure of God’s Word worldwide. Translationwork can take many years.Please give to Biblica’s translation projects so youmay join in the privilege of bringing the lifetransformingpower of the gospel.8 Biblica InDepth • • Issue 9 • • 2011Biblica.com 9

As global tourism expands, the opportunity to share God’s Word is increasing. TheChinese tourist ministry can reach 30,000 tourists with the Chinese Contemporary Bible.CHINESETOURISTMINISTRYOne tourist saw our ministry and becamevery excited. He thanked the volunteersand said, “I’m from a Christian family. Wehave four generations of Christians in my family buthave never had a Bible in our home. Thank you somuch—now we have one!”Another tourist kept walking by and each time she picked up a few more Bibles. Wekindly asked her why she needed them, and she replied, “In our church there are noBibles. We only get printed portions of Scripture to use during service. I wish I couldcarry enough Bibles back for our whole church!”“We have met countless Christians thatencourage us to continue our workbecause it is needed.”Biblica’s Chinese ContemporaryBible, the recently launchedtranslation, is now being sharedwith tourists as they travelworldwide. “A young Chinesewoman came to me and pointed to her heart and said, ‘Hallelujah,’ an indicationthat she was a believer,” said a Chinese tourist ministry volunteer. “She encouragedothers to come and receive the Bible. It was a beautiful reminder of the biblicalprinciple of multiplication.”rescuing childrenfrom an early GRAVEUnderneath Thailand’s beautylies a dark underbelly of sextrafficking, child prostitution,pornography, and drug abuse. Thesex industry is so entrenched that itcontributes 14 percent of Thailand’s GrossDomestic Product. HIV/AIDS is infectingnot only sex workers but the largerpopulation; more than one in 100 adultsare HIV-infected. In this sex-saturatedsociety, Thai youth are one of the mainHIV risk groups.India has the world’s third-largestpopulation suffering from HIV/AIDS. Itsprevalence in southern states is five timeshigher than northern states. Working withlocal churches and ministry partners, ourScripture-based HIV prevention program,Reach 4 Life (R4L), rescues children froman early grave through biblical truthand strong group support. R4L teachesteens a biblical alternative to promiscuityby teaching a lifestyle of sexual puritythat will protect them from HIV/AIDS.Biblica is translating the Reach 4 Life NewTestament into Hindi and Tamil to helpcombat this problem in India.UNAIDS reports in 2009 there were150,000 children under the age of 15living with HIV in South & Southeast Asia.To help preserve this generation, BiblicaAsia is reaching youth in secondaryschools with the Reach 4 Life (R4L)program in Thailand and India.R4L volunteers work with teens to speakfrankly about issues that are often ignored.Praawadee, grade 9 says, “God teaches usstay sexually pure and to protect myselffrom temptation. We should keep thecompany of good friends and do not goto private places with a man. If my friendscome to me, I will encourage them andtell them God loves you.”12Biblica InDepth • Issue 9 • 2011Biblica.com 13

connect ConnectBiblica Connect is a community of Christians passionateabout transforming people through the power of God’s Word.To join or read more, go to www.Biblica.com/connectPray fervently Give generouslyShare extensivelyBiblica brings God’s Word to people around the world through translation,publishing and Bible engagement so they can come to know Jesus as their personalSavior. Biblica works in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East andNorth America, is the translation sponsor and ministry publisher of the NIV®, andhas translated the Bible into over 100 languages.PLEASE GIVE TODAYRight now millions of people are hungry for the transformational message of Scripture.You can make this possible through your prayers and gifts. Please use the reply card andenvelope enclosed to reap a harvest that only eternity will fully reveal.THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTBiblica EuropeBiblicaNorth AmericaBiblica Middle EastBiblica Asia PacificBiblica AfricaBiblicaLatin AmericaWorldwide MinistryTM1820 Jet Stream Dr • Colorado Springs CO 80921 • 1-800-987-3595 • Biblica.com 6303