The Book of Hope

Sanctify them with Your truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17)
One of the main things our group will be doing in Southern Africa is distributing the Book of Hope. The Book of Hope tells the life story of Jesus in the age-specific language a child or youth can understand. It also contains important sections that concentrate on the issues most vital to the students at different age groups.
So you might be asking why we would go all the way to Africa to distribute a little book to children. Good question. First of all, for some of these kids, this book will be one of the only things that they get from someone all year. It won’t be thrown away like it might be here in America where kids have so much stuff, but it will be cherished and read and even read again. Another thing that makes this book so special is that it is the eternal, truth-filled Message of Jesus Christ! Paul, one of Jesus’ early followers, said that the Message of Jesus is the power of God for salvation. The Bible also says in Hebrews 4:12 that the Message is living and active, so overwhelming that it pierces to our soul and spirit. I mean, that’s incredible to think that the Bible, the Message of Jesus, is actually alive! It grabs us, sweeps us off our feet, takes us into places we’ve never dreamed of. And while most of us will probably come back without any of the clothes we took over, having given them all away, and even though we will definitely try to feed the hungry when we get the opportunity, we realize that clothes wear out and that food is short-lived. We all get hungry again only hours after we’ve eaten, and we all have to find new clothes every once in a while. But there is a Message that tells us where to eat and drink so that we will never be hungry or thirsty again. That Message is found in the story of Jesus, the Book of Hope.
After fasting for 40 days, Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We believe that the Message of Jesus and the love that we show the children because of this Message will have an eternal impact in lives all over Southern Africa. Kids today in Africa are faced with so many lies concerning violence, AIDS, other sexual issues, and family roles. The only way for them to understand these lies is by being exposed to truth. Father, Your word is truth.
There are many stories about how whole families have come to know Jesus by the kids taking the Book of Hope to their homes and sharing it with their families. Please pray that this will continue to happen, and that lives will be changed through this Message of life, hope, and truth as we travel to Southern Africa.
P.S. Less than 3 weeks until we leave!!