From the Middle of Africa to a Fishing Boat in Alaska

<p class="chapter-lead">“…I shared the story of Jesus’s birth with a man who is working on a fishing boat in Alaska. He was so happy to hear the story in his own language and dialect.”</p>

What’s your favorite verse about God’s Word? Is it one that speaks about its source, its power, the fact that it never changes, or what it will accomplish? They’re all wonderful, but this is one of our favorites:

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” – Psalm 119:105

Giving the Word of God to others is one of the most precious gifts we can give.

Scripture Speaks to an Unreached Tribe

A Pioneers team engaged a previously unreached tribe in a landlocked, desert region in the middle of Africa. There they worked with Yassir, one of the first believers, and five or six other men from his tribe to record 60 significant stories from the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in their language. The process took more than two years. Yet as they listened to and discussed Scripture, former Muslims put their trust in Jesus Christ, were baptized, and continued to grow in their faith. This is the power of the Word of God.

The Story Doesn’t Stop There

The recordings were shared from one person to another through their mobile phones. In the same way, scripture and stories are being shared in hundreds of languages and communities around the world, and in many places where hostility to the gospel runs high.

A Surprising Call

In late 2021, a Pioneer who helped make the recordings got a call from a man in the U.S. who helps refugees find jobs and acclimate to life in America. It’s his way of showing and sharing the love of Christ with them. This man had heard about the recorded Bible studies and wanted access to them to share with members of the same tribe who had come to the U.S. as refugees. Reporting back, he said,

“…I shared the story of Jesus’s birth with a man who is working on a fishing boat in Alaska. He was so happy to hear the story in his own language and dialect. He asked if there were more stories, so I sent the rest to him. Get this! He said there are 20 other men from his tribe on this fishing boat with him for the next three months. I encouraged him to share the story of Jesus and the others from God’s Word with them. Thanks again for crafting these stories and sharing them!”

From the Sahel to the Arctic

Back in Africa, Yassir laughed when the missionary told him what had happened. In translating and recording the stories, the men had primarily thought about how they would be distributed in one or two of the African countries the tribe calls home. Never did they think another group of men from this African people group might be sitting together on a fishing boat in Alaska listening to the Word of God in their own language.

This is the power of God and His Word. Pray that many will hear and believe.