A big thank you for your support this Christmas

A big thank you to all those supporters who responded to our Christmas appeal this year. Hundreds of people made a gift and in total we received over £27,000 in donations.

“We trust God to provide us with everything we need – and that means relying on faithful and generous supporters who respond to God’s call on their money and time” says Danielle Welch, General Director of SGM Lifewords. “Thank you so much for making this ministry possible.”

Some of this funding will go towards translation work, with a long list of new titles being developed for our Global Bible Resource Website. Jesus: An Introduction has already been printed in Russian, Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese, Romanian and Persian, as well as the English edition, with Arabic being prepared at the moment. A number of other titles are being translated, including Suppose, Day by Day, and You Matter, which is being proof-checked in Italian and Korean at the moment – all thanks to our supporters.

Beyond our booklet ministry, we are looking forward to extending Pavement Project in India this year, and we hope to run training workshops in Indonesia to equip workers there.

Please join us in thanking God for his provision, and that he will bless these various initiatives around the world.

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125 Years Young!

Same Word Different World 2011 promotion

Sharing Life Words since 1888

Throughout 2011, our message to UK supporters has been “Same Word – different world: freely sharing life words since 1888”. It’s a reminder, not just of our heritage, but of our mission to bring the constant life words of the Bible to an ever-changing world. It was communications theorist Marshall McLuhan who said: “We drive into the future using only our rearview mirror.” Looking to our past is instructional and inspiring – if we are wise, we draw lessons from it to fuel our future ministry.

Throughout next year, we will be driving towards a landmark in the life of SGM Lifewords – our 125th anniversary on 6 February 2013. Work is already under way to make 2013 a year of celebration, praise and activity that will tell our story, share our ministry, and invite more people to partner with us for the next 125 years.

William Walters founded Scripture Gift Mission (initially as Scripture Text Mission, then Illustrated Scripture Mission) at a time of technological innovation and social change. Finding creative ways of communicating the Bible that resonated with people’s lives was his passion. Now, 125 years later, we find ourselves once again in a whirlwind of technological and social upheaval – but the mission remains the same. What a challenge; what an opportunity.

SGM founder William Walters

The story of SGM Lifewords is made up of many individual stories of God’s grace and power at work around the world. Many of our supporters have a lifetime’s partnership with this ministry. Freda and Joy Leswell have been involved since they started Sunday School over 80 years ago. In a recent letter, Freda recalled her fond memories of “Mr Brown” (former General Secretary Norman Brown, called home earlier this year) and the special copy of Daily Light that he sent when Freda “completed all 13 advanced question booklets” for the Young Sower’s League. Mr Brown wrote saying, “I hope it will be a blessing to you”. And, it has been, as Freda says, “It is hardly readable now due to being used so many years … I also have an up-to-date copy.”

We’re sure that Freda and her sister Joy are not alone in how they “remember the kindliness and faithfulness of true servants of the Lord, like Mr Brown and Mr Fiske, who were part of [their] own spiritual life and teaching.” We hope that many supporters will share stories of their time as Young Sowers; of using booklets in outreach; of deputation work or events; of Bible studies, prayer times, and fellowship. You may be an ex-staff member or long-term supporter, or you may have come to the ministry more recently, perhaps through Pavement Project or through the internet. Together, your unique experiences form the story of SGM Lifewords.

With 2013 in mind, we would love to hear how SGM Lifewords has been part of your Christian experience. So, please write, email, or telephone us to share your story. Our aim is to build an archive of stories from supporters and former staff. Where possible, perhaps we can come and film your story to create a “video library” of real life history being told for generations to come.

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Developing new resources in the UK

Danielle Welch, General Director for SGM Lifewords, writes: “The development team in the UK are busy as we develop and produce new literature resources. Please pray for us, that we would use God’s Word creatively, truthfully, and effectively in all that we do.”

  • Thank God that we’ve already sent out 100 pre-orders of the re-designed You Matter. Pray that this powerful story of the Father’s love would continue to touch people and lead them to faith in Jesus.
  • We also have another new booklet in the pipeline. Jesus: A Life Story follows on from Jesus: An Introduction and is with the designers at the moment. We’re really excited about the potential of a resource that allows people to get to know Jesus better. Please pray for this next stage of work.
  • It may feel like the festive season is well and truly over with for another year, but not for us! We’re beginning to think about next Christmas and are hoping to create a resource to help share the Christmas story with children and young people. Please pray for us as we develop this idea and look for partners who work in schools and after-school projects.”
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Inspire prayer in your community

In our staff prayers here in the London office, we started a series recently looking at some of the different prayers in the Bible. As we are thinking about prayer together, it seems like a good time to mention our title Inspiring Prayer, which had sold out and has just been reprinted.

Inspiring Prayer features a series of prayers from the Bible, and verses and passages about prayer. It also includes written prayers and prayer exercises to deepen our experience of prayer and explore new ways to come to God. The booklet was designed for visitors to historic churches, but it has been used much more broadly.

If you would like to inspire your own prayer life or that of your community, Inspiring Prayer is back in stock and you can order copies here. You can also download printable poster versions of  many of the prayers from the booklet for use around your church. Here’s an example:

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Into the season of Lent: a prayer reflection for February

A voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ Luke 3:22 (NIV)

This month sees the beginning of Lent; a time for prayer, examining the self, and reaching out to others – a focus on the up, in and out of our relationship with God.

As Jesus approached the times that Lent marks – his testing in the wilderness and the lead-up to Easter – he was found with his Father. Throughout his ministry, Jesus drew away to quiet places to pray and be in the presence of God. In the Gospels, before he is sent into the wilderness, we see him being strengthened in his identity and calling as John baptizes him. He is filled with the Spirit, and the voice from heaven confirms that he belongs, that he is loved and that he is doing what has been asked of him. It was important for Jesus to receive affirmation of who he was and all that he was seeking to be and do on earth.

As we move into the season of Lent, let’s follow Jesus’ example, draw away, and spend time with the Father who loves us unconditionally, gives us purpose and directs our lives.

Jess Bee
SGM Lifewords in the UK

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Floods hit Brazil again

Last year Interact reported on the devastating floods in Brazil, now the same region just outside Rio has been hit again. Lifewords volunteers are preparing booklets Picking up the Pieces and Who Cares About Me? to use with the victims in flood-affected regions.

  • Last February, in amongst the destruction and loss, we heard stories of hope as God comforted those who had lost loved ones and their homes as a result of the floods. Thank God for his mercy and peace in the midst of such devastation.
  • Pray for the Lifewords workers who will be going to the affected areas to counsel people and share God’s Word. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage them as they reach out with the love of Jesus.
  • Ask God to continue to bring comfort and hope, and that he would strengthen this distressed community as they relive the chaos and loss of last year.

Keep up to date with this situation at www.facebook.com/SGMLifewords.

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Pavement Project in India

Serah Thomas from Lifewords in India writes: “During the coming year, we will continue to trust in God as we reach out to children-at-risk, sharing the Bible with them one-to-one. This week, please join us in praying for God’s blessing on the work of Pavement Project in India.”

  • Praise God for the success of Pavement Project training during 2011. We trained 31 new workers to use Picture Me during the year, and we’re already hearing amazing stories of transformation in children who have been counseled.
  • Pray for the newly trained workers as they continue to get to grips with the Pavement Project process. Pray also for the additional training workshops that are planned for February and May 2012.
  • Thank God for our partner organisations who are so committed to Pavement Project. We are currently talking to Compassion about them sponsoring a worker to develop Pavement Project activities in India – please pray for this partnership.
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Lifting the curse

“Ask God to forgive those who did these things to me, and pray that they will not be allowed to hurt other children the way that they hurt me. Pray that my suffering will stop.” These are the words of Masamba* who lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is 12-years-old. One year ago people from a cult “church” held him and several other children over the flames of a fire in a ritual to exorcise them of “demons”. Having burnt the flesh off the children, the perpetrators then locked them up for four months and starved them of food in an attempt to get them to confess. Each child was accused of being a child sorcerer.

DRC is a country ravaged by years of conflict and poverty, and many families face huge challenges. When money is scarce and sickness prevalent, families look for reasons to explain their misfortune and children are often accused of bringing a curse on the household. In some cases children are chased from their homes and forced to live on the streets; in others, they are subjected to abuse from family members and pastors as they attempt to determine whether they are a sorcerer, and then deliver them of the evil that is causing them to curse the family. This fear of their own children leads families to abandon them, and many are not only left to look after themselves on the streets, but are also deeply traumatised.

Continue reading

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Opportunities in Africa

Sammy Kamore from Lifewords in Africa writes, “The new year represents a new season of hope and expectation among God’s people. This week, please join us in praying for his blessing on our future plans and for the continent of Africa as a whole.”

  • Over the coming months, Lifewords will be examining the possibility of reintroducing and resourcing Bible clubs in the slums of Nairobi. Please pray for all the efforts being made to introduce this community-at-risk to the Bible’s life-giving words.
  • Please pray for God’s leading in the work of Lifewords in Zambia. The mission has received several independent requests to pilot both Choose Life and Pavement Project with the children of Lusaka, so please pray that the correct decision will be made on how we pursue this opportunity.
  • After elections at the end of last year, parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo witnessed fighting between opposing political groups. This is an extremely challenging time for people living in this part of the world, so please pray that God’s hand would be over the situation and that there will be a peaceful solution to the crisis.
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The difference a story can make

A new edition of our long-serving booklet You Matter is now available. Many stories about You Matter have reached us over the years, stories that show this booklet has really made a difference.

Many of these anecdotes have come from prisons, where the re-telling of the parable of the prodigal son resonates with those on the wrong side of the law. The simple cartoon style makes it accessible to those who don’t usually read, and it has been a favourite among prison chaplains and those working with young offenders. In the last issue of Interact, Europe Director Jarek Jankowski told us how he had recently seen an interview on Polish television. A man was giving his testimony about how he became a Christian. “While he was in prison he had heard the gospel from a fellow-prisoner, but he didn’t care for it and didn’t want to read the Bible. This all changed when the other prisoner gave him a copy of a ‘cartoon version of a story of the prodigal son’ – You Matter.”

The appeal of You Matter reaches far and wide. In 1997, an evangelist wrote to tell us about an experience he had while travelling in Nagaland in north-east India, a region that was facing political insurgency at the time:

“One day we were travelling by bus when a man with a gun approached and stopped us. A colleague and I were discussing You Matter. The man with the gun came up to us, took the booklet and flicked through its pages. When he had finished, he said he knew the story of the prodigal son. He said that he was like that son and told us to continue with our ministry. Before he left, he accepted Jesus and promised to live as a soldier for Christ.”

In Jesus’ parable, the errant son returns home to the unexpected embrace from his father. It’s a powerful message of love and forgiveness, which has inspired many people to believe that God can forgive them and change their lives for the better. SGM Canada received this letter from a sex worker:

“Someone gave me a copy of You Matter and I remember them telling me to read and believe. I thought it was stupid, but I kept it anyway and read it a few times. God has begun to change my life, and I now think I can break away from this life and start over.”

For those on the margins, ostracised or ignored, the message that they matter to God can be life changing. Sometimes that message arrives just in time, as this story from the Philippines illustrates:

“I come from a very poor family, and have been struggling in school, both in my grades and in finances. I thought life was so cruel that one Friday afternoon I locked myself in my room, planning to end my life. I sat there for about an hour and stared at the corner of my room. Then a small booklet lying on my backpack caught my attention. It was called You Matter, and was in Ilocano, my mother tongue. I read it three times, and as I read I forgot all about my problems and my plan to kill myself. Instead, I invited the Lord Jesus into my heart for the first time, and peace and joy filled my heart. I could not understand what was happening, so I ran to a nearby church and the pastor prayed with me.”

Over a million copies of You Matter have been distributed around the world, in dozens of languages. Now available in a fully revised and updated edition, we hope these will not be the last stories about the life-changing discovery that we all matter to God.

Click below to view the new You Matter, and here to order your copies.

 

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