Good News from Pakistan

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for the Hindko children in Pakistan.  There are 3.7 million people who speak this language.  This picture from The Birth of Jesus shows the Hindko text.  Please pray for Pakistan.

Peter was kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.  (Acts 12:5)

In Peter’s day (just like today), it wasn’t easy to be a follower of Jesus. The ruler, Herod, hated Christians. He had no reason to hate Christians. But people who do not love Jesus often hate those who do.

God let Herod put Peter in jail. God knew that Herod planned for Peter to be killed. But God had His own plans.

When other people who followed Jesus heard about Peter being in jail, they met together to pray. It seems they prayed all night. What do you think they were praying for? Probably, they prayed that Peter would be set free, or at least that Peter would come to no harm in jail. Maybe they prayed that Peter would tell other people in jail about Jesus.

Sixteen soldiers guarded Peter so there was no way he could escape. He had chains on his arms with a soldier chained to him on each side. The other soldiers stood at the doors with their weapons ready.

Peter didn’t stay awake wondering if Herod would be able to harm him, or if his friends’ prayers would help. Peter made his chains comfortable, lay down, and went to sleep. God was in charge. That was good enough for Peter.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to rest in Your care and let You look after me. Amen. 

Good News from Balochistan

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for the children in Balochistan.  There are 12 million people in Balochistan, half with Balochi as their first language.  There are hardly any known evangelical Christians.  This picture from Noah and the Great Flood shows the Balochi text.  Please pray for Balochistan.

But we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51)

“Don’t pull out the potato plants,” Mom called from the porch.

“Okay, Mom.” Helen skipped to the garden and ran along the row to the potato patch. She was going to fetch her favorite supper; new potatoes. Mom would cook them, smother them with white sauce, and add lots of freshly picked peas.

Finding the two biggest plants, Helen dug with her hands until she got to the roots. She pulled five potatoes off the root, and then heaped the earth back so the root was protected. She did the same with the second plant, uncovering the root then digging her fingers into the soil to pull out a potato. She felt something mushy ooze between her fingers. Her hand was plastered with rotten potato. “Mom!” Helen rushed to the tap by the side of the house. “Look what I found under the plant.”

Mom smiled as Helen washed her hands. “This rotten potato is the one we planted for seed. The new potato plant sprouted from it.” Mom’s voice turned serious. “You know, Helen, this rotten potato reminds us of a great Bible truth.”

“What’s that, Mom?” Helen wanted to know.

“A new plant came because this potato died. The Bible says it’s like that with us. Our physical body dies, but when Jesus comes again, we are raised a spiritual body.”

“Wow!” Helen looked at the remains of the rotten potato, then at the lovely big new potato plant. Then she took Mom’s hand and walked into the house with the potatoes she had picked.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for Your promise that we will be raised with glorious new bodies when Jesus comes. Amen.

(Frieda Martens. Winnipeg, Canada)

Good News from Kyrgyzstan

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for the children in Kyrgyzstan. There are 6 million people in Kyrgyzstan.  Only 0.7% of the population are evangelical Christians.  This picture from The First Easter shows the Kyrghiz text.  Please pray for Kyrgystan.

For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Scott watched his Mom carefully plant some pansies in her flower garden. “Every flower looks like a little face,” Scot said.

“They do,” Mom replied. “They remind me of little children.”

Scott laughed. “Children don’t have yellow or blue faces.”

“But there are many with different colored skin.” Mother straightened up. The world is like God’s people garden, Scott. People are different.”

“You mean like Jason?” Scott asked. “He’s a different color.”

“Yes he is,” Mom said. “God likes color and variety. And God loves all of us, no matter the color. The Bible says, “God loved the world.”

“If God loves everybody does that mean everybody will go to heaven when they die?”

“If they believe in Jesus and trust Him,” Mom responded. “Everybody who believes in Jesus and trusts Him will be in heaven.”

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me enough to die for me. Help me to love others and tell them You love them, too. Amen.

(Sally Smith. Ontario, Canada.)

Good News from Slovakia

Bible for Children is now providing Bible stories for the children in Slovakia.  There are 5.4 million people in Slovakia.  Only 1.25% of the population are evangelical Christians.  This picture from The Start of Man’s Sadness shows the Slovak text.  Please pray for Slovakia.

Have you not read, out of the mouth of babes? (Matthew 21:16)

Jerry wasn’t allowed to look in his Dad’s private drawer. His friends, Danny and Herb, dared him to. So he did. And he found a bag of tobacco, cigarette paper and matches. He took enough to make three cigarettes. Then the boys went to the woodshed.

When he drove on to the yard, Jerry’s Dad heard laughter. He saw smoke coming from the open window of the wood-shed. Bursting in on the boys, he scolded them for what they were doing.  “Where did you get that evil stuff?” he shouted.

“Dad, I took it from a drawer close to your bed,” Jerry confessed.

Dad was furious. “What is in that drawer is none of your business. Do you understand?”

Jerry’s five-year old sister Emily, who had heard Dad’s voice, came into the shed. “Hi, Daddy,” she called. She ran to him and took his hand. “Ouch!” she cried.

Everybody looked at Dad’s hand. He had forgotten - he was holding a lit cigarette.

As the boys stared, Dad seemed to be searching for words. He was quiet for a long time. Then he said, “I am trying to keep you boys from forming a bad habit.” He looked at little Emily. “I’m sorry, dear.” Then he said to the boys, “And I’m sorry that I am not a good example.” He threw the cigarette out the door and stamped on it. “That is my last cigarette. And I don’t want to catch you boys smoking again, either.”

Jerry stepped close to Dad. “I won’t smoke again, Dad,” he promised.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You can help Dads and children to know and do Your will. Amen.

(Jake Peters. Winnipeg, Canada)