Informed by the Bible, our faith in God offers us certain hope, a confident expectation that God will fulfil his promises: the promise of his unconditional love; the promise of freedom from sin. We can find so much hope in Scripture, through the gift of eternal life made possible through Jesus.
In this summer edition of Sower, you will read about how this hope of eternal life is reaching people in desperate need in Africa. The Bible is having an incredible impact in Africa, through the mission projects you are supporting there. Thank you for your support in providing ‘Hope and Life for Africa’.
You’ll read about how the promise of God’s love and forgiveness is reaching impoverished people in Mozambique through the work of Bible Society Australia (BSA) and Mission Educate in Biblebased literacy. Through this work, Mozambicans who have been oppressed for generations are learning to dream and hope for a better future.
In Kenya, Bibles are being supplied to children and youth who are longing for transformation in their lives and in their families. Without your support, they would not have God’s word to assist them in their studies. Currently, only 2% of schools can offer their students Bibles. This year, with your support, Bible Society has provided more than 7,500 students with full Bibles, so they can Open The Bible and find hope and life in God’s word.
In Rwanda, over 16,000 people found new life in Christ through the Jesus. All About Life (JAAL) outreach at Easter this year, co-ordinated by African Enterprise with the support of BSA. Thanks to your support, since it was launched in 2023, JAAL Rwanda has reached over half a million people with the message of hope and life found in Jesus.
As you read this edition of Sower, I pray as Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13, NIV).
We can look to the future with assured hope, for ourselves and for those in need in Africa, because we trust in a God who is faithful. As Aya from Mozambique says so eloquently, “I have faith in God that my dream will come true because our God is the God of the impossible.”
GOD BLESS, Grant Thomson CEO, BIBLE SOCIETY AUSTRALIA
“FOR WITH YOU IS THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE; IN YOUR LIGHT WE SEE LIGHT.”
- PSALM 36:9 (NIV)
LEARNING TO DREAM IN MOZAMBIQUE
Ina church in rural Mozambique, Rosa* approached Terry from Mission Educate and spoke to him with the help of the pastor of her church. What she said to him still brings tears to Terry’s eyes. She said, “All my life I was told that I was worthless.” Then, thinking about the Literacy for Life program Mission Educate and Bible Society Australia are running in her church, Rosa said, “But now, somebody I don’t know, in a place I have never heard of, is investing their money in me, because they think I am worth it.”
"This is the impact Australian supporters can have,” says Terry. “By supporting this literacy program for the people of Mozambique, they are showing people they don’t know, in a place they don’t know, that they are worth the investment. In doing so, they are communicating in the greatest possible way that there is a God who cares for people, and who thinks that they are worth the sacrifice he paid with his Son.”
Countering centuries of oppression with hope for the future
The challenges facing Mozambicans are significant, having lived under colonial rule for 500 years, suffered 18 years of civil war, and only settled into democratic governance in 1994. Alford from Mission Educate explains that for as long as they can remember, “people have been
trying to find ways to survive.” Of the 32 million people living in Mozambique, more than half are living below the poverty line, 67% live as subsistence farmers, and 42% are non-literate; there are 16 million people in Mozambique who can’t read and write, and most of them are over the age of 40.
Colonialism has left the people of Mozambique with a very low sense of self-esteem, which is exacerbated by poverty and illiteracy. Terry explains, “The men especially feel a large degree of shame because they recognise that they are living in a changing society, and they are not able to provide for their families because they can't read and write. Right down to the simplest areas of life, that we in Australia just take for granted, Mozambicans are denied access. People who can’t read and write are dependent on others to tell them what to do, and they never know whether they are being told the right thing. So they have this sense of inferiority.”
Mission Educate, with the support of Bible Society Australia, runs the Literacy for Life project in three provinces across the country, and directly reaches over 500 Mozambicans each year with literacy skills. Terry explains, “The first step out of that sense of inferiority is to be able to read and write.”
'This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.' 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV) cont. pg. 8
“THE FIRST STEP OUT OF THAT SENSE OF INFERIORITY IS TO BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE.”
Alford notes that centuries of oppression make it challenging for people in Mozambique to even see opportunities for their future. This is the case especially in rural areas, where people live as subsistence farmers, and have low expectations for their lives. “They don’t know what it is to have opportunities.”
The Literacy for Life program is delivered by Mozambicans, trained by Mission Educate as facilitators, so students know that they are working with teachers who understand their culture, and understand them. Where possible, classes use mother tongue languages to launch into teaching the official language, Portuguese. “We’re talking to them in a language they understand, to teach them to read a language that they don’t understand. For life in Mozambique, they’ve got to be able to speak and read Portuguese.”
Terry explains that in the Literacy for Life schools, “We’re trying to teach our students the ability to dream, and to give them the opportunity to actually fulfil their dreams with their education.” The Literacy for Life program offers students the chance to achieve their Primary Equivalent certificate (with the support of the
government), and to learn basic skills to improve their livelihood. “Literacy is a seed for dreaming,” explains Terry. As students learn to read and write their name, they see opportunities open up: “I can write my name. Maybe I can improve my agriculture. Maybe then I could start my own business. Maybe then I could go out and do other things.” As Terry observes, “It all starts with literacy. Literacy and the ability to dream go hand in hand.”
Bruno’s story
Bruno* was born in the village of Marromeu. When he was a boy, he underwent much suffering; his parents were farmers and were unable to produce enough to sustain his family. Although at 10 years old, Bruno wanted to learn to read and write — and study nursing to help the people in his community — it wasn’t possible, as he had to help his parents in the field rather than attend school. Then, five years later, he was forced to marry. “Once I was married, my dreams fell apart because of my new marital responsibilities,” Bruno recalls. He and his young wife survived by selling charcoal. Then Bruno’s life took a turn for the better when he was offered the chance to study in the Literacy for Life Project. “It came at
a time when I needed it so much,” he says. “Today I'm at a second-grade standard and I'm very proud that I'm gradually fulfilling my dream,” Bruno knows that “God will give me the grace to finish the literacy course so that I can fulfil my dream.”
He is particularly grateful for the courses in agriculture included in the literacy project. “Farming is one of the community's main sources of livelihood. We are learning to read and write and improve the production of vegetables to feed our families. We thank God for all that Bible Society Australia and Mission Educate are doing to transform our lives.”
Aya’s Story
Aya* always had a dream of becoming a primary school teacher. Yet she knew that, “my dream was far from me because I was unable to read or write.” Then, when she was in her 30s, now a wife and mother of four children, Aya heard about the Literacy for Life project. She immediately enrolled. “I could finally see an opportunity to pursue my dream,” Aya says, given the chance to complete the literacy course, receive her Primary Equivalency Certificate, then move into secondary education. “Today, as a result of my studies, I can completely
master the letters of the alphabet, write my name and write a letter. I am waiting to sit the exam in 2025.”
Aya expresses her gratitude to Bible Socety Australia supporters for providing Mozambicans with all the necessary materials they need. “[Your] investment into the Mozambican community is changing lives in this century,” says Aya. “I have faith in God that my dream will come true because our God is the God of the impossible.”
To support this literacy program and more, visit biblesociety.org.au/sow.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
HOPE MAKES AN IMPACT
InKenya, disadvantaged young people face diverse and complex social, education, and cultural problems. In response to these pressing challenges, the Bible Society of Kenya (BSK) has been supporting young people through two life-affirming initiatives — Bible distribution to marginalised children and the Arise Trauma Healing Project.
Through these programs, children and teenagers receive hope, guidance, and healing through the word of God and trauma-informed training. In the face of diverse and complex needs BSK, with
the support of Bible Society Australia (BSA), is committed to making a lasting impact in the lives of young Kenyans by sharing the love and light of Jesus far and wide.
Hope makes an impact
“Change will come to our family because of this Bible!" declares 14-year-old Amani*, who received a Bible from Bible Society Kenya at his school. Amani expressed his desire for change in his family as he reads his Bible. He shared, “My mum left with my younger brother, and she has
never come back ... I hope through reading at home, dad who is alcoholic will get born again. He has been telling me to hate my mother, but I believe that is not what God required of me. I also trust to improve my grammar and be a great communicator as I continue interacting with this Bible.” Access to the Bible for youth like Amani nurtures their personal faith, and strengthens their family’s connection to God.
Bible distribution has always been core to the work of Bible Societies around the world because Scripture is the foundation from which BSA partners build hope and resilience in their communities.
In the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, Bible Society is committed to reaching youth who are disadvantaged one way or another. “[Government] resources don't get there,” shares Jane, a BSK staff member. “And they have a myriad of challenges, in terms of [meeting] even [the] basic needs." For families living in rural or urban poor contexts, access to education and other necessities can be limited. In these hard conditions, owning a Bible provides a source of strength and guidance in a child’s life. In 2024 BSK has a goal to put Scripture in the hands of 31,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving these children a better understanding of the promises and truth of God’s word.
The Bibles distributed through this program reach children in very difficult circumstances, giving them hope for a brighter future. Mike*, another 14-year-old student, explained that “having a Bible of my own gives me hope because I know I will be a God-fearing pupil. In [the] future, I hope to assist the elderly in reading the Bible. My best tomorrow looks like having a blessed future, serving as a surgeon in hospitals established by churches.’’
Rising from trauma
The Arise Trauma Healing Project provides Bible-based support for Kenyan youth who
struggle with mental health issues due to diverse traumatic experiences. Mental health challenges among Kenyan youth are widespread, often linked to the severe conditions in which they live. “[Challenges are] very, very, pronounced in [rural areas] where girls face early marriages. In terms of culture, they face female genital mutilation (FGM), in areas where we have done the Arise Trauma Healing program,” says Jane. Other systemic issues include violence, roving bandits, family breakdown, and HIV.
Arise helps young people to understand their experiences through the lens of Scripture. Jane explains, “We seek to help them to identify their trauma, which we call ‘the wounds of the heart’. So, we help them to identify that wound, and maybe deal with it, [using] Scripture and ... being able to talk about what is in their heart and how it affects them.”
The Arise program is delivered in schools and focuses on key themes such as self-worth, love, and God’s care. The children are encouraged to ask difficult questions like, “Am I important to anyone?” and “If God loves me, why do I hurt so much?” These sessions provide a safe space for the youth to connect their trauma with biblical teachings and begin their healing journey. Jane notes that the goal is to “help them unwrap the message of love as we take them through the Arise program.”
The call to press on
Bible Society of Kenya has an ambitious vision to reach every child in every school in Kenya with the word of God. “It is a big dream, but it is doable in that you [Australian supporters] have been part of that,” stresses BSK staff member, Susan. These programs offer hope, healing,
and a sense of purpose to a generation that desperately needs it. With continued support from partners like Bible Society Australia, BSK is able to press on with this vital work.
“ Thank you for allowing God to use you, because this is a call to every believer wherever they are in this world to join hands together with God and other people across the globe to help everyone know the love of Jesus and thank you for every sacrifice,” says Susan.
To learn more and support these programs, visit biblesociety.org.au/sow.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
A JOURNEY OF RENEWAL: HOW JESUS IS TRANSFORMING LIVES IN RWANDA
Raised by Christian parents and educated in a faith-based high school, Grace* was immersed in an environment that nurtured her love for praying and singing in the choir. “I was favoured in that environment,” Grace recalls, “but I hadn’t yet accepted Jesus Christ in my heart.”
Everything changed after secondary school. Grace began to drift away from a godly life, “I became a lukewarm Christian,” she admits. “My passion, love, and fear for Jesus Christ died. I stopped obeying God’s word and lost my fear of sin.” What followed was a dark time in Grace’s life. She experienced disappointments, depression, and the pain of broken relationships. “It was the worst part of my life,” she reflects and now testifies, “There is no peace or happiness in sin.”
But God had not given up on Grace. Her turning point came during a concert led by gospel ministers where she heard a message about being a friend of Jesus. “They talked about how Jesus can live and walk with you in every step you take,” Grace says. “I felt like that word was meant for
me.” In that moment, she decided to embrace this second chance Jesus was offering her. Grace decided to ask God to cleanse her from her sins and renew her life to one that is healthily bound in Christ.
“After that moment, I felt like every chain that tied me was cut,” Grace shares. “Happiness flowed into me, I felt relaxed and have nothing to worry about since Christ was with me.” From that day forward, Grace’s life has been marked by peace, joy, and a renewed commitment to grow spiritually. “I want to serve the Lord and use the talents he has given me to proclaim the gospel to unbelievers.”
Grace’s story is just one of the many lives transformed by God through Jesus. All About Life (JAAL) in Rwanda, an evangelistic outreach led by African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) Rwanda in partnership with Bible Society. Launched in 2023, JAAL Rwanda has reached over half a million people with the message of Jesus’ love and sacrifice. Like Grace, thousands of Rwandans
have found new life in Christ, with over 16,000 making a commitment to follow Jesus during the JAAL Easter 2024 outreach.
Though Rwanda has a predominantly Christian population, the aftermath of the 1994 genocide left lingering questions about God's love, sovereignty, and the role of the Church during such a tragic time. The lasting trauma of the past has left many Rwandans struggling with devoting fully to their faith.
The aim of AEE Rwanda’s Jesus. All About Life campaign is to foster Rwandans’ reconciliation with God by calling the church to bring back evangelism to the forefront of their mission. By supporting the local church with intentional discipleship training, AEE Rwanda is equipping the church to share the gospel with their communities and make disciples of Christ.
Your support for this project will bring hope and transformation to even more Rwandans as they encounter God's message of redemption,
forgiveness, and love, and his plan to restore all things through Christ.
To learn more and give, visit biblesociety.org.au/ sow.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
PRAY WITH US
As we reflect on the vital work being done to distribute Bibles and provide literacy and trauma healing support in various African nations, lets pray together for those being impacted by the mission work of Bible Society and its mission partners (World Hope Ministries, Mission Educate, African Evangelistic Enterprise Rwanda and African Enterprise Malawi).
Kenya – Bibles for Young Students
Pray for the successful distribution of Bibles in Kenyan public schools, where 98% of primary schools currently lack access to God’s word. Ask God to bless the efforts of Bible Society staff to ensure that every student has the opportunity to engage with the Bible through their Christian Religious Education. Pray that these Bibles will inspire and transform the hearts of young people across the nation.
South Africa – Hope for Prisoners
Lift up the prisoners in South Africa who are participating in Bible discipleship courses. Pray that as they receive Bibles through this project, they will experience the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ. Pray that these Bibles will be tools of healing and hope, aiding in their rehabilitation and transformation, and leading them to new lives rooted in faith.
Moambique & Uganda – Literacy for Life Skills
Pray for the Bible-based literacy projects in Mozambique and Uganda that empower nonliterate adults and vulnerable youth with essential life skills and literacy, including the ability to read the Bible. Pray for the continued expansion of these projects into more provinces, and that they would profoundly impact the lives of participants by equipping them both practically and spiritually.
South Sudan & Rwanda – Literacy for Healing and Progress
Pray for the literacy programs in South Sudan and Rwanda, where communities deeply affected by war and poverty are being given the opportunity to read and learn the Bible. Pray that these projects will promote peace, social progress, and spiritual growth, breaking cycles of poverty and bringing hope to families through the knowledge of Scripture.
Kenya, Malawi & Rwanda – Healing from Trauma and Empowering the Church
Pray for the trauma healing program in Kenya, where adolescents are supported through Scripture-based counselling. Ask God to bless the peer counsellors and teachers as they work with teens facing emotional and psychological wounds. Also, thank God for the Jesus. All About Life campaigns in Rwanda and Malawi. Pray that these outreach initiatives would equip and empower Christians to share the gospel effectively, deepen their faith and strengthen the church.
This season of giving, you can share God’s word to people in Africa, inspiring hope and revitalising lives!
With regions in Africa facing low literacy rates, cycles of poverty and gender inequality, your generosity will help bridge the gap and provide them with the tools they need to thrive in life and engage with God’s word.
Your generous support will help people in Mozambique learn literacy to improve their livelihoods, teenagers in Kenya experiencing trauma receive spiritual support, and prisoners in South Africa receive Scriptures to engage with God's word.
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
With your generous support of Bible Society’s mission work to help Open The Bible to all people, we are meeting the needs of Christians and seekers who long for a copy of God’s word. In the 2024 financial year, Bibles and Scripture portions have been distributed to many hindered by poverty and displacement.
Read our full Annual Impact Report 2023-24 on biblesociety.org.au/impact.
Nicaragua
has 300 new cases of childhood cancer per year, and 30% living under the poverty line.
86,377
Scriptures
Kenya
has only 2% of schools with Bibles for students studying Christianity.
21,783
Scriptures
Ukraine
93,414 has 3.7 million people displaced within the country.
Scriptures
South Africa
4,900 has 164,000+ prisoners, most who have never owned a Bible.
Bibles for Prisoners
Israel
5,743 has close to 90,000 people internally displaced.
Sciptures
Jordan
10,245 has 760,000 refugees.
Scriptures
China
34,768 has 46 million (unofficially, 100 million) Christians, most who live in poverty.
Bibles
Papua New Guinea
500 has 750 million living in the isolated Keram area, with strong churches, but few Bibles.
MegaVoice audio Bibles
PITJANTJATJARA AND NOONGAR BIBLE TRANSLATION: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
In 2024, Bible Society Australia's coordination of two key Indigenous Bible translation projects continue to achieve key milestones on the path to completing the first full Bible in an Australian Indigenous language (Pitjantjatjara) and producing further translation from both the Old and New Testaments (Noongar).
In the Pitjantjatjara Old Testament Project, work is ongoing with the first and second drafts of 1 Kings, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Nahum. Additionally, 2 Samuel, Proverbs, Obadiah, and several more Psalms are undergoing final checks before moving to consultant review.
For the Noongar Bible Translation Project, over two-thirds of the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 1–21) has been drafted. The Noongar Translation team (pictured above) has also successfully drafted and checked Psalm 23, the Creation account in Genesis 1:1–2:7, and drafted several key passages from John’s Gospel, including:
• Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (John 6:1–15)
• Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:16–20)
• The Good Shepherd (John 10:1–14)
“There has been a lot of dictionary exploring in our sessions recently as we come across words not found in everyday Noongar. Everyone seems to love this as it means rediscovering old words from the language and bringing them back into use,” shares Dr Amy Cruickshanks, Noongar Translation Consultant.
To learn more, visit biblesociety.org.au/blog
UKRAINE: LIFE AND HOPE AMIDST TEARS AND PAIN
“It is hard, at times very hard. But we thank God for life, for every day, and every moment. We thank you for your support, for standing with us in this difficult battle.”
In war-torn Ukraine, Bible Society continues its ministry, spreading the word of God. In early September, they reported, “There are so many tears and so much pain among us,” as attacks affect all regions, resulting in many lives lost.
Conflict driven displacement continues, with thousands of people forced to leave their homes. Bible Society staff share, “People are brought to the west of Ukraine every day — people who are scared, who have lost their homes, who don’t see any future for themselves.”
Amidst the suffering, the distribution of Scriptures is greater than ever as people search for light and hope. In the first six months of this year, 50,993 Scriptures were distributed, including:
• 10,571 full Bibles,
• 30,959 New Testaments, and
• 9,463 children's Bibles.
“We are working under very difficult circumstances ... doing everything possible to meet the huge demand for Bibles.”
To learn more, visit biblesociety.org.au/blog
CHRISTMAS CAROLS BRING
HOPE IN A HOPELESS TIME. NO MATTER, WE’LL KEEP SINGING – WITH TISSUES HANDY
Justine Toh, The Guardian Australia 21 December, 2024
I tell myself I’m not a crier, but Christmas carols always prove me wrong.
I’m old school. By “carols”, I don’t mean the jolly background tunes to your Christmas shop, still less the shiny, happy singalong that is Carols in the Domain. It sounds bah humbug but I’m a purist who’s stingy with my limited tears. Those songs won’t make me weep. Trad carols, however, will.
Carols have a subtle way of diagnosing the human condition. Maybe they’re also clued into its cure?
One carol reliably gets me going: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, covered by everyone from Mariah Carey to Elvis to Nat King Cole, though one version by Sarah McLachlan is especially beautiful. Its quiet dreaminess never fails to put me in a melancholic mood.
Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-12. Newly arrived members of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), preparing their base camp for the Christmas season.
For it’s all too easy to sentimentalise Jesus’ birth – which this carol might be guilty of too. We prefer sweet nativity scenes of the baby Jesus and the animals in the manger, not so much the subsequent massacre of infant boys ordered by King Herod, according to the biblical account, so Jesus won’t challenge his rule. What the carol calls the “everlasting light” of Jesus enters a grim picture of human darkness.
Yet this is where the carol gets to me most, through the line: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”. You don’t need to be a believer for talk of mingled hopes and fears to hit you in the gut. The older I get, the more both sprout and grow more conspicuous, like the white strands I keep finding in my dark hair. That can’t just be me. When I sing that line, I feel the tremulousness of my hopes and how easily they could succumb to my fears that are – no exaggeration – legion. I dare anyone on the same daily diet of bad news stories to feel differently.
But I don’t sing alone. Raising my voice along with others at church somehow redirects the gloom, even redeems it a little. I may feel the ache of my own vulnerability but when I hear others sing along with me, I know that it is shared. At church, we feel our fragile hopes, together.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” presses me – us – to imagine that despite appearances, there is infinitely more going on than it seems. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. The “thee” refers to Bethlehem. The idea is that this smallish and unimportant place is nevertheless a scene of staggeringly cosmic significance because it is where God draws near.
Though a helpless baby, Jesus is supposed to be God who is with us. It’s a wild claim: that all of history hinges on this point, even in our increasingly “unhinged” world, according to UN secretary-general António Guterres. And no one saw it coming.
Looking around at others at my church, we remind each other that the darkness, however dark, can’t put out the light. There is always a God-given possibility that, behind an apparently hopeless situation, the march of unseen and unexpected goodness in the world goes on.
For those who believe this, all that remains is for them to do what they can, in big and small ways, to lighten people’s loads. You don’t have to be religious to do that, but what the believers bring is the hope that God is doing his bit too. Such gestures feel embarrassingly small, dwarfed by the need that’s out there. Then again, so does sending a baby to do God’s work.
Poet Emily Dickinson calls hope “the thing with feathers that perches in the soul”. “Perches” feels exactly right – because hope is so often uncertain, and things could go either way. The future of faith in this country similarly seems to hang in the balance, as pews feel emptier than they once did.
No matter. We’ll keep singing – with tissues handy. Things have seemed worse before.
Justine Toh is senior research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity.
Faith Stories
Abi's Story
The other side of the weaving
'We arrived back in Australia in winter, without warm clothes.'
“Both my parents became Christians as adults, and they loved Asian culture. They had a heart to serve God in Asia, so they lived in Singapore for a few years and then Macau. That’s where I was born but we came back to Australia when I was two. Then we moved to New Zealand for six years. There were eight of us kids, by then, and mum was home schooling all of us.
When I was 11, we moved to Vanuatu. Dad could do things with his hands, so we went to help build a base for a mission organisation. Later, he helped build a road to the Bible college. We were all living in a little house in the bush, and we were part of the local church. My siblings and I would help run the Bible club at the local school. The health situation was quite bad and there was only
one nurse at the clinic. I was only 12, but I was interested in it. I started to help the nurse and I ended up running a little wound clinic at the Bible club. Lots of kids were walking around with tropical ulcers and they’d get infected. I’d always loved babies. We also learnt the local language Bislama. I think it was stressful for mum and dad, but it was a pretty cool time for us.
But then, when I was 14, we moved back to Australia with only three weeks’ notice. It was really traumatic. I felt uprooted and had really bad culture shock. We were living with our grandparents, and it was winter. We had no warm clothes and dad didn’t have a job. But during that time, we learnt to pretend everything was okay. I think I’ve been doing that ever since. I’ve spent
years learning to conform to the new culture and slot in. I’ve always been the good girl… doing the things other people expect of me and learning to look the part.
But you can’t do that forever. I started studying nursing and I moved out of home. I went to a new church, and it was like a breath of fresh air. There was so much compassion. At previous churches, it had felt like people were pretending, or they were fierce about judgement. But at the new church, everybody talked about how good God was… how much he loved us. They weren’t pretending or trying to be perfect. They were real. The pastor would get up and cry as he spoke about Jesus. He was such a soft man.
It really changed me. Before that I’d felt fearful. We always heard about sin and repentance, and I’d worry I wasn’t saved, even though I’d prayed the sinners’ prayer. But hearing the assurance of God’s love was transformative. Jesus died for us! I had to unravel a lot of things. I finished nursing, studied postgrad and moved to a rural area where there was a lot of need. It’s been hard, but it’s been the best couple of years –growing and stretching me in my faith. I’m part of a great church.
Looking back, God has been there, in every move and the messiness. None of this is outside his control. He is always bringing good… and
one day he will put everything right, all the brokenness of the world. It’s the only thing that helps me. I always think of the image of the little girl on the underside of the weaving. All she can see is messy threads. But the weaving on the other side is beautiful, full of gold threads… so, I trust that God is at work, in the middle of it, all the questioning and the wrestling.
My favourite Bible verse is from Romans 8:28, ‘And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ That’s what I hold on to.”
To read more Faith Stories compiled by Naomi Reed, visit facebook.com/faithstories.naomireed.
We are reading the Bible with Australian Christian author, Naomi Reed. Naomi has had the joy of asking hundreds of people about their faith journeys and their favourite Bible verses as she writes Faith Stories for Bible Society Australia. Her latest book, Every Moment, Everywhere – Australian faith stories to fill up your soul is now available at Koorong.
Day 1
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
It seems holy and wonderful to me that God meets us in our need, and our weariness. He understands what we’re going through. In Jesus’ life and ministry he carried our pain and burdens, on the cross. Because of that, he is able to comfort us and shape us, daily, through his Spirit and his word. I love the reminder that God is a God of all comfort. The words imply that we need it. Wherever we live we experience deep discomfort. But God is a God of comfort … and we experience it most profoundly when we ache. As God comforts us, we are gently equipped to comfort others.
Though challenges remain, the parable reminds me that I plant, God cultivates.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for your comfort, today. Help me to rely on your presence, your word, your promises. And help me to be someone who comforts others with the comfort I have received from you.
Day 2
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
We have a friend, by the name of Phil, who is a talented musician. Recently, though, he told me about being diagnosed with prostate cancer. At first, the cancer was small, and the doctors weren’t worried. But later, they discovered two more spots on his ribs, and he was suddenly looking at terminal cancer. Within three days, Phil was on the table, having surgery. He said that as he lay there, he was filled with terror. But then, in the terror, Psalm 23 came to his mind, and he began to recite verse 4 repeatedly. Slowly the fear and terror began to leave. He knew that God was with him in the room, and it was God’s call if he lived or died. Two months later, the cancer had been removed. But more than that, Phil says that he’s changed. Now, when he wakes up, he says thank you to God, for another day to live. He never did that before.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you that you are also with me, even in terror and shaking. Thank you that you never leave me. Please show me again to respond to you, on this new day — another day to live.
Day 3
Lamentations 3:21-24 (NIV)
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’S great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’
One of my friends, Lisa, teaches me regularly about patience within struggles. She is in her late 50s and she (and her husband) are still caring for their adult son who is significantly disabled. Lisa admits that she can often feel sorry for herself or compare herself with others. But she forces herself to remember God’s character and to immerse herself in the Scriptures. Lisa reminds me, often, that the way God chose to save the world was through death, before glory and resurrection. Indeed, Romans 8:18 reminds us that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. We are co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings. But in everything, we can rely on God’s character and faithfulness.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for this reminder. Please help me to remember your character and your faithfulness, in my groaning. Please help me to notice your compassions, new every morning, and to look to you in everything.
Day 4
Matthew 6:25b (NIV)
... do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?
I met Alex through mutual friends. He’s a friendly young man, outwardly confident and relaxed. As a teenager, he was often crippled with anxiety over exams. Then after his HSC exams, his parents separated, which made life harder. And then he read Matthew 6:25 which really stirred his heart. Alex deeply resonated with those words. He began to come to Jesus with his fears and worries … and then he saw the heart of the message. Jesus told the crowds to ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’ (verse 33). Alex said that always before that, he'd seen peace as his goal, but in that moment, he realised that seeking Jesus was the goal. It changed everything for him, as he slowly experienced the wonder of being in a relationship with Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the truth that I can seek after you, today. I confess that peace or happiness has too often been my goal. Please change my heart today.
Cultivate a Life of Faith
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Opening The Bible to the Pitjantjatjara Community.
Introducing Godaku Tjukurpa (God’s Story), a Pitjantjatjara community-led project, published with the support of Bible Society Australia.
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Australian author Naomi Reed:
“Every story is unique in the way God reveals himself”
Now available at Koorong
How did the Faith Stories series come about?
I began writing Faith Stories for Eternity News at a time when I was feeling quite empty. I’d been giving out a lot in Nepal as a missionary, in Australian churches, in books, and I was really tired. I felt like I had no words left. But I still really loved people and Jesus and stories. So I began interviewing and writing, and lots of people were keen to share their stories of coming to faith.
Why did you write this book?
I think when we’re depleted, we need other people. We need their stories and thoughts. We need them to tell us the gospel again. I’ve seen so much diversity, but also commonalities in all these stories. I wrote this book to encourage people with these beautiful new faith stories, and to reflect on the themes that I’ve seen across them.
What has impacted you as you’ve reflected on these stories?
I’ve written over 300 stories, and every single one is unique in the way God reveals himself. In every single story, however, there was a friend, a respected acquaintance, a family member, someone who loved them, prayed for them, invited them to church. That is encouraging.
How do you hope readers will take away from this book?
Writing the book has changed me. It’s changed my prayer life. It’s changed the way I expect God to work, which is exactly what I needed. It just filled me up again. I’m praying that others will experience this as they read the book.
