“My dream was to hold a Bible and read it. It was just a dream, but because of this program, it became true!”

Entering the small town in Southern Egypt felt like traveling back in time. Teenage boys in ragged clothes steered donkey carts across dusty, unpaved roads. Motorized traffic seemed to be a rarity. The occasional cars parked at the roadside were dirty, covered with a thick layer of dust, most probably broken.

The town lies on the narrow stretch of cultivable land between the west bank of the Nile and the vast emptiness of the Western Desert. Sometimes, donkeys trudged into town, coming from the farming fields. Their owners, men in light blue djellabas (hooded cloaks with wide sleeves) and turbans on their heads, would sit high atop massive bundles of green harvest, stacked on the back of their beasts of burden.

From the doorsteps of the dull, grey-brown homes, veiled ladies stared at our vehicle. The state of decay of some of the houses and shops was so deplorable that it looked like a war had raged over them.

Colorful Headscarves

The local Presbyterian Church blended unassumingly into the bleak facades of a row of buildings facing a narrow canal with heavily littered banks. At roughly 54 degrees, it was extremely chilly for the local population, used to the intense heat of the long summers of Upper Egypt, when temperatures can reach highs of 122. Therefore, the ladies I met inside the unheated church were all bundled up in warm wrappings.

Their appearance was traditional: colorful headscarves and long, wide gowns. They sat on old wooden church benches on three sides of a large, square table and were praying when I entered.

These ladies were members of a group that started as a Bible-based Literacy class and continued as a discipleship group under the leadership of Nahed, a lady of around 40. She was the only one without a headscarf and wearing pants.

Subordinate Position

Having enjoyed the benefits of education herself, Nahed took pity on these women who never learned to read and write. The position of women in Southern Egypt’s traditional culture is subordinate to men. A woman needs to know the skills of cooking, cleaning, and looking after her children. More schooling is deemed superfluous by their fathers and husbands.

Besides, most families simply can’t afford to send their children to school, and if there is some money, the boys go first. As a result, thousands of adult ladies in Egypt’s rural areas can’t write their own names. In the past two years, Nahed has taken the ladies in her group through the literacy curriculum, which teaches reading and writing skills using Bible-based text.

“We have finished all the booklets, so today, we won’t discuss any new lessons,” Nahed announced. “We are coming together to enjoy the fellowship with each other and with you, our guests.”

The women looked at me with joyful expectation. Not often do they have visitors from outside their province, let alone from Europe. Encouraged by Nahed, they shared about what had stood out to them in their group.

Forgiveness

The lady seated opposite me was the first to respond. Cozily tucked in her warm wrappings, a green scarf loosely wrapped around her soft-featured face, she introduced herself:

“My name is Reda, and I am 55 years old. I have attended the class since the Bible-based Literacy program started here. In the fifth lesson, we learned about love,” Reda recalled. “I learned how Jesus was crucified because He loved me, and that’s why I must love others, too. Even if I have conflicts with others, I must love them.”

Reda said she used to be an angry person who couldn’t forgive. While going through the program, she felt her character changing.

“Through the Bible study, I understood that the basis of forgiveness is love,” she continued. “When I learned how Jesus asked for forgiveness for the soldiers who crucified Him, I realized that I should go and ask forgiveness rather than seek conflict with anyone. Jesus forgave me!” she cried out, still amazed by that discovery.

Reda’s eyes started beaming even brighter when she added, “We also memorize verses. I participated in a memory competition in church and won the first prize with 23 Scripture verses! My most beloved Bible verse is Matthew 18:22, where Jesus said, ‘I do not say to you, (forgive) up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’”

A Gentle Grandmother

This time, the lady seated at my right hand responded. Her name was Nabila. At 70, she was the oldest in the group, and she had the attitude of a grandmother gently overseeing her offspring. Her jewelry—large, golden, half-moon-shaped earrings, a golden beaded necklace, and golden bracelets and rings at both wrists and hands—granted her a touch of dignity, but her gracious smile most adorned her.

“Our teacher, Nahed, has taught us to love each other and to care for each other,” Nabila pointed out. “Every time we gather, we pray for each other’s needs. I feel totally at ease here.”

Nabila went through a series of three stomach surgeries in the past two years. One time, she spent five days in the ICU, and the doctors were concerned she wouldn’t make it.

“Our group kept praying for me to come back,” the elderly lady said, “and God answered their prayers. I am here now!” The others passionately murmured their agreement. Then, without being prompted, Nabila continued, “I remember many Bible verses we learned here, especially Psalm 23!”

The Lord is my Shepherd

She started reciting the Psalm, and one by one, the other ladies chimed in and finished it in one voice. As they chanted those beautiful words,“The Lord is my Shepherd,” I felt a warmth dispelling the chill in the room. Despite their hardships in life, they acknowledged, “I shall not want, (…) my cup runs over.” What a precious moment!

Life in Southern Egypt can hardly be typified as roaming green pastures. Unemployment urges the men to seek jobs elsewhere, either in the country’s larger cities or abroad, and many women run their families on their own.

All the group members grew up in traditional Christian families. That doesn’t imply a personal relationship with the Lord, though. Going to church often is a mere custom, especially—but not only—when they belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church. At church, they hear the Gospel being read in an ancient version of Arabic they hardly understand. Bibles are few, and Bible study materials are absent. They wouldn’t be able to read these, anyway.

Another lady, Nadia was her name, provided more insight into that. “I was a nominal Christian,” she said. “I didn’t take faith seriously. However, as I learned more about Jesus in this class, I felt my relationship with God deepened. We pray in the group, but now, I also pray at home, which I didn’t do before.”

Dream

I could easily continue this story, quoting all the ladies and their favorite verses. Or I could tell you about how they read verses from the Bible, something they were not able to do just two years ago. The intense, almost childlike joy they showed was priceless. I could tell you how much God’s Word has impacted these dear women. But I’d rather have them tell you themselves.

Listen to what 70-year-old Nabila said about the role God’s Word had taken in her life:
“My dream was to hold a Bible and read it,” she said with her typical radiant smile. “It was just a dream, but because of this program, it became true! My grandchildren, who live in my home, sometimes participate in Bible contests at church. I can read now, so I search with them for the answers in the Bible!”

Your Support Brings the Light of the Gospel

Indeed, the light of the Gospel of Christ is brightening up the troubled lives of many of El Menya’s women. They want you to know how grateful they are:
“We pray to God to extend this program so that it will reach more people in our area,” they said. “We were illiterate, and we didn’t know anything. But now, we have learned so many impactful things about God.”

The final word came from Hanan, the youngest lady in the group. She didn’t know her exact age because her official documents apparently contradicted each other. After some discussion, the group concluded that Hanan must be 35. She quoted from the Bible book of Genesis 12:2:

“I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.”

and with that prayer for the entire Bible League family, I close my account.

Your support helps Hermine proclaim the beauty of God’s creation

Today, you’ll often see Hermine with a paintbrush in one hand and a Bible in the other. From a young age, she loved all art, from sculpting to painting. This deep passion for the arts ultimately led the 35-year-old mother of two to the feet of Jesus.

Hermine grew up in a Christian family in post-Soviet Armenia. But her heart was far from Jesus for a long time. She says, “For many years, I was far from God.”

Her passion for art led her to study ceramics and sculpture. Her final college art project—a sculpture on the theme of loneliness—changed the trajectory of her life. Hermine recalls:

“When I began to research that topic, God touched my heart. I started realizing that human beings are forsaken by themselves but not by God. It seemed God opened my eyes to see how unhappy humans are without their Creator. I realized that only God Himself can fill the loneliness. God, the Creator, is the unique Painter—the great Artist.”

Blending paint and God’s Word

This realization sparked a hunger for God’s Word. Over time, Hermine’s faith deepened, and she began seeking ways to use her gifts to serve Him.

“God Himself gave me my talents, and He wants me to be a tool in His hands.” Her desire to share the Gospel became a reality after her husband attended Bible League’s Church Planter Training. Inspired by his experience, Hermine decided to join the training herself. She is already blending her gift of painting with her desire to share God’s Word in her town of Masis. Every week, she leads a painting group for kids at the couple’s church.

The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power.
Psalm 19:1-2 ERV

Reaching the next generation

Children come to paint, but they leave with so much more. During the class, Hermine satisfies the children’s hunger for hope by guiding them to the Creator through engaging Bible studies from Bible League.

She says, “The children’s materials are perfect tools for the new generation to grow in Christ.” Many invite their non-believing friends. Their parents have also become curious. When the children complete their Bible study lessons, they receive their own Bible.

Growing hunger

She beams, “I am very thankful to all donors. From deep down in my heart, I thank all Bible League’s supporters for praying for the ministry here in Armenia. Bible League greatly helps our local people with its useful teachings and literature.”

But the hunger doesn’t stop there. Refugees from the conflict in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are arriving in Masis, creating new opportunities to share Christ’s hope. She notes, “People are hungry for God. In this time of difficulties and war tension, the Word of God is the only hope, light, and trust.” Hermine dreams of reaching these children and their families, offering art lessons and the Word of God. She knows the great Artist is still at work, using the paintbrush in her hand to bring more people into His masterpiece.

Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.” John 6:35 ERV

Feeding even more souls

The materials and training provided by friends like you are essential for satisfying the hunger for hope in Masis. Hermine explains, “I think it is vital to have spiritual tools like the Bible League training, which will help me to succeed in my future ministries. I want to develop more special painting groups and reach as many children and teenagers as possible. I am sure that the Lord will guide and help me.”

In 2025, nearly 4,000 kids and teens have been reached with the Gospel in Armenia through Bible studies like Hermine’s. Please pray with Hermine that the Bread of Life will satisfy the hungry souls in Armenia and around the globe.

She asks, “Pray to the Lord to open and touch their hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring them all to Christ. Pray for the Lord to use me as a tool to reach many children and teens through painting.”

“I guess I am in my twenties,” Mariam says when she’s asked about her age.

Like many people in Upper (southern) Egypt, she doesn’t know her date of birth.

All she knows is she’s been married for eight years. Mariam never attended school because her family denied the education of girls.

“I joined a literacy class once but couldn’t complete it,” Mariam recalls. “As the eldest sister, I had to care for my siblings.”

Mariam has two children. When her daughter went to school and needed assistance with her homework, Mariam couldn’t help.

“It made me feel inferior,” Mariam remembers. “I tried to request help from my husband’s family, but they only mocked me.”

Mariam lives with her in-laws in one house. Even though it’s a traditional Christian environment, the social status of women is deplorable.

“Because of my upbringing, I knew about Jesus,” she says. “One day, I turned to Him in despair. Crying like a child, I asked Him, ‘Please send me someone to teach me how to read and write.’”

While bringing her daughter to school the next day, someone informed Mariam about a literacy class that would start at the church.

Mariam rushed to see the teacher, who allowed her to join the class.

“I promised her I would study well and commit to attending every class,” Mariam says. “After every lesson, I went through what I had learned with my daughter, and she helped me as a friend.”

Mariam’s father-in-law still makes fun of her, but her husband is supportive.

“He encourages me to keep going and improve myself,” she notes.

“I simply ignore my father-in-law. One of my relatives came with me and joined the class, so we encouraged one another to continue.”

Mariam has already learned to read and write letters and even some words.

“My husband said he could see me improving. Now I am so confident in myself,” Mariam beams.

“I have found a new family in the teacher and my classmates that I’m proud to be part of. We always pray for each other as one family.”

Mariam expresses her gratitude to Bible League International. “You searched for me!” she exclaims. “I was like a blind person, but now I can see. It’s a miracle. Thank you for the biblical content in all the lessons; they are like private messages from God to me.”

Bangi is a 58-year-old church worker. She earns a living by planting palm and vegetable oils in a remote area of Bintulu, a coastal town on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. She has three children.

Similar to the indigenous people of Bintulu, Bangi was raised as an Animist and had superstitious beliefs that impeded her advancement in her day-to-day activities. If she saw a black cat or a snake on her way to work at the farm, she knew she should not go because superstitious people believe that it will bring her bad luck.

One day, a local pastor and Bible League trained Bible study leader visited her community to share God’s Word. Before that time, Bangi had never heard about Jesus or His teachings. However, after she and her husband listened to the Word of God through Bible study, she became fascinated by His love and the miracles He performed.

After their experience with Jesus, Ulok, Bangi’s spouse, fell ill. He would frequently pass out without warning. Local doctors could not explain the illness. Bangi and Ulok sought advice from a shaman, a local tribal healer. The shaman attempted to cast a spell on her spouse, but it was unsuccessful. The shaman blamed the Christians who visited.

Bangi rememberd the Bible study where she learned that Jesus is a healer and that He can work miracles. She prayed, and the Lord fully healed her husband after she asked the pastor to pray for him. In awe of the miracle, Bangi and Ulok received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. “From this day onwards, me and my husband will serve the Lord,” Bangi declared.

Bangi was one of the recipients of the first batch of Bibles distributed in the community. She was so thirsty for God’s Word, and she reads it day and night. She would love to learn more and share the Word with others. “If I know how to teach the Bible, I will teach it to my community,” she says. Bangi is excited for their pastor’s Bible study training using Bible League’s small group Bible study program, which will take place in their church soon.

According to Bangi, reading the Bible is necessary for Christians to grow in their faith. She hopes that one day, every member of the community will own a Bible that they can read every day.In their town, their pastor has started a Bible-based Literacy program and Bangi enjoyed learning the English language. When asked, she remarked in jest, “Next time you interview me, I will never need a translator anymore.”

It’s incredible to witness how the Bible can transform lives and lead people to the tender embrace of Jesus. Bangi is now released from her old belief preventing her from moving forward in life. Jesus truly sets her free.

Paul’s job sounds exciting and adventurous. As a security officer at the Kenya Wildlife Service, he protects rangers who preserve wildlife in its natural habitat. Behind the thrill hides a great deal of sorrow, though. “We spend at least ten months a year away from home,” Paul explains. “The rangers face challenges like depression and wounded marriages.”

Paul hails from a Christian family but converted to Islam as a college student due to peer pressure. Yet, as he couldn’t speak or read Arabic, he struggled to pray and read the Koran. “This was very limiting, and I read the Bible more often,” Paul recalls. “Through my mother’s relentless prayers, I returned to Christianity.”

Paul sensed God’s calling to become a pastor and joined a Bible School. He also went through Bible League’s training for small group Bible study leaders in his church. “Now, I minister to the rangers, their families, and the nearby community,” he says. “I guide them in God’s Word as Philip did to the Ethiopian Eunuch. I will also encourage the believers in their walk with Christ.”

His co-workers in the wildlife camp include members from the Samburu and Turkana communities. They worship the gods of the mountains and offer them sacrifices. The Word of God is something foreign to these people. “Upon sharing the Gospel, some are open to receiving and allowing the Holy Spirit to help them understand,” Paul shares. “During the Bible studies, I have seen God reveal Himself to them through His Word, and they are embracing the Good News of the Gospel.”

The message of Christ also comforts those who struggle with depression in the rangers’ camps. “As they learn to understand the immeasurable love of God, they regain hope and confidence,” Paul adds. “They learn to encourage one another and pray through painful situations.”

Not all of them accept the Good News, though. Yet, Paul will continue ministering to them using the Bible studies. “I desire to see all the rangers within my camp actively reading their Bibles and living lives influenced by God’s Word,” he concludes.

As a homemaker and a mother of three, Pushpa’s early life was deeply marked by poverty and a lack of formal education. “Due to my family’s financial instability and indifference towards education, I missed out completely on schooling,” she recalls.

Pushpa’s life took a significant turn when she met Shima, who introduced her to a Bible-based Literacy program. Despite her initial reservations about joining a class at her age, her heartfelt conversation with her husband encouraged her to embrace learning. “I went to the group and saw many other women like me who had come to study. I enjoyed getting to know them on the first day, talking to each other, ” Pushpa vividly remembers.

“Being able to study gives me a lot of joy,” Pushpa shares.

The joy of learning, a distant dream in her childhood, was now a living reality.

“Now I understand how important study is,” she states. Within weeks, Pushpa made remarkable progress. From being unable to write her name or read anything, she now delights in her newfound ability to read and write, attributing her success to Shima’s guidance and support.

The program also introduced her to the Gospel. “I learned about Jesus Christ. I realized that no sacrifice is needed to satisfy Him, but rather that He Himself was sacrificed for the atonement of our sins,” she reflects. This newfound understanding of faith sparked a curiosity and a desire to learn more about Jesus through the program.

Pushpa’s journey has not been without its challenges. In her predominantly Hindu village, embracing a new faith is a delicate matter. “Discussing my love for Jesus Christ within my family, in our community, is a big challenge,” she admits. Yet, her hope remains undiminished, fueled by her desire to share her newfound beliefs with her family and community.

The turning point in her spiritual journey was a specific verse from the Bible, John 3:16, which resonated deeply with her. “The Bible teaches that God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, so we may have eternal life. And that includes me when I accept Him in my personal life,” she explains.

As Pushpa concludes her story, she expresses a heartfelt prayer request:”Pray that I may share the Gospel publicly and that all my family becomes believers in Jesus Christ.”