Getting electronic Bibles into closed areas is one of the main activities of the IT specialists who partner with Back to Jerusalem. But this is not a streamlined process, where an X number of Bibles are produced per month.
When there is a request for Bibles from the field, a decision is made about which Bible device is most appropriate, and depending on how many are needed, these are either handmade or mass produced. Often, they are needed yesterday, so there can be quite a bit of time pressure.
This way of working means that it is very hard to predict when extra help is needed and what skills are demanded, but we notice that God brings the tech bros, and sisters, whenever there is a need. They offer what time and skills they have, like a young boy once offered his loaves and fish to Jesus and trust Him to use it to do something wonderful with.
There is one language that we do not have available, and which is very hard to program onto a Bible device, but several fieldworkers asked us to make electronic Bibles available in this language. The person with the technical skills did not have the time to dedicate several months to full-time programming. He needed someone to help.
Out of nowhere he was introduced to a brilliant programmer, with a heart for the underground church who was looking for a project. He was willing to give it a try and has already volunteered over a thousand hours of programming.
From a business perspective, none of this makes sense, because it is possible we will never be able to bring more than a few dozen Bibles to this language group. If his work hours were paid, these Bibles would cost over a thousand dollars each. But if these Bibles can help the very small and persecuted Christian minority in this language group to stand strong in the Lord, and help them to spread the good news, it will be more than worth it. We ask you to pray for all involved, that this project will succeed!
Last summer there was a ‘Bible boot camp’ where several people with technical skills helped to prepare Bible devices which were urgently needed in a closed area. This spring there is a mini version, because a shipment of PCB boards came in which need to be made ready for use. Two tech sisters volunteered their time working in our pop-up sweatshop.
This kind of help is invaluable, and we feel so thankful for all the technical brothers and sisters who volunteer around the world, rolling up their sleeves and using the brainpower God gave them, to serve the underground church and the work of mission.
