International (MNN) ― In today's marketplace, it is a huge challenge to stay positive with non-profit funding dropping and shipping costs rapidly increasing. Many ministries have had difficulty keeping up with the demand for their help.
Bible Pathway Ministries is no exception. Bible Pathway's Karen Hawkins says the contracting economy is making Scripture distribution more difficult. Shipping costs forced a re-think on how they were shipping the heavy materials overseas.
What could have grown into a crisis instead helped their ministry to work harder and smarter. "There are ministries that regularly send containers overseas, or have mission teams that are going overseas," says Hawkins. "We supply the Bibles and Bible Pathways for them either to carry in their suitcases or put in their containers, because, like most ministries, we found that the increased shipping has really made it difficult."
Harnessing like-minded groups together makes the work a little easier on everyone. Hawkins says such partnering increases the number of lives touched by the Gospel. "We encourage any other ministry, 'Please contact us.' We will provide Bibles and Bible Pathways to the best of our ability." Statistics indicate that for every Bible distributed, dozens more are reached.
For example, several U.S.-based ministries contacted Bible Pathway to ask for their help. One group from Tennessee, was working with the homeless veterans. They were putting together hygiene kits that also included clothing and job assistance. But they also needed a spiritual component. A call to Bible Pathway yielded 500 Bibles and Bible Pathways to be added to the package.
Almost on the heels of that call, Hawkins adds, another request came from a ministry working with the poor in Indiana. The group was desperate for Bibles to give to the people they were helping, but they could not afford to buy them. Bible Pathway came through again.
Even as they're cooperating with other groups, Bible Pathway needs financial support to keep this kind of work moving forward. They can provide a Bible Pathway for $10. Donors so far have kept the ministry afloat, but Hawkins urges people to consider cutting one or two small luxuries, like a soda pop, or a latte, and use the money to support the ministry.
A final thought about working together: "We are single cells in the body of Christ, and as single cells, we can't do a whole lot. But if we work together, we can get the job done. We are called to bring in this final harvest, and we really need to work together."
