USA (MNN) ― One of the most widely-distributed Bibles published by International Bible Society-Send The Light is designed for a captive audience.
Rich Blanco, IBS-STL's Vice President of Outreach, says the economic crises gripping the U.S. cost them one of their discipleship programs. However, the need for something to replace it was clear. IBS receives over 400 letters a week from inmates around the U.S.
Rather than leave a population without access to Scripture, they changed their ministry approach to prison ministries. Blanco says it made sense to capitalize on the discipleship networking already in place. "It's more effective for Scripture to be handed to an inmate directly from a chaplain where there's a personal contact. "
Resources cost money, which is what forced the change in the first place. Blanco said it was time to work smarter, not harder. "We're developing new channels with key organizations like Prison Fellowship. We also have a partner in our own community called 'Library of Hope' that sends Christian materials and Bibles directly to prison chaplains to give them a resource library."
A keystone piece of the program is the Free on the Inside Bible. Developed in the 1990s in conjunction with Prison Fellowship, these paperback Bibles and New Testaments are powerful tools for prison ministry. IBS-STL hopes to distribute 25,000 copies in the next 12 months through these partnerships.
The Free on the Inside edition has easily become the most widely-distributed Bible for a specific audience. Over the years, IBS-STL has given away nearly four million copies to people who are looking for answers to the hard questions of life, sin and forgiveness.
Blanco says, "It has over 70-pages of helps material, and a lot of testimonials by inmates or former inmates who have had an authentic relationship with the Lord. It's a source of encouragement for current inmates. It also has some Bible study material and some helps for people who are new to reading the Word of God."
For details on this version, or to help provide Bibles for inmates, click here.
