Clever idea opens door for story-telling outreach in East Asia

By November 27, 2013

East Asia (IMB) — Christian worker
Ben Lim*
smiles and fans out a deck of 52 playing cards, as he invites a random
person in the audience to "pick a card … pick any card."

This unique deck depicts Old Testament Scripture. Another deck in his pocket
has 52 stories from the New Testament. Together, the two decks of cards are a
pocket-size pictorial Bible, covering everything from creation to Christ. The
uniqueness isn't simply because this wordless Bible is found on a combo-pack of
playing cards, but by the fact that Ben's teenage daughters, Jasmine* and
Jamie* (plus one of their friends) drew the pictures.

"I can't begin to describe what it is like to use an evangelism tool
developed by your own kids. It's like 'WOW man!' It's beyond our imagination
because only God can do this," the church planter from Oklahoma says. "All over
the world, people are using these cards as part of evangelism and discipleship
training."

Jamie explains that most of the people her family works with cannot read or
do not like to read. In rural East Asia, word of mouth and pictures are really
the most common forms of communicating. Carrying the Bible stories on decks of
cards also draws interest and allows the stories to reach places where Bibles
aren't allowed.

Churches and individuals can order the cards at 123goshare.com.
The two-deck set costs just $10, and proceeds from the sale of the cards go to
the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Also, for every set ordered, another set is
sent to a worker on the field to use as a witnessing tool.

"People are going to see how creative God is and amazing He is through these
stories," Jamie says, shuffling through the New Testament. "Just pull a card
out of the deck, and you can share about a different characteristic of God or a
different Bible story."

Giving to Lottie Moon offers constant support of creative workers like these
and families who are dedicating themselves to sharing the Gospel however they
can–even through a card game.

*Names changed for security.

 

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