She says that about three years ago, the two ministries met face-to-face at a conference. “We realized what they were doing. We were working with some of the same people. We were providing literature, and they were providing some of these ways to open doors.”

(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

They decided to try partnering up, and this partnership brings together two very similar missions — to reach the under-served with the love of Christ as they share the Gospel. So in May of last year, they shipped a container of Scripture booklets and shoes to their contacts in Zambia.

Williams said their contact emailed and said, “We waited and prayed until the two amazing gifts combining shoes from Soles for Jesus and literature from World Missionary Press arrived.”

The shipment contained 2,560 boxes of literature, which is just over one million booklets, and 6,000 pairs of shoes.

Williams says, “He also said in a follow-up email that they were able to get into villages that had been resistant to them to just come in and share the Gospel. But this gift of shoes was the opening and then they were able to share the Gospel.”

(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

Because it was such a successful distribution, the two ministries are planning on two more distributions this year — one to Botswana, and one to Burkina Faso.

“We are just really excited about this. It is such a wonderful ministry to be partnered with and it’s such a blessing to the distributors in the field that they’ve got these tools, they’ve got these gifts to give and it opens the doors and softens the hearts and helps them see the love of Christ,” Williams says.

So, why does combining physical aid while sharing biblical truths work? Williams says it’s because sharing the message of God’s love is much more effective when we demonstrate it.

“I think we need to get to the place where we show the love of Christ because so much of the world does not know that love. They don’t see a demonstration of it daily.”

As she explains, Jesus cares about our physical needs as well as our relationship with Him. As His followers, we get to live out that care in our actions towards others.

“It’s one thing to speak in eternal terms, but much of the world is living in harsh, day-to-day reality without much of what we just take for granted — we here in the West, particularly.”

By acknowledging their physical needs, we can make a way to discuss their spiritual needs as well. And it’s when we show this genuine care that we express how God has changed us, too.

(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

Williams says it this way: “This is what Christ’s love does to the heart, it makes us, as believers, want to give and want to meet needs. And that’s the changed heart.”

World Missionary Press partners with a variety of mission groups who provide aid like food, or contribute to building projects like medical clinics, churches, and wells. But they also supply Scripture booklets to individuals who go on trips, whether it’s a mission trip or for vacation.

Williams says to anyone who is getting ready to go on a trip: “Be sure and take Scripture booklets with you. We have them in 346 languages. You know, take them along if you’re meeting other needs, if you’re with a medical team. A lot of people take them and share them with people in the waiting room.”

And even after you leave the field, the impact continues. By establishing contacts on the ground, World Missionary Press can continue to supply local believers with the resources to reach their community.

Looking ahead to their shipments with Soles for Jesus, there are a couple of ways you can help. First, pray. Williams says it’s quite common for shipping containers to get delayed with processing in the shipping port. This drives up costs and delays distribution. She asks you to pray that the processing would go smoothly and quickly.

(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

And, she says, “Pray for the distribution in the field because these people in these countries are waiting, they’ve got teams prepared. And just pray for the distribution and the sowing of seed.”

If you’d like to help financially, your gift today will go towards the printing of Scripture booklets and shipping costs in the future. All of the resources from World Missionary Press are free for distributors, so they rely on generous donors to keep printing. Click here to give.

To donate or to request literature, click here or call 1-574-831-2111.

To learn more about Soles for Jesus and how you can help, click here.

By partnering with World Missionary Press, you’re joining in on the mission to get the Word of God out to those who have never received it before.

Williams says, “I want to encourage everyone that the Lord is at work around the world. We see souls coming to the Lord from all areas and all sorts of situations.”

Hookworm infection is transmitted primarily by walking barefoot on contaminated soil.
(Photo, caption credit: CDC)

Zambia (MNN) — Hundreds of millions of Africans get diseases through their feet. Worms, parasitic fleas, and even a rare type of cancer are the cause of severe infections and, in extreme cases, death.

Yet, all of these diseases are preventable. How? It’s quite simple: shoes.

Many adults and children in Zambia have never owned a single pair of shoes. As a result, they’ve picked up diseases. On top of that, most kids aren’t allowed to attend school if they don’t have shoes to wear.

“They’re primarily village people that don’t have access to shoes, let alone the funds [to buy shoes] if they were available,” explains Helen Williams of World Missionary Press. “Life is basically just trying to feed and take care of their families.”

For decades, WMP has supplied their distribution partners in Africa with Scripture booklets, devotions, and other Christian literature. One of their newest partners, Soles for Jesus, has been raising funds for, collecting, and distributing thousands of pairs of shoes since 2009.

When the recent partnership between WMP and Soles for Jesus began, they saw great opportunities ahead and took action immediately.

“We decided [to] send a 40-foot container: half of it with shoes (8,000 pairs) and half of it with booklets–1,280,000 Scripture booklets,” says Williams.

The two ministries have been promoting, collecting, and organizing shoes and funds which will go to Zambian villages. “We’ve had great response. Churches around here have been bringing in things, and families are gathering shoes. So, it’s an exciting project for all of us.”

(Photo courtesy World Missionary Press via Facebook)

Souls for Jesus staff recently met with and washed the feet of village leaders and pastors who will receive the supplies. “It’s such a message of grace and oneness in the Body [of Christ],” Williams says. “It is reaching those who under no other circumstance would be able to have this. Physically, it just makes things easier for them…[and] this is a gift that they just in many cases wouldn’t envision having.”

With a new supply of shoes, disease rates are expected to plummet, and children will be able to attend schools. With the shoe ministry and new supply of Christian literature, villagers will see the tangible love of Christ on display and hopefully come to know their Heavenly Father.

WMP sees this partnership project with Soles for Jesus as the first of many. Be praying for the success of the distribution and for hearts to receive the Gospel message.