"It's almost like a resurgence of evil that's swept
across the northern part of Nigeria," describes Eric Fellman of the World
Bible Translation Center. "The violence is increasing, and it's
essentially a large movement of radical Muslims against any Christian
institution, Christian family, or Christian-owned business."

An outbreak of violence yesterday added 20 more to the death
toll, including a pastor. Homes, churches, and businesses were all burnt in the
attack. The lack of global attention to this situation shocks Fellman.

"It's just unbelievable how vociferous, how violent
this has become with so little recognition by the world community," he
says.

All denominations have experienced killings and destruction,
according to WBTC. One 13-year-old girl was attending church when Islamic radicals
broke in. She hid with the pastor as radicals killed the pastor's brother and
dragged her mother away. When the militants discovered the girl and her pastor,
they cut off the pastor's hand to stop him from holding her. In front of the
young girl, radicals then hacked the pastor to death with machetes and set his
body aflame.

WBTC is providing "spiritual
armor" for believers by replacing Bibles lost in these violent attacks. Fellman
estimates that approximately 10 percent of Bibles in Nigeria will be
obliterated in this time of persecution. Working through Nigeria's Anglican
Church and Oasis International, WBTC hopes to replace over 50,000 of these destroyed
Scriptures.

"When churches are burned
and homes are raided, Bibles are lost," Fellman says. "There's no
single tool more important to the health of the church body than the
Scriptures."

Boko Haram, translated "Western
education is evil," is the radical Islamic group responsible for these attacks.
Although they use their namesake as an excuse for striking believers, Fellman
believes there's a deeper reason.

"On a broader spiritual basis," he explains,
"I would have to say that this is an incredible attack of the enemy on one
of the most vibrant believing communities on the planet."

With a gift of $20, you could send five Bibles to Nigeria.
If you'd like to help WBTC replace the Word of God destroyed in persecution,
click here.

Jon Anderson with
World Bible Translation Center says, "Find a Bible is a Web site that comprises all Scripture resources that we can access either in print, or digitally, or audio or in any other format that we can find.

The coalition includes Audio Scripture Ministries, Faith Comes By Hearing, OneHope, Open Doors, SIM International, World Bible Translation Center, Wycliffe and dozens of other organizations.

Anderson says this is an all encompassing project. "We would like the Scriptures from every organization that has produced Scripture and has it available in any language. It could be a little as a few verses to as much as a whole Bible."

The Find A Bible site (www.findabible.net ) provides the most comprehensive and current database of Bibles and portions in majority and minority languages available.

Anderson says the group is looking for more Bibles. "If you know of Bibles out there that we don't have on Find A Bible, we would ask you to send us an e-mail through the Find A Bible Web site, and we'll get it on there."

Prior to the release of Find A Bible, people wishing to find Scripture in a particular language had to browse through a variety of Web sites that offered a limited number of Scripture products for purchase or online viewing. Users had to guess which agency might have the product, then contact them to find out if it even existed and how to obtain a copy. But now, through Find A Bible, with just the name of a language and a click of the mouse, links to Scripture products are within reach.

Anderson says veteran Bible translators agree. "This is the one place
that has the most Scripture available to the most people in the history
of humanity." 

Many Scripture products noted on the site have never before been listed
on the Web. Through Find A Bible, users now have a single place to
search, download, view, or listen to these Bibles through links to
Forum member agency Web sites.

The site is helpful to people different types of people. He says it's beneficial to those who don't have a Bible in their own language. It's helpful to people who need a minority language and don't know where to find it. It can also help identify languages that need Scripture.

Pray that God will use this Scripture resource to draw many to Himself.

The World Bible Translation Center reports that Hindu radicals have recently placed unreasonable demands on Orissa's believers. Extremists are requiring Christians to reconvert to Hinduism, and in light of next month's elections, vote for the Hindu fundamentalist party. Believers also must withdraw any reports of violence that were submitted to the government.

Last year's anti-Christian violence was one of the reasons for the split between India's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); BJD was one of its oldest allies. According to the All India Christian Council (AICC), the 2008 anti-Christian violence killed nearly 60 people, including 2 pastors. Christians in over 300 villages were targeted; 4,400 houses were burned, and 50,000 people were left homeless. Nearly 20,000 individuals were injured in attacks, and two women were gang-raped; one of them was a nun. Hindu extremists now are forcing Christians in Orissa to vote for the fundamentalist party in elections beginning April 16.

Anti-Christian violence in India has continued, and Voice of the Martyrs Canada received several reports in recent weeks. On March 9, Hindu militants armed with rods and hockey sticks forced entrance to a pastor's home in New Delhi where they beat him, his wife and son. The militants also stole 15,000 rupees ($370 CAD) and threatened to return and murder his family if he didn't leave within a week.

On March 11, another pastor was attacked by Hindu extremists after a prayer meeting. Radicals beat the pastor and told him to stop conducting prayer meetings. He suffered fractures to his back and ribs. Pray for healing for these believers, and ask God to give wisdom to church leaders in India.

Pray for God's wisdom and blessing to be upon Indian Christians, and that they would stand strong in their faith.

WBTC-India
distributes Easy-to-Read Oriya Scripture to India's believers. This
version, written at a third grade reading level, is well-suited for
those in the region who are poor and undereducated. WBTC-India provides
this written Word for house churches.

If you would like to help, click here.

WBTC has multiple approaches to accomplishing this goal.
Jalisco evangelists are using the Easy-to-Read version to spread God's love
throughout Mexico, and home churches are also being planted throughout Cuba.
These churches have between 10 and 40 people meeting at each home and have
become popular because they offer an alternative to the government-controlled
church. WBTC also works with the Cuban National Council of Churches to
distribute their ERV to its member churches that provide them to their
congregations.

If you'd like to learn more about WBTC's work in Latin
America or donate to their efforts, click here.

"It is a real privilege to be selected as President of WBTC," said Eric Fellman, the man selected to lead the WBTC ministry. "I am very excited to use my background and skills [to serve WBTC's purpose] and meet the goal of having the complete Bible available in the 100 most-spoken languages on the planet."

For the last 11 years, Fellman has served as the Senior Associate for the International Foundation in Washington, D.C., with special emphasis on relating to International Guests. Prior to his work at the International Foundation, he served as President of the Peale Center division of Guideposts, the United States' largest inspirational publisher. He also served on the Board of Trustees. Fellman was director of public relations and director and editor of the Moody Monthly magazine for Chicago's Moody Bible Institute earlier in his career. Fellman brings significant experience in publishing, development and public relations to the WBTC leadership.

"Jesus sent us into the world to be ambassadors of reconciliation, and that is the great need of both nations and families," Fellman said. "The main tool for changing hearts and lives is Scripture, and WBTC is dedicated to making easily-understandable translations available to the common people everywhere."

Fellman is a Moody Bible Institute graduate and holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has an M.A. in communications from Wheaton College. Eric and his wife Joy have been married for 33 years and have three adult children.  

The constant fighting between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Iraq has widowed countless women and left many of them childless. World Bible Translation Center is stepping in to care for the widows and orphans by providing them with food aid and the Word of truth. One testimony speaks of the work that the team is doing there.

"We met a woman whose name is Um Shalam, which means ‘Mother of Peace.' But there seems to be little peace in her life. She has five children, but her husband and three of her children were killed. She was thrown out of her home with two young children."

The WBTC team was able to help her with some food aid and give her an Arabic ERV New Testament. They praise God for the chance to care for widows and orphans who need help. The teams don't have permission to continue their work, and two team members have already been sent home due to threats on their lives. Nonetheless, God's grace continues to uphold them.

Arabic Christian literature was distributed in June: over 7,000 ERV New Testaments and 4,130 children's Bible storybooks, bringing the total to almost 12,000 books. The translation of the Old Testament is complete, and after being proofread and field-tested, the Arabic Old Testament will be ready for typesetting and publication.

The hope and prayer of WBTC is to print and hand-deliver 108,000 copies of the full Arabic Bible in the heart of the Islamic world. The cost to do this would be around $516,000 but $250,000 has already been committed. If you'd like to help WBTC reach this goal, please click here.

Sampson, with WBTC says, "Our distributors, they're all living in the jungles. They have lost the Bibles. An estimated 4,500 Bibles have burned and destroyed. Distributors are being asked to leave the villages where they've distributed the Bibles."

According to Sampson, the Bibles that have already been distributed are impacting the region. "There have been a lot of people who are coming to know the Lord and are being greatly blessed, being challenged. People have changed a lot by reading the Bible."

This information is actually supported by the Hindu radicals. "One of the leaders of the Hindu fundamentalist organization announced that there has been another increase in the number of secret believers — about 7.6 percent — in Orissa."

While some are discouraged, many Christians aren't. Sampson says, "They're trusting the Lord and finding ways to come back to their native villages [and] come back to their churches. Of course, they find them in ruins and ashes. They want to start the work all over again."

But they can only do that with Bibles. Sampson says since the violence started, so has the demand for Bibles. "We had plans to distribute 30,000 Bibles, but now the need has increased, and we need an estimated 66,000 Bibles."

Supplies of the Oriya Bible were already low. Now, the need is desperate.

While these believers suffer, your prayer and financial support can help them reach this goal. "[Christians] are facing a lot of trouble, but still they're standing strong in the Lord and they're just waiting for an opportunity to give the Word of God to the needy people."

If you'd like to help with a financial gift, click here.

While food, medicine and other relief supplies are needed desperately, World Bible Translation Center's John Anderson says Burmese Christians are asking for God's Word. "We've had a request for as many as a half million from Christians inside of Myanmar. Right now we're committed to 50,000, but as God provides more opportunity, we will put more text there."

Right now, WBTC is only producing an Easy-To-Read New Testament in Burmese.

Anderson says the disaster has opened doors to share the Gospel. "Our editor, who's been working in Myanmar, has told us that there are even Buddhist monks who are coming and asking for New Testaments. They're trying to make sense of what has happened to them and are hoping to find an answer in the Christian Scriptures."

While the Old Testament isn't done yet, Anderson says, "We're working on the Old Testament. We have a team of Burmese translators in India actively translating right now. I do know [that] a couple of the translators actually left India and went back to Myanmar to try to find their families."

With the need so great, your help is needed now. "It's going to cost about $2 a piece. So for the first 50,000, it'll cost us $100,000. If we were to reach the entire 500,000 requests, that would cost us about one million dollars."

Anderson is confident the money will be raised. "Christians in American and Canada and other western countries are really touched, especially because Myanmar is both devastated by this and they know that these people have suffered because of their government."

If you'd like to help WBTC provide New Testaments to the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar, click here.

Samuel says, "Please pray with us as we have hundreds of orphans in the church here. My house was set on fire, and right now I am in a rental house. In fact, it is very bad simply because the president comes from our clan. The houses [we] have were burned, [and so were the] churches."

A World Bible Translation Center worker is also being affected, says the Africa Director of Translations David Stringham. "She lives in Nacuru, and this is one of the areas where they've had such major unrest recently. Her family has basically had to stay in-doors. Some of the youth are going around creating a lot of problems. They've had church burnings and all these things."

More than 850 people have been killed in post election political and ethnic unrest. Something to unify the tribal groups is needed. World Bible Translation Center is hoping language can do that.

WBTC is translating their Easy-To-Read Bible into Swahili. Stringham says, "It has now become one of the major languages for use in Africa, and several of the countries in East Africa are wanting to have all of their communications and such in Swahili. It's being used as a language for pulling together the various tribal groups of East Africa."

Stringham says it will also help unify many of the East African countries. "The Scriptures readily accessible in the language that's easy to understand can help combat the problems that we see; such was what we're seeing in Kenya with the tribal groups, so that when difficulties arise, people learn the proper way to respond."

The program is moving forward, but there's no way to tell when the full Easy-To-Read version will be completed. "The difficulties that we face in unstable areas of the world, that's a challenge to be very specific on that. There are just so many things that can interrupt our work," says Stringham.

He says the fall of the American dollar and the need for additional computers are other concerns for the project.

Pray that God would provide the safety, funding, and technology to complete the project. It could take up to eight years to complete.

If you'd like to help fund the project, click here.

Sampson is the Director for Distribution with World Bible Translation Center in India. He says the violence in Orissa is taking its toll. "Nearly 700 houses are destroyed, and thousands of Christians are displaced. They are staying in refugee camps, in dormitories at schools in villages, and in make-shift tents."

Not only have these Christians lost clothing, food, homes and more, they've also lost something even more important. "Many Bibles (have been) burned and destroyed. So many of the new believers don't have Bibles right now. They're missing the Word of God. We need to get Bibles to these village schools. Some are staying in the jungles. So we need to get the Word of God in these places."

According to Sampson, the State government is controlled by a coalition of Hindu nationalists who hate the spread of Christianity. He says the reason these attacks are taking place is because many are turning to Christ. "A leading fundamentalist party leader has suggested that there has been an increase of nearly double the number of Christians — nearly 5.5 percent of the population is Christian, up from 2.1."

The World Bible Translation Center distribution program has had a direct impact on that increase, says Sampson. "34,000 Oriya Bibles were distributed in May 2007. So God was greatly blessing the efforts of the distribution. And all of a sudden the devil tries to thwart the attempts by using the Hindu fundamentalists and starting the persecution in Orissa."

However, Sampson isn't discouraged by the increasing violence. "God is going to do great things in Orissa because of the persecution. More churches will be raised and more house church, too, and the number of believers will increase in the coming days."

Sampson says their faith is strong. He says, "Hindu fundamentalists are visiting house to house asking believers to renounce their faith. But these believers are not willing to give up Jesus Christ. And as a result, they're facing more persecution."

While Orissa's state law prohibits Hindus from converting to Christianity, in violation to India's constitution, Sampson says it's not stopping church growth. "All of these believers are accepting Christ secretly and taking baptism secretly."

World Bible Translation Center is asking you to help provide a new easy-to-read Oriya Bible to one of the displaced Christians in Orissa. $6 provides a complete Bible — God's Word that will provide comfort and encouragement to a persecuted believer there.

Click here to donate.