Interesting Update

It's hard to believe I've not posted a blog entry in over 3 months! Suffice it to say things have been a bit hectic and out of the norm these past few months with demand still outstripping our supply.

Anyway, for those of you following the Afghan Bible story, I thought you'd appreciate this story today at http://www.onenewsnow.com/Security/Default.aspx?id=520684 for an update.

Thanks, everyone!
John

Dave Roever's Ministry to Military (and everyone else!)

Jan Ross had the good fortune of hearing Dave Roever speak in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. Dave is the real deal. His ministry has grown significantly in recent years, specifically outreach to military personnel and their families. Jan reported Dave's ministry has set up 39 churches in Vietnam, an amazing task given the current climate in that nation. See Dave Roever's Military Outreach for details as this fellow Ambassador is doing some awesome eternal work!

Another 3,000 Bibles Requested, now 88,000+ for Jan '09 Top Month

Last week we had a new request from a Base Chaplain for at least 3,000 Bibles for a military installation in the USA and several individual requests. For January 2009 alone, this brings the total number of requested Bibles to just under 90,000 copies. While we had a lovely woman from South Carolina donate 400 Bibles, demand has exceeded our capacity greatly this month, a special blessing, indeed! Would you please help us fulfill these requests as you are so moved to share the whole Bible and gospel with US military personnel?

Please click on the above link for more details.

Thank you so much!
John

Peru Civilian Soldiers for Christ Jesus need Bibles

This week has been one of additional very interesting requests. We received a note from a chaplain in Peru for Spanish Bibles (which we happened to have several on hand to ship!) Since I know only enough Spanish to order dinner in authentic Mexican restaurants, Jan Ross and John Reynolds were able to effectively translate and prepare to ship the Bibles off to Peru!

Perhaps we can get some Spanish copies of Chuck Missler's Study on the Book of Daniel through K-House shipped as well!?

State National Guard Post needs full Bibles

Last evening, a Chaplain Assistant at a state National Guard Post Chapel responsible for training National Guard and US Army Reserve troops that go to Iraq and afghanistan wrote us for Bibles. Because they are a state post, getting full Bibles they need has been denied multiple times (ah, yes - separation of Church and State in the most mis-construed fashion from the US Founding Fathers' original premise). While they have New testaments and some KJV, the full Old Testament and New Testament of 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years is unheard of at the post. Would you please join us in prayer and support to ship this Chaplain Assistant the Bibles and study materials they need?

Thanks so much!
+ John Hoben

75k+ Troops thru Atlanta Airport Outreach Opportunity

We just received a request for Bibles and study materials from a Salvation Army Major working in the Chapel at Atlanta International Airport! Approximately 80,000 troops came through the Chapel the last few months of 2008. They're moving the chapel to an expanded location next to the airport USO, providing greater opportunity to distribute Bibles and Koinonia Institute study materials from Chuck Missler and Koinonia House. Thanks for your continued support as we 'step up' outreach through this excellent venue!

Soldiers Bible Ministry 2009

Ending 2008 and beginning 2009 on a continued note of hope for all allied forces throughout the world, we've had some interesting requests in recent weeks. Several folks have requested Bibles from non-allied forces in several nations throughout Africa. In such situations, we consider them "soldiers" in the broader sense of serving Christ Jesus and have done everything possible to fulfill these requests. Finishing the year, we shipped out several hundred additional pocket bibles, CD's and study certificates to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. We've also had some interesting requests for Bible study fellowship groups in Baghdad. Chaplain Chris now home safely with his family, getting ready for a special memorial service this month and then some interesting opportunities volunteering stateside with Soldiers Bible Ministry, for which we are very grateful. Here's to another year of humble service to our soldiers where ever they may be serving!

Thanks for the Bibles & CD’s

John Hoben received a note from Farrah; please be in prayer for for as she servers four more months in Afghanistan:

Dear John,

Hi! I wanna say Thank you for sending or donating Bibles and CDs. I am deployed here in Afghanistan, and the main thing that has seen me through these last 7 months is GOD! I have 4 more months to go here. So please keep me in your prayers. Keep supporting soldiers any way you can, we do need it. Thank you!

Farrah
Dated: November 2, 2008

FBBC Special Thanks

Special thanks go to Pastor Gary Sauer of First Bible Baptist Church for their generous support of the Soldiers Bible Ministry at this week's Wednesday service. It's an honor, priviledge and above all blessing to be able to work with everyone at FBBC in Greece, NY!

North Carolina Reaches out for Soldiers Bible Support

Amongst other requests, this week we had two from the fine state of North Carolina. Western North Carolina's Blue Star Mothers of Arden, North Carolina reached out to us and we're fortunate to be able to help send 150+ Bibles and Bible study materials to these local initiatives. A separate initiative is underway with a member of a congregation adjacent to Camp LeJeune which we're excited about learning more and helping their Bible outreach to the Marines in Jacksonville.

Please let us know how we can help you as it's always exciting to hear about the excellent support of our deployed troops in spiritual support matters!

Charles Welty - letter to his son in the Navy

For those of you with sons and daughters in the armed forces, I know you can relate to this letter. Charles Welty wrote it to his son over 3 years ago. Welty's advice is timeless and I wanted to make sure everyone reads this letter to his son, Christopher who is now studying at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis.

Deo Mushambo

Catching up on the month's posts, I wanted to introduce you all to Deo Mushambo. Deo is with the Ugandan Army protecting the US soldiers at Fort Summerall, Iraq while the US soldiers are on base (someone has to watch over them while they refuel and recharge!) As you'll read from his testimony, Deo was blessed with meeting Chaplain Chris Rusack and now is one of the lay leaders for the Ugandan Army soldiers bible study and services when Chaplain Chris is out on patrol with the soldiers. What's most amazing is how Verda Reeves, Deo's 'adopted mom' found us while searching for Swahili Bibles to ship to the troops. Verda, Deo and I are in frequent communication these days working out the technical kinks in getting Deo enrolled in Chuck Missler's http://www.studycenter.com/ Koinonia Institute so Deo can engage in formal Bible study. Please keep Deo and everyone in Iraq in your prayers!