FCBH touches prisoners’ lives

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — The Bible Society in Kazakhstan has received an overwhelming response to its first fundraising project, Remember those who are in prison, collecting almost three times more money than originally anticipated for the distribution to prisoners of the New Testament on audio cassette. The success of this project, launched in 2001, has made it possible to supply not only Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) cassettes but also tape recorders, printed copies of the New Testament and a special Bible Society booklet.

Bible Society General Secretary Dr Igor Savich reports that “many people prayed for this project and the Lord responded miraculously to our needs.” In collaboration with the local Prison Ministry Association, the Bible Society has now been able to supply the complete audio New Testament to prisoners in 22 prisons in four parts of the country where earlier research had indicated that appropriate conditions existed for the use of FCBH material. The availability of additional funds also allowed for the supply of 11 tape recorders, printed New Testaments and the booklet Turning to God.

For Bible Society staff and for those working for the Prison Ministry Association, many of whom are themselves former prisoners, the response was “beyond our expectations,” according to Dr Savich. The prisoners were very eager to hear God’s Word, and several wrote to the Bible Society to express their appreciation. A letter from prison Ak-159\9 tells that more than 200 women have decided to “live according to God’s demands” when they are released: “It’s really true that the Lord is generous to his children who love him and seek him,” the letter adds.

In a letter from prison La-155\14, gratitude is expressed to the Bible Society for “your special attention and support for our spiritual growth as we use the FCBH program.” The prisoners emphasise that the material is “a great help for us in understanding our Lord Jesus Christ.” Prisoners at prison Ak-159\18 stated in their letter that audio Scriptures are particularly useful in prisons, where the light is often poor and reading is therefore difficult, and praised the quality of the production, particularly the special effects and music.