Imagine all the Bible teaching you’ve received in your lifetime. Perhaps it started with your mother reading Bible stories or your father leading in family devotions. Maybe you attended summer Bible school or had other Bible teaching in your school-age years. What about the things you heard in church through devotions, Sunday school classes, and Bible-based messages? Think about the spiritual conversations and guidance from mentors and other people you looked up to. Add in any devotional books, commentaries, periodicals, and other Christian literature you’ve imbibed over the years.
Then imagine you could put all your accumulated Bible knowledge up for sale. You’d instantly lose your memory of all the Bible teaching you ever received and be reimbursed with money. What would be your asking price? A thousand dollars? Ten thousand? A million? Is there any price you would sell it for?
Most Christians in Nicaragua have had very little Bible teaching. So when a young man is asked to lead a church, all he can do is repeat the little bit of Bible knowledge he has. Some of them have only recently started reading the Bible for themselves.
A common belief among Christians in Nicaragua is that they don’t need to be reconciled with people they misused before their conversion. “Old things are passed away, all things are become new,” they’ve been told. Others have never studied the Old Testament. Many churches in Nicaragua think that only the New Testament is relevant for today. “I just can’t believe how blind I was,” many students say after the first 3-week Bible course. Their eyes are opened to a completely new way of studying and applying the words of Scripture at face value.
But our greatest joy is hearing about their growing convictions and the character changes within their homes and churches as they learn more about the Bible:
“My wife has seen a difference in the way I live my life.”
“My daughters have started praying.”
“I’ve started teaching about immorality.”
“Now I’m praying more.”
“I have more ability to interpret the Scriptures correctly.”
“My family has grown closer and started visiting the church.”
If you would like to help provide Bible teaching and discipleship for church leaders and others, please click Donate to give a gift.
