In rural Uganda and Kenya, many believers have never held a Bible in their hands. Harvesters, in partnership with Biblica, is changing that. Recently, we visited dozens of church plants, hand-delivering God’s Word. For many, this answered a long-standing prayer.
Even pastors were struggling with old and worn Bibles. Pastor Dennis in Uganda, who feels called to plant churches in rural communities, only had the books of Leviticus to Luke in his torn-up copy. With these new Bibles, disciples are now equipped to spread God’s Word deeper into challenging communities.
Lives Redeemed from the Powers of Darkness
In Uganda, stories of transformation abound. Anna Kelea shared her powerful story: “I was a very bad person. I was a witch doctor. [One day] I found all my children had given their lives to Christ. My son preached to me and said, ‘Mom, what you’re doing is bad and it’s wrong.’ I gave my life to Christ… but I said, ‘I cannot just leave my work… leaving the money they give me… and join this thing where they’re not going to pay me.’ But at 4am, God himself spoke to me: ‘What are you waiting for?’ When I heard that voice, in the morning I woke up and… I fell down on my knees before my son. He prayed for me and I’m born again.”
Anna’s son, Pastor Ronald, leads a congregation under a tree in a place previously known for alcoholism. “This was a place where people would gather to drink from morning up to evening,” he shared. “But it has changed to be a church.”
In Kenya, one pastor is ministering tirelessly in a community “pestered by demons.” He explains: “Planting churches here… is very hard. We cannot preach the Word of God without Bibles.”
New Life in Christ
Other believers are also experiencing life change. Pastor Gerald Wangarira, from a Catholic and witchcraft background, became a Christian after hearing the Good News from a Harvesters-trained pastor. “I got delivered from all bad influences or characters I used to have,” he said. He’s now a Student Pastor, discipling a church of 28 members under a mango tree. “Ever since I joined Harvesters Bible School, my soul fumes with passion of sharing the good news with others.”
Another previously Catholic man received his Bible with gratitude, saying, “If you receive Christ there is nothing impossible. As you have given me this Bible, I have already read inside. In Psalms 34:15-16 I’m reading, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. But the face of the Lord is against all those who do evil. Hallelujah. Thank you so much.”
Pastor Peter Mukisa, a former Muslim, now oversees 102 churches in Uganda, bringing the Gospel to difficult areas. “We have developed discipleship in our churches… people are now founded on the true Gospel of the Bible. The Bible in the hand of a true Christian, it’s a tool that is going to help us advance the kingdom of the Lord in dark areas. It is pushing back witchcraft, sorcery and other cultic beliefs.”
Bibles Delivered: Miracles in Hands
For many believers, receiving a Bible is more than a gift – it is a miracle. A participant from New Life Church, Nakaloke, reflected on God’s purpose prevailing: “The Bible says in Proverbs… that many are the plans of man, but the purpose of God prevails. Before I started training [with Harvesters], I didn’t have the confidence to speak about the Word of God. Now I’m confident to tell someone that God loves you.”
Mary Chituwe, who was saved in 1992 but had never owned a Bible, exclaimed: “I have never received a Bible in my hands. This is a miracle! Thank you so much… Jesus has done wonders.”
Pastor Stephen Mangira, who planted a new church in Kenya only a few weeks ago, echoed the significance of the Scriptures for new churches: “The Bibles that you are distributing… are going to bring a lot of impact – we are going to make more disciples.”
Thanks to Biblica, Harvesters delivered 5,000 Bibles across Uganda and Kenya, providing essential tools for training, discipleship and church multiplication. As pastors and disciples alike say: “Thank you so much for bringing God’s Word to us.”
