LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!
2016 in review
A friend has been giving me Our Daily Bread for years and I never read them – they went right in the wastebasket! In April of last year, probably holding a new issue ready to toss it, Jesus Christ tapped me on the shoulder out of nowhere and completely changed my life. I was born again. After 72 years of spiteful hate, rage, selfishness and hurting everyone, I left the darkness of despair and misery for the incredible joy of goodness! Now I read Our Daily Bread cover to cover! —RAY
Hearing the stories of people like Ray is such a blessing to us. Even though our mission is to help people all over the world experience a personal relationship with Jesus, we realize that it is the Lord who does the real ministry of moving in people’s hearts. We also know that it is the prayers and support of friends like you who allow us to continue reaching people around the world with the message of God’s love. We are thankful for every prayer that is lifted up for Our Daily Bread Ministries and for the gifts we receive so we can continue to spread the Word and help change lives. Look and see what the Lord has done in 2016. We couldn’t do it without you.
Rick DeHaan, President
Spreading the Word Around the World
37
Offices
600
Global Staff
1,000
Volunteers
58
Languages
60,000,000
Resources
BRAZIL
Olympic Outreach
The 2016 Olympics and Paralympics events brought 15,903 athletes representing more than 200 countries to Brazil. In addition, thousands of spectators traveled to Rio de Janeiro to watch the competitions. The Our Daily Bread Ministries team in Brazil could not pass up this opportunity to “spread the Word.” Working with sports and evangelism ministries in Brazil, thousands of volunteers from 400 churches were mobilized to distribute gospel literature in the streets, squares, and communities surrounding the Olympic competition events and related attractions. In addition, coordinated outreach efforts involved sports clinics, community festivals, Kids Games events, host homes for athletes, media interviews, and community peace walks. Please pray that those touched by the gospel message in Brazil will continue to grow a hunger for knowing the true peace and forgiveness that God gives.
India
True Love Campaign
Many young people in India are exposed to pornography and promiscuity at an early age. As a result, many are misled or confused by misperceptions about love. Our Daily Bread Ministries in India is seeking to point teenagers to the true love found in Christ through the True Love Campaign. This campaign aims to help young people discover biblical, godly truths about love so that they can apply them to their lives and relationships. The True Love Campaign began in July 2016. The team has conducted workshops in fourteen selected schools for approximately 7,000 students. The program includes songs, a skit, and a short message about the kind of love Jesus provides. The students also receive a booklet on the subject from Our Daily Bread Ministries along with additional resources to be used in school libraries. Please pray that even more students will be able to participate in the True Love Campaign and that many of them will come to know the true love Jesus offers.
United Kingdom
Welcoming the Stranger
United Kingdom
Welcoming the Stranger
In response to the European refugee crisis this past year, the Our Daily Bread Ministries UK office developed the new resource Welcoming the Stranger. This small booklet addresses the question: How should the church respond to outsiders and strangers in our communities? This resource looks at how God treats strangers and outsiders, and how Christians are also foreigners in this world. How should we practically respond to and love the strangers we meet? This challenging booklet will help readers think through what it means to welcome strangers or anyone who is different from them in their church and community with biblical hospitality. We’ve distributed around 5,000 copies in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Asia-Pacific
Our Daily Bread Ministries Audio Device
Many pastors and others who live in remote areas of the Asia-Pacific Region have limited access to biblically based resources. To meet these needs, the Our Daily Bread Ministries Audio Device Project was begun. The devices feature the entire Bible, readings from Our Daily Bread, sermons, and hymns. In 2016 over 600 devices were distributed. In Indonesia the devices were distributed to pastors in remote areas. In Malaysia and Cambodia the devices were distributed to those who are illiterate, elderly, or vision impaired. Please pray that we will be able to distribute over 3,000 devices in 2017.
United States
Youth for Christ Devotional
A seventeen-day devotional resource was created for Youth for Christ in 2016. Used specifically with their Project Serve Summer Camp Team, this devotional featured seven days of inspirational readings and Scripture passages to be read during the camp experience, as well as ten days of devotionals to be read at home after returning from camp. Our Daily Bread devotionals were customized to minister to the 500 high school and college-age students on the team. Working at summer camp can be exciting, yet exhausting, and the kids on the Project Serve Team volunteered to spend their week at camp serving the regular campers. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to partner with Youth for Christ on this project and provide some spiritual encouragement to their Project Serve Team!
I am immensely grateful to Our Daily Bread Ministries in Brazil. I am a missionary who has been serving in prisons for the last 13 years, and your materials have been of great help to those incarcerated. Many inmates continually ask me to get them more devotionals when the quarter is coming to an end. After they read the booklet, I have noted several of them passing the booklet to others, thus forming multiple readers. Thank you for bringing the Good News into the prisons in Brazil!
PASTOR AGNALDO
Thank you for your awesome books and for spreading the Word of our God and our Savior, Jesus. I am disabled and have a very low income, but you are my new and only charity because I believe spreading the Word of God is the most important thing in the world. I don’t have much, but will give when possible. Thank you for doing what you do!
STEPHANIE
Your publication is a highlight of my day. I teach a church Sunday school class of children in 4th and 5th grades and often share the Scriptures and accompanying messages with them. I find it a great teaching tool for linking the Bible with people of present times. God bless you for the work you do.
MARLENE
Just want to thank you and let you know my ministry appreciates and prays for your ministry! Your work is so important in what we do. For example yesterday outside the Markham, Illinois, courthouse in just two hours, we prayed with 77 people, and two of those came to Christ. For those who walk by and pray with us, we find a little about their need and then recommend one of your booklets. Our Daily Bread gets handed out to anyone that comes and asks for them. I thank God that you are in place right now, in this place, to fill this need. Bless you and all the staff there!
RAMONA
