One open book, many open hearts
“Abraham believed God’s word! That made God very happy. His promise was very big, and Abraham’s faith in God’s promise was very big too.” A local edition of The Big Picture Story Bible is changing lives in Timor Leste.
You can help Sandra Marcal bring the good news of Jesus to people of all ages in Timor Leste.
“Don’t be afraid, Abraham.
Come outside and look up into the night sky.
Count all the stars, if you can. You will have
as many children as there are stars in the sky!”
So Abraham went outside.
Abraham looked up into the night sky
and tried to count the stars.
The children gasped. One child covered his gaping mouth with both hands. Another child covered her ears. In Timor-Leste, people believe that if you start counting the stars and fail to count them all, you will be cursed and die. So, how could a terrifying omen in our culture be, in reality, a sign of God’s abundant blessing?
One sows, another waters
In Timor-Leste, having books at home is rare. Having a children’s Bible at home is unheard of. We hoped that publishing a Tetun-language edition of The Big Picture Story Bible—a picture-book Bible for children—would be a spark for change.
While we prepared this book for publication, we read draft chapters during weekly religion classes in a local primary school. As the story of the Bible unfolded, the children acquired a different view of the world. God’s view. Before we knew it, the lives of children were being changed.
An eight-year-old girl skipped up to me with eyes full of joyful expectation. “Is the book out yet? Is the book out yet? I asked my mum and dad to buy one for me.” Since its publication, countless children have shared this girl’s joy of knowing Jesus through The Big Picture Story Bible. Four Christian schools, several churches and numerous children’s clubs have adopted this book as their curriculum. Our team has developed curriculum packs and run training workshops for teachers. We have produced a weekly radio program and podcast.
The joy of the harvest
Recently, I was invited to talk about The Big Picture Story Bible on a YouTube channel. During the interview, the presenter shared her experience. “When my son received this book as a gift, he didn’t know how to read. He learned to read with this book. Even though it’s heavy he takes it to school every day. It’s a beautiful book and we can see how it has helped transform him.”
A young mother told me what she had learned by reading The Big Picture Story Bible. “I have been a Christian for many years but thanks to this book I now realise that the lamb’s blood painted on the Israelites’ door frames, so that God’s judgement would pass over them, points to Jesus’ death!” I never imagined that one book could open so many doors for the gospel story.
To complement The Big Picture Story Bible, we are working on picture-book Bibles for preschoolers and teenagers. Will you continue to support and journey with us?
Pray that as they read these books together, children and parents will come to love and trust our Heavenly Father.
Sandra Marcal works with Scripture Union Timor Leste.
$8k will make possible the publication of a Tetun edition of The Beginner’s Bible.