Paul Barker brings to SparkLit comprehensive experience in the region where most of our projects are located. He loves books and reading. He is committed to God and His mission.

 

“The majority world does not have access to quality, relevant or vernacular books. Yet pastors rely on books to guide them in preaching and leading. While many may read only a little, they do read. Investing in them is strategic. They are the future leaders of God’s church.”

 

“SparkLit has a crucial role in helping to grow local publishing and distribution of quality books. Many emerging publishers are deeply indebted to SparkLit’s expertise and support.”

 

In November Paul will be consecrated as an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Melbourne. As a CMS missionary Paul worked as the Asia Regional Coordinator for Langham Preaching and Langham Scholars. He taught in seminaries throughout Asia and initiated or facilitated SparkLit partnerships in Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

 

Paul has been visiting Lecturer at Ridley College, Vicar of Holy Trinity Doncaster and Archdeacon of Box Hill. He has a doctorate in Deuteronomy, and has written books on Deuteronomy, Amos and Psalms, some of which have been translated. He is committed to strengthening the local church in the majority world with preaching and teaching resources.

 

“I hope that my experience in Asia will keep me living simply, loving the poor, serving the needy church and keeping the big picture of the gospel as my big picture. I hope it helps me to be more sensitive to the needs of the Asian immigrants we have in Melbourne.”

 

Please pray for Paul as he resettles in Australia. Pray for him as he takes up his responsibilities as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Melbourne.

 

 

Today you can make theological texts available to Bible College graduates and pastors. 

Jane Dowling describes how Jesus’ words brought her back to life.

 

At the age of twelve I was caught in a rip. As the force of the water sucked me under, scenes from my life flashed vividly before me. “I’m going to die!”

 

Suddenly, the arm of a surf lifesaver grasped me around my waist. I regained consciousness on the beach, spluttering out the water from my lungs as the life-saver resuscitated me. I will always be thankful for receiving that breath of life.

 

Writing Child, Arise! has been a life-saving experience for me. While attempting to grapple with the impact of childhood sexual abuse, I was caught up in a powerful spiritual rip. Its force overpowered me and sucked me down into a very deep, dark hole. In this place of sheer terror and utter despair God’s grace beckoned me, through the Holy Spirit, to put pen to paper. In this chaotic place, the Holy Spirit first whispered to me the title of my book: ‘Child, Arise!’

 

These are the same words Jesus speaks to a young girl in Luke 8:54. The power of Jesus’ words is so strong that the girl is raised back to life. This miracle magnificently reflects my own experience of what Jesus did for me.

 

I started writing by falling at the feet of Jesus in prayer. Like Jairus, I begged him to come to my child—my inner self, the young girl who had been sexually abused and was dying. Through his Word, Jesus promised me his faithful presence. This was the impetus to begin writing.

 

Like Jairus, I too heard voices muttering, ‘The girl is dead. Don’t trouble the teacher any longer!’ Precisely at these times, Jesus implored me, ‘Do not fear, Jane. Only believe and the child will be saved.’ So, believing in Jesus’ promise, I kept writing even while ‘weeping and wailing’ as I processed my trauma.

 

Each word I received from Jesus was a breath of life that revived my spirit in the deepest part of my being, transforming darkness into light, fear into courage, despair into hope, sadness into joy, and pain into healing. I prayed the Word of God and strived to live it with integrity. I knew Jesus was doing for me what he had done for Jairus’ daughter. I felt him gently take me by the hand and call out to me, ‘Child, arise!’

 

As I found the courage to stand in the strength of God’s Word, I was reminded that it is the Spirit who gives life and that the words that Jesus has spoken to me are spirit and life (John 6:63).

 

Writing Child, Arise! has reaffirmed for me the incredible healing power of God’s Word to transform even the most painful and tragic experiences into something of rich beauty and an overflowing of grace upon grace. I know that it is by grace that I have been saved through faith. It is not my own doing. It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

 

2016 Australian Christian Book of the Year

Child, Arise!
The Courage to Stand: A Spiritual Handbook for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

 

Jane N Dowling

David Lovell Publishing
ISBN 9781863551533

 

Are you a writer too? Fill out an entry form.

Australian Christian Book of the Year Award

Young Australian Christian Writer Award

Australian Christian Teen Writer Award

You can help prepare graduates like Dexter Tad-awan to speak the word of God with boldness.

 

I observed the way the priests sent to our village accompanied the people and supported them in practical ways. I felt drawn to this vocation. However, I was becoming increasingly aloof and insecure. I couldn’t express myself with confidence. People told me that I was strange and weird.

 

My name is Dexter Tad-awan. My parents are subsistence farmers in Pasnadan, an Igorot village in the Tadian municipality, Mountain Province in the northern Philippines. Like them, I preferred to plough fields rather than study or be with people.

 

To avoid moving away from my home and family, each day I spent over four hours walking to and from high school. I tried my best to overcome my weakness in dealing with people and eventually made friends. They lived near my school and asked me to live with them. This meant that I wouldn’t have to walk so far. Despite my anxiety, I accepted my friends’ invitation. However, these friends also introduced me to vices such as drinking too much alcohol. I began to lead a double life. By day I was a church man, by night I was a man of vices.

 

I am thankful that, by God’s grace, people from my church helped me to take a chisel to my life. I chose to serve God and was encouraged to pursue the priestly vocation of which I had once dreamed. Looking back, I realize that life is full of choices. A choice between right and wrong, good and evil, God and the world. Our background and upbringing can affect our choices. But, nothing can overtake the plans God has for us if we work out our faith through his love and grace.

 

Seminary life has prepared me to make better choices in future. Please pray that, with the help of God, I will also guide others to the way, the truth and the life.

 

Thank you for the Bible commentary and concordance. These will help me to accurately explain the Scriptures and prepare and deliver better sermons. To God be the glory!

 

 

Dexter Tad-awan is a graduate of St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in the Philippines.

 

$60 will provide a Bible commentary and concordance to a graduate at St Andrew’s Seminary in Manila.

You can give a Bible college graduate like Christian Nchimbi the gift of knowledge.

 

My name is Christian Saidi Nchimbi. I am Tanzanian and reside in Dar es Salaam. I declare faith in Christ Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of my life. I believe that God is a God of love and full of mercy. I believe that Jesus Christ is the truth and the only way people come into fellowship with God. I believe in the authority of Holy Scripture to guide us. But this revelation has not always been my companion. It came to me when I began a personal relationship with God. To come to this revelation was the greatest miracle.

 

Christian in name

 

I was third born in a Christian family of eight children. From a young age, my parents brought my siblings and me to church on Sundays. They took me though all the church rites and the sacraments of baptism in 1972, and my confirmation in 1983. At church I enjoyed making friends and I was zealous in my duties. At the age of eight I was serving as an assistant at Holy Communion.

 

However, when I left home in 1986, things started to change. Away from my parents, I began to smoke and drink alcohol and I was concerned only with work. The church was no longer the number one business in my life.

 

I surrender

 

In 2003 I married Christina. When we met her name was Salima. She converted from Islam to Christianity to marry me. For the sake of strengthening her new faith I had to go back to church. After three years she was born again. This posed a challenge for me, until my turn came on 27 April 2008. At a crusade held in the Ilala District of Dar es Salaam the Lord called me and I surrendered to him. Now I see that God has a plan and purpose.

 

My life changed abruptly. I started to attend fellowship every evening and joined a class which started with twenty-five new converts. God gave me strength to grow very fast, and in a few years I became a leader, preacher and teacher of the Word of God. I left the job I was doing and started working full-time with the Anglican Church as an evangelist. This year, by the grace of God, I completed a three-year diploma and was ordained as a deacon. Next semester I begin studying for a degree.

 

Jesus by my side

 

Since I came into a personal relationship with God, I am learning what it means to be a Christian. I have no regrets, and I will not, since Jesus is always at my side. I always welcome the chance to share this insight with people. Jesus has done wonders for me which cannot be contained on this page.

 

Please pray that I hold fast to my faith in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Praise the Lord Jesus!

 

 

Christian Saidi Nchimbi is a student at the Theological Faculty at St Mark’s University College and an evangelist with the Anglican Church of Tanzania.

 

$40 will provide a theological graduate or pastor with an essential theological reference.

You can help pastor Buth Nhorn lead believers to maturity in Christ Jesus.

 

I killed many, many people. I laid countless land mines. I built and ran an orphanage for the purpose of raising child soldiers. As a Buddhist, I calculated that I was beyond redemption. What could I possibly do to compensate for what I had done?

 

I was once a warrior

 

On 18 March 1970, young Vietnamese guerrillas with black teeth marched me into the forest to join the Khmer Rouge. Because I was opposed to Lon Nol and loyal to Prince Norodom Sihanouk I stayed. In fact, I became a commander and even continued fighting underground after the overthrow of Pol Pot in 1979. I survived numerous injuries. As you can see, my body bears the scars of battle.

 

At first Reth resisted my advances. But in 1978 we married. The following year we escaped to Thailand. In 1987 my wife became ill and for a whole year could not straighten her fingers. A neighbour took her to a church. They began praying for my wife and after six months she was healed. Reth became a Christian and even hosted a Bible study in our home. In 1991 we returned to Cambodia.

 

Too good to be true

 

I rejected this foreign religion and was cruel to my wife. Yet, the more I abused her the more she loved me. She returned good for evil. This seemed too good to be true. But, why would she lie to me? I watched my wife carefully. For eight years she prayed for me.

 

One day I beat my wife until she was unconscious. But still she loved me. I was a drunkard and a killer. My life was a disaster.

 

Secretly, I began to read the Bible. I was confident that I would finally expose my wife’s delusion. When I read John chapter three, verse sixteen, I was overwhelmed by God’s love. I knew I was sinful. I wanted a new life. I too believed.

 

For several months I questioned every pastor I met. I needed to know, was I forgiven or not? If we believe, God will forgive us. This is what the Bible says. I believe in God’s promise.

 

At church I played the guitar and studied the Bible. I love the way that the Abundant Life course helped me to understand the Bible. In 1999 I was made a pastor.

 

Reading makes us wise

 

When I look at my congregation, I can tell who is reading and who is not reading. The faith of Christians who read is real and active. Reading Christians are growing Christians; they are learning and doing things. I encourage Christians to read. Books enable us to benefit from the experience of Christians in other times and places. I know that the Holy Spirit uses books to encourage us and help us to grow more like Jesus.

 

I want to be faithful and obedient to Jesus. Please pray for me.

 

 

Buth Nhorn pastors the Phsar Leu Church and distributes Fount of Wisdom books in Siem Reap.

 

$15 will subsidise the purchase by a pastor in rural Cambodia of a three-volume book package.