The League of Ordinary People

May 9, 2009

God-fearing Christians are the human resource of a major kingdom-building organization that counts every nation as a church-building home, and The Bible League of Canada is the vehicle. The league, which wrapped up its annual conference in the Lethbridge Lodge Hotel Friday, trumpets a detailed statement of faith that reaches into the fundamental beliefs of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The final tenet — “We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be spread to all peoples everywhere using every means of communication available to us” — is the being of the league. Henk VandenEnde of Burlington, Ontario, a league vice-president, was in Lethbridge early to pave the way for the event, and to spread the league’s message, invite folks to a special banquet to hear the Good News, and to build contacts.

The heart of the movement is simple — take the tools of scriptures and training materials around the world to train Christians in every country to become God’s missionaries in their own nation. VandenEnde said the league is not into capital projects and buildings. It believes it should work through God’s children to bring all into the fellowship with Christ. The biggest job is winning converts, starting small churches and moving to new territory to repeat the process. “We like to get key people involved and then give them the Bibles and training materials to continue the job,” he said.

It is like a series of building blocks. Find those who can teach, gain converts to Christ, baptize a few and create a new church of 10 or 12 or 25 who can meet in homes or small buildings. The league has created strong partnerships with translators like Wycliffe Bible Translators and printers in an on-going commitment to provide “love language” Bibles and materials in native tongues around the world.

VandenEnde said 2008 was a big year. The league implemented its own ministry programs developed through partnerships. It also added new partnerships to ensure that it could place scriptures and training programs in all major regions of the world.
Translation is vital because the league feels the need to work with indigenous national organizations and that allows people to minister to their own people.

It is gaining on the cost battle to win converts, said VandenEnde. In 2005, 86,588 committed to following Jesus at an average cost of $732.30. Last year, 284,816 gave their lives to Christ. The average cost was $21.58.

Finances are audited in a budget that last year included income of $7.2 million — $3,261,246 through the 30 Bibles for Missions Thrift stores across the country, including Lethbridge. Another $3,894,490 was raised from contributions, topped off by interest earned. Administration in 2008 cost $395,084.

VandenEnde said it all started 25 years ago in a church basement. People started giving, creating a significant money stream to allow work to begin in the world. “It all comes down to the work of passionate Christians,” said VandenEnde. That passion is the start, but it doesn’t mean the work is easy. “People give their lives in some countries to help people reach Christ,” he said.

“All can tell stories of God’s grace,” he added. “It is a way we can measure results.” In some countries, the work is very basic. Where people are downtrodden, teaching children and adults to read and write can be the thin edge of the wedge to reach the masses. Literacy has been determined to be the No. 1 global issue; rectifying that issue allows more to be able to function in society with more opportunity to choose Christ. Knowing “God will use any means to reach people” simply spurs the league team forward, said VandenEnde.

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The League of Ordinary People