A Tale of Two Organizations

A report on the November 21, 2009 Day of Inspiration and Banquet of Praise held in Abbotsford.  By Bill de Waal

 
In the words of Charles Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This in many ways mirrors the state of our global society.

 
In the developed world we have lots of 'stuff' and much of it needs to be discarded to make room for more stuff. We, the discarders, regard this stuff to be of low or no value. However, in our country there is a huge gulf between the well heeled and the not so well heeled. For them this stuff is valuable but only if it's price is right.

 
In many parts of the world people not only lack stuff but they lack the means to secure it. And for many people the foundations of their lives are not sound. Could it be that nickels and dimes can make a difference in the lives of the poor living in the third world?

 
On November 21, 2009, Karen and I accompanied a school bus load of retirees on a trip to Abbotsford to attend The Bible League of Canada’s Day of Inspiration and Banquet of Praise held at the Tradex.

 The day was an eye opener and one we will not soon forget. The event was organized by The Bible League of Canada (TBLC) www.bibleleague.ca and BFM Foundation Canada (BFM) www.bfmthriftstores.ca. The purpose for the occasion was to tell the stories of God’s transforming love in a broken world and thus to affirm that the support of TBLC’s donors and the partnership of the 3000+ Bibles for Missions Thrift Store volunteers who give selflessly of their time and talents.  The work they do has meaning and brings hope to the lives of the very poor beyond our borders.

 
TBLC was founded in 1948 and distributed Bibles door to door. In the ‘60s it 'expanded its activities beyond Canada. Today the organization provides Scriptures and training worldwide by partnering with local churches and organizations in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central, South and North America. By using local indigenous people and organizations TBLC’s ministry is very effective. Local church planters, for example, are far more effective than foreign missionaries since they know the language, culture, values, climate, and have far less financial and physical needs.

 
At the Day of Inspiration we listened to frontline partners from Eastern Europe, Africa, India and North Korea. Each speaker made it clear that the gospel is having an impact on all aspects of the lives of people they minister to. Stories of orphaned children in Africa and persecuted Christians in North Korea touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes.

 
The national directors from India, a married couple, explained that church planters armed with simple literacy training materials offer free adult learning classes for the ignored and impoverished in villages and communities. It is nearly always women who respond and because of their great hunger to learn, they very quickly gain the necessary skills to function in society. Church planters intentionally share the truths of the gospel and get to witness to the hearts and minds of people where as many as 40% of the literacy students turn to Christ. Because of the practical lessons taught in economic skills, basic hygiene, and marketplace math, income often triples in the first year, diseases and sickness are abated, and above all villages with believers blossom with new hope in the Lord.

 
The Banquet of Praise was attended by more than 700 persons and we had an opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s most experienced foreign correspondents, Brian Stewart. He is the host of CBC News: Our World. Over his long career he has reported from many of the troubled spots in the world: Ethiopia, Beirut, Rwanda and El Salvador. He reported, “I have never been able to reach these frontlines without finding Christian volunteers in the thick of it".

 
This clearly has had an impact on him and he provided us with encouraging words. “The church and Christians stand up in the face of danger, telling the world they are not going to stand aside. They stick it out longer than anyone; they are the bravest in the world.”

 
Guests were encouraged and inspired in the knowledge that despite the often desperate conditions around the world (the worst of times), Christians –YOU are making a difference making it possible for many people to experience the love and joy that happens to those who become followers of Jesus Christ (the best of times). 

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