Distributing Scriptures in Difficult Times

The following two stories are about the distribution of God’s Word during WWII. Even today, with the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Gaza war, the civil wars in parts of Asia, and in countries where persecution is heavy against Christians, there are many Christians who faithfully and prayerfully distribute Scriptures to people in need of the Gospel message. We hope these stories will highlight the importance of distributing the Word of God today, despite the circumstances and trials one may face.

A young man who was serving in the British Navy during the Second World War was given a couple of copies of the TBS English New Testament to distribute as he saw fit. One day another lad saw the copies and asked if he might have one, saying that once he had belonged to a church, but had given up on these things. However, he seemed very anxious to have a copy of the New Testament, so he was given one. Shortly after his boat left the shores, and not many hours later the ship was sunk. The lad’s dead body was washed up, and in his pocket was the New Testament he had been given so recently. We can only hope that there was a reason he had been given it, and that the Lord had worked within him in this short time.

Somewhere else, a man distributing New Testaments had gone aboard a ship, and a young gunner asked if he could have a Bible for his friend who wanted one. The distributor only had New Testaments on him so told the gunner if he had time before he sailed he could come to the Mission on shore and collect one. But the gunner never did have the time; a few days later the ship sank and a large part of the crew were killed.