A History of Bible Smuggling

My very first frontline missions project was to develop a balloon that would be printed with a Gospel message and sent from South Korea to North Korea

A History of Bible Smuggling Dear Family,   Have you ever thought about being a Bible smuggler? Maybe you have smuggled Bibles before—perhaps to China or Vietnam. When I was in my mid-20s, I remember reading Brother Andrew's book God's Smuggler. I was intrigued by his methods to take Bibles across the borders into communist countries. I thought about the risks that were taken and said to myself "I would never do that!"   The church I attended at the time would have told me that Bible smuggling is wrong since it is against the law. I would learn later how foolish that statement was.   My very first frontline missions project was to develop a balloon that would be printed with an illustrated Gospel message and sent over the border of South Korea into North Korea. I found a factory that could create a mylar bag that was sealed on all four sides with a single hole in order to fill it with Helium. Needless to say, the company was a bit apprehensive about making my Scripture balloons, but they reluctantly agreed. My very first frontline missions project was to develop a balloon that would be printed with an illustrated Gospel message and sent over the border of South Korea into North Korea. We tested the thickness of the mylar, the amount of helium it would take, and even the height that the balloons would reach before setting down. We tracked the balloons with glow-in-the-dark chemicals and night goggles, and even used a small private plane to follow them.   A few years later, I had the pleasure of traveling to the demilitarized zone "DMZ" between North and South Korea. On top of a mountain, we launched the Scripture balloons into North Korea. We watched and prayed as they floated up and away into the hermit kingdom of the north.   The next day, we felt a little braver, so we set out to travel deeper into the DMZ. But, our eagerness caught the attention of the South Korean military, and we were detained at a secret military base. I wasn't in fear of my own safety since I am American, and I assumed they would just throw me out of the country, but I was worried for the Korean missionaries who were helping me. Floating Gospel messages into North Korea was illegal because it violated their anti-propaganda laws.   However, the commander of the base was a Christian and told us, "Don't let us catch you," and released us after a few hours. (He even gave us a hint as to when the winds would be more in our favor).   I have been working to bring Bibles into forbidden areas most of my adult life. While Americans seldom get in trouble, it can be a real problem for those who receive the Bibles. I know too many stories of Christians in communist and Muslim countries getting arrested, imprisoned, and even killed for distributing Bibles. I have been working to bring Bibles into forbidden areas most of my adult life. While Americans seldom get in trouble, it can be a real problem for those who receive the Bibles. In the news this week was a story about how the Taliban in Afghanistan is searching cell phones to see if there are any Bible apps on them in order to target Christians. We do not know to the extent to which this is happening, but the early reports are extremely worrisome.    While we are committed to our iBIBLE app, we know that in some countries, like Afghanistan, it will be too difficult to keep the iBIBLE app on a phone. That is why we are also making iBIBLE available across many media platforms. iBIBLE will be accessible on YouTube, through the app, on Satellite TV broadcasts, and our portable projection system (the Storybox). In the most difficult areas, we will focus on MicroSD cards.   Smuggling Bibles can be an exciting ministry adventure for those who carry a western passport. It is completely different for those who live in these nations, and we must be "wise as serpents" (Matt. 10:16) in how we bring the Bible to them. God forbid we would put our persecuted brothers and sisters at any unnecessary risk.   We live in an age where we can use technology to deliver God's Word. We may not always understand the technology, and we often see how the enemy uses technology to further his deception. Satan would seek to melt the minds of children and young adults through excess time spent on social media and on their phones. It can be a real danger. But technology can also be used for advancing God's Kingdom! Satan would seek to melt the minds of children and young adults through excess time spent on social media and on their phones. It can be a real danger. But technology can also be used for advancing God's Kingdom! The more I speak with mission leaders, and countries like Afghanistan become overrun by radical Muslims, the more committed I am to projects like iBIBLE and new forms of distribution through phones and MicroSD cards.   My wife Debra told me this week, "We cannot manage Satan. Bad things are going to happen." These are simple, yet very wise words. I think it is too easy to think we can usher in God's Kingdom through politics or policy. Even the disciples who walked with Jesus looked for Jesus to usher in an earthly kingdom. But Jesus spoke of an eternal Kingdom that resides in the hearts of those who seek God!   Don't get me wrong. I love the freedoms we have here in America. God has given us tremendous resources and freedoms, and the ability to serve. Are these at risk? I believe so. But today we can work. The enemy is actively seeking to destroy our children and even entire nations. We are called to battle through prayer and through our Kingdom service. The enemy is actively seeking to destroy our children and even entire nations. We are called to battle through prayer and through our Kingdom service. The need for iBIBLE and new forms of distribution will never be as important as it is right now and will be in the years to come. Thank you for standing with us in prayer, encouragement, and in financial support as God leads. Have a blessed Sunday. Steve Cleary CEO/Founder RevelationMedia Learn More About iBIBLE   To learn more about iBIBLE visit www.i.BIBLE. When completed, iBIBLE will reveal the entire Biblical narrative in chronological order in one cohesive story. Join us today as an iBIBLE Producer and help bring God's Divine narrative to life! SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF iBIBLE Support RevelationMedia's MicroSD Card Ministry   Prayerfully consider joining RevelationMedia as we translate Christian resources and distribute them to the people of Afghanistan and other frontline missions. MicroSD cards are less than the size of a dime and are an excellent way to covertly spread the Word of God in a hostile environment; they are inexpensive to buy, easy to hide, and can contain hours of visual Christian and Biblical content that can be loaded directly onto smartphones. They can be replicated in-country, shared among family members, and even distributed through the underground church. Help reach the unreachable with the Gospel message by making a donation today. SUPPORT REVELATIONMEDIA'S MICROSD CARD MINISTRY Copyright © 2021 RevelationMedia, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: RevelationMedia PO Box 850005 Richardson, Texas 75085 Add us to your address book *Manage Your Email Preferences or *Unsubscribe  Subscription Information This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog  *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally