Partner Profile: Receiving a Priceless Treasure
Joe McCormick will never forget walking into church in rural China. First there was the welcoming ritual: firecrackers, gongs and the occasional brass band. Then the congregation lined up to usher him into the building. And finally, down to business: Joe was there upon the invitation of Chinese church leaders to witness Bible distribution.
Joe, a Texas native who now lives in Tennessee, has supported American Bible Society's Bible-A-Month program for 17 years. And in October of 2012, he had the opportunity to see the results of Bible-A-Month in action in China. In just one week, Chinese church leaders and their invited guests, including Joe, handed out several thousand Bibles in more than 10 churches.
For years, Joe felt a burden to reach the people of China with God's Word. Visiting China only confirmed the importance of that task. During his church visits, he continued to be inspired by Chinese Christians' overwhelming desire for Scripture.
In one church a wrinkled woman with bright eyes began to elbow and shove people out of the way to reach the front of the line where Joe was distributing Bibles. When she finally accepted her Bible in rough, work-worn hands, she bowed in thanks and immediately clutched the Bible to her chest. Joe knew she had just received a priceless treasure.
“I want someday to hear the Lord say ‘Well done, faithful servant,'” Joe explains. And for Joe, an important part of serving God faithfully is sharing his Word with others around the world.
Thanks to the support of our faithful financial partners, American Bible Society has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for more than 200 years.
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