The people of Nicaragua are looking to God’s Word to help quell the deadliest civil conflict the country has seen in almost 40 years.

It began in April 2018 when university students took to the streets to protest the government’s proposed tax increases and cuts in benefits. The national police responded, initially firing on the protestors with rubber bullets, but later using live ammunition.

With the death toll mounting each day, estimates say about 264 people (including some police officers) have been killed and thousands more injured.

Thanks to the support of American Bible Society’s financial partners, God’s Word is going out to university students and the national police in an attempt to calm the violence on both sides. Bible Society of Nicaragua is distributing more than 1,500 Bibles to students, another 1,500 New Testaments to the police officers who are in charge of controlling the protests, and 5,000 free Bible Portions to the community. With greater access to scriptural truths, Nicaragua can find its way out of this conflict.

The Bible Society is also working with young Christian leaders to encourage the university students to start their day in the Word. “This will allow university students to know about God’s love in their life, to find a living hope in his Word, and [they] can communicate with God,” said Rebeca Marisol Alfaro Pauthza of the Bible Society.

The goal for the police officers is “that they, through the Word of God, may be sensitized and may change their behavior and their hearts surrendered at the feet of Jesus,” said Pauthza.

We ask you to please keep Nicaragua in your prayers, remembering “The Lord is good; he protects his people in times of trouble; he takes care of those who turn to him” (Nahum 1:7 GNT).