The scar on Ivie’s* cheek is a reminder of how far she has come.

“Do you see the scar on my left cheek?” she asks. “It is a token that I belonged to voodoo. I used to worship idols, especially one called ‘Adja-voodoo.’”

Despite continually sacrificing to idols, Ivie never felt peace or hope. She lived in the slums of Benin, among the stench of garbage and stagnant water. Too poor to attend school, Ivie sold whatever she could in the market to survive. Her spare time was consumed in ancient rituals and voodoo worship.

Then one day, Ivie heard about God from some Christians near her home. Later, she went to a Bible Society literacy program and eventually received a Bible of her own.

“I was very happy,” said the young woman, who remembers clutching her Bible. “For me, this Bible is life, the life I got from my Lord and Savior who I know now. If I didn’t know the Lord through this Bible, maybe I would not be alive. Today, I am set free! I have salvation through my Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory be to Him!”

This is the kind of life-changing outcome your gift has. When you place Bibles in the hands of hurting people, you connect them with God’s hope and grace.

“Whatever happens in my life, I take courage knowing that the Lord is with me; I am not alone,” says Ivie.

We are grateful for the continued support of American Bible Society financial partners, who provide Bibles to hurting people like Ivie in Benin and across the world.

*Name changed to protect privacy.