People are searching for love. A love that isn’t dependent on achievements or behavior, doesn’t walk out when things get tough or reject them. They’re searching for real love. And we know where they can find it!

Scripture describes God’s love like this: God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven (1 John 4:9-10 CEV).

God showed us what real love is by offering his Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins and bring us forgiveness. Because of his unconditional, unrelenting, unlimited love we have the gift of salvation.

For more than 200 years, American Bible Society has labored to share God’s amazing love with people around the world. Through Bible distribution and Bible engagement programs we are helping millions across the globe discover God’s love in the pages of Scripture.

Here are three testimonies of how God’s love is transforming lives.

Jasur’s* Story

Jasur was very young when his father abandoned his family. Jasur carried tremendous resentment toward his father, even after becoming a Christian. Although Jasur has been a Christian for six years and has faithfully attended church, he has found it very hard to understand the Bible because his only copy was in Russian. “My biggest dream was to receive the Bible in Uzbek,” said Jasur.

Then his dream came true! The Uzbek translation of the Bible was completed and Jasur received a Bible in Uzbek. Now Jasur can read his Bible in his heart language. That’s when the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44-45a (GNT) transformed his life: “. . . love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven.”

Jasur forgave his father. When he did, the weight of his resentment lifted, and he began to feel the love of God overwhelm him.

Carlos’s* Story

Living on the streets of Paraguay as a prostitute, Carlos was trapped in what he calls “an empty and aimless life.” Carlos couldn’t escape the shame, bitterness, and hopelessness he felt every day. He turned to drugs. Then Carlos attended an evangelistic outreach event where he heard the gospel message and received his very first Bible. And it has changed his life! “The Word of God today is my guide. It gave me freedom. It gives me healing. Since I met Jesus, I have not returned to prostitution. So much is the change that God has made in my life that my greatest desire is to be an evangelist,” said Carlos. And that’s not all. Carlos is now sharing the gospel message with others. He says, “Since I met Jesus, I have shared the love of God with 80 to 100 people.”

Sarath’s* Story

With conditions in Sri Lanka spiraling out of control, Sarath’s parents decided to take their teenaged son to an orphanage. They left him there and never returned. The pain of abandonment and rejection were so overwhelming, Sarath often wanted to take his own life. “It’s a nightmare and like hell to me,” said Sarath. But then he joined a Bible-Based trauma healing group offered by the local Bible Society. After attending the sessions and receiving his own Bible, Sarath’s heart began to heal. He says, “I found answers to my questions in the Bible. I realized I am not the only one who suffered injustice. I found God loves me so much.” He is also learning to forgive.

How You Can Pray

Your prayers have made it possible for us to share God’s Word with millions of people around the world who are encountering God’s love for the first time. Let’s continue to pray that millions more will have an opportunity to discover God’s love through his Word.

Father, thank you for showing us real love. Thank you for your sacrificial, generous, and everlasting love which was represented through the life and death of your Son, Jesus (John 3:16). We pray that every person will experience your love. Help us to bring your Word to the world so that all may experience its life-changing message. And may it bring restoration, healing, and purpose to all those who engage it. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen

*Names changed for privacy.