Guarani language Book of Hope: An instant hit in schools!
In Guarani the Book of Hope is called The Great Rescue or Reskate Tuichaiteva — and because it’s one of the few children’s books available in this indigenous language of South America, it is welcome in many schools in Paraguay attended by Guarani children.
“Teachers immediately want to use it to teach reading comprehension with indigenous students, and when we show them, it also provides values education. They love it,” says our local partner Mirian.
She also uses OneHope Youth Films in ministry to teens and
The GodMan film for younger children.
“We watch the movie, and at the end, we give each one a book, read a little together, and pray with them,” she says.
Although sometimes a school principal or teacher is hesitant about allowing Christian books in class, Mirian and her team have been warmly welcomed by most schools.
They’ve reached 7 of 10 schools in their area and the children’s hospital — and 2,000 Guarani children have received Reskate Tuichaiteva.
Thank you for sending God’s Word back to school for students this year!
Back to School Fast Facts
Adelina’s Story of Hope
Adelina lives in the disadvantaged community not far from Purpose Academy, the school OneHope hosts at our ministry center.
Most of the students are being raised by a single parent or grandparents; many struggle to feel grounded or are in the shadows of circumstances beyond their control, including fatherlessness and economically disadvantaged households.
Adelina manifested her inner turmoil with an outer silence. She paid attention in class and completed assignments … but her teacher says Adelina attended her Bible class for a full academic year without ever making a single comment.
That was sixth grade. Throughout seventh grade, it was clear Adelina was growing closer to God and had committed her life to Christ! She even chose to receive water baptism.
Today Adelina is a leader in her eighth grade class.
Her teacher says, “Adelina thanks God for everything that He has done for her and prays regularly. … She knows her purpose, and it shows daily in her life at school.”
Adelina may come from a difficult background, but her future is bright because of her faith in Jesus.
Adelina found faith in Jesus — at school!
Saturday school is in session!
Sunday school is the way it’s always been done …
But today in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, Saturday school is what has all the neighborhood children flocking to our partner church: local children received the Bible App for Kids Book of Hope, which is the printed book with illustrations from the app.
On Saturdays, they bring their books and gather to watch corresponding video segments from the Bible App for Kids.
“The children arrive excited since they know that they will be able to see a series from the Bible, and they really like that, plus they love doing the activities from the books of the Bible,” says Deyssi, a children’s worker.
“The children are more interested in learning the Word of God, and it is more practical and easier for them to understand it with the videos.”
Because Saturday school is such a hit with the children, parents have been interested, too. We’re excited to see how lives are transformed by the gift of God’s Word you sent for these young people.
The Bible App for Kids and the Bible App for Kids Book of Hope
The Bible App for Kids is the most downloaded online children’s Bible! It leads children through the story of Jesus and helps them discover the plan of salvation and the truth of Scripture.
Because not every child has everyday access to a phone or tablet, we also offer the Bible App for Kids Book of Hope, a special-edition book that includes illustrations from the app. It can be used alone or along with the app.
–> The combination of the app and the printed Book of Hope keeps children excited about digging into the Word!
With the gift you sent, she’s leading her family to Jesus!
In a majority-Buddhist nation, Vanna found hope in Jesus through a local church. She loved going to Sunday school and studying the Bible there.
The Scriptures assured her Jesus loved her and her whole family — but neither her parents nor her siblings cared anything about the Christian religion.
Then you sent a special gift to Vanna at her school: the World Without Sickness Scripture book. It’s designed to focus on personal hygiene and health issues in the developing world — because it teaches good habits (and comes with a toothbrush!), it’s welcomed in many schools.
Vanna was delighted to receive the book and learn about taking care of her body — and thrilled to discover the book also taught about Jesus!
She took it home and began reading it to her family … they embraced the hygiene instructions and also wanted to know more about Jesus. Vanna was able to tell them that God loves them and wants them to know Him.
And for the first time, Vanna’s parents and siblings accepted her invitation to attend church with her.
Vanna’s mom and dad are proud of her for having the courage to tell them about Jesus, and the whole family is still attending church together. Please pray with Vanna that soon her parents and siblings will all come to know Jesus as Savior!
Back to school with a Purpose
By OneHope President Rob Hoskins
If you’ve visited the OneHope ministry center in Florida, you’ve seen Purpose Academy, the Christian school on the lower levels of our office building.
No matter how many millions of children and youth OneHope reaches around the world every year, we wouldn’t be truly fulfilling our mission if we were ignoring children in desperate need of hope in our own backyard.
In 2018, Purpose Academy began with its first class of sixth graders and a mission of “Equipping sons and daughters to learn, grow, and step into their destinies in Christ.” Today, 99 sixth through eighth grade students are receiving a quality Christian education in classrooms located within our OneHope office building in Pompano Beach.
As the first class at Purpose Academy went from sixth to eighth grade, there was a 30% increase of students reading at grade level. Additionally, during the lockdowns of the 2020-21 school year, Purpose Academy students achieved 162% of annual typical growth in reading.
Our funding for the school is raised separately from OneHope efforts. Several local churches support the effort, and the teachers and staff are separate from OneHope employees. If you are interested in learning more about Purpose Academy and how you can get involved, please visit www.purposeacademy.site or contact office@purposeacademy.site.
We are working to ensure that Purpose Academy students’ whole beings are nurtured — everything from academic achievement to character formation, specialized activities to after-care needs, even standing in the gaps missing from their home lives and encouraging them to get involved in local churches.
And of course our students are immersed in Bible, character development, and leadership classes. They are being equipped with practical life tools, such as job skills and interview practice, and are given individualized mentorship time as needed. Students also attend weekly chapel services with guest speakers from OneHope and local churches in the community.
Please join me in viewing schools as the next great mission field. Done well, they become centers to equip young people with viable skills that will allow them to support their families while also accomplishing the work of the Kingdom.
NATION BY NATION
SOUTH KOREA
Audrey had a dream where Jesus appointed her to be a missionary — and in the dream He assured her she didn’t have to go to a foreign land but was His witness wherever she went. When she went back to school last August, she made a new friend on the school bus and shared the Gospel with her!
SENSITIVE NATION
Children’s ministry worker Rinzen is grateful for the Scripture programs you sent for the church! “The language is so easy, and the children love the games and activities,” she reports. This is a breakthrough in a majority-Buddhist nation. “The children understand, and they’re engaged with God’s Word.”
GUATEMALA
After the Superbook program was launched in a middle school, one student decided to go preach on the streets, using his special-edition Superbook Book of Hope to tell other children about Jesus!
THANKS FOR SENDING GOD’S WORD TO UWAKEZA … Now she knows she’s Unstoppable!
Uwakeza was a young girl growing up with all brothers — older brothers, younger brothers — and her parents were delighted to have boys!
In their community in Rwanda, boys seemed more highly valued than girls; boys would grow up to make money and take care of their families … girls would grow up to get married off so there wouldn’t be an extra mouth to feed.
At least, this was how Uwakeza felt. She felt like an afterthought, unimportant, and incapable compared to her brothers.
But then you sent our special-edition Book of Hope called Unstoppable to the Scripture Union Bible Camp Uwakeza attended last summer.
“From the book, I learned to be confident and proud of who I am and not envious of someone else’s life,” she says. “I learned that daily Bible reading can change your life.”
And most importantly, she says: “I came to know Jesus as Savior, and He saved me from sin and from self-condemnation.”
Uwakeza continues to grow in her faith in Christ, and this school year, she’s leading the Scripture Union Bible Club at her school.
“Now I know that I am unstoppable!” she says. “And I’m passionate about showing other girls the completeness and fulfillment found in Christ.”
Because of your gift of God’s Word, Uwakeza found hope in Jesus, and she’s sharing this hope with other girls. This is a beautiful multiplication of grace through the gift of the Word.
“Unstoppable was a great experience — through reading it, my life was changed,” Uwakeza says. And her message to you today?
“Thank you for the gift you gave us, and God bless you!”
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