Personally, I’m excited about the new opportunities God isopening for VBB to become more involved in the work of theGospel around the world. I’m especially excited to see doorsopening to the Islamic world. After many years of traveling inAsia, I welcome the challenge to see God’s power and victorymanifested in Islamic countries.Twenty-five years ago I started traveling. I went to Israel andworked as a missionary there for six months, and Iexperienced much persecution from some people who wereopposed to the Gospel. It was exciting but also scary to traveloverseas and live in places where I was a minority. Myanticipation is building as I find myself heading into newareas once again.

I’M EAGER TO RETURN TOTURKEY,PAKISTAN,AFGHANISTAN,IRAN,IRAQ AND OTHER ISLAMICCOUNTRIES PREPARED WITHTHE GOSPEL.

I hope to find ways to get moreBibles to the persecuted Church in these countries, to givethem more tools so that they can become more effective intheir ministries, and also reach out to those who have neverheard the Gospel.I’ve been learning more about effectively sharing the Gospelwith Muslims. I have shared with many in the past, but nowthe burden to reach Muslims with the truth of Jesus Christhas increased. I’ve been studying Ray Comfort’s teaching onhow to use the Law of God in evangelism and am excited tosee the Holy Spirit using God’s Law to bring conviction inpeople’s lives. The Lord confirmed this to me as I sat with abrother in Waco, Texas who is working to bring the Gospelto the Turkish people. He explained how he uses the Law of God to bring conviction to the hearts of Muslims. Thisbrother has been having good fruit as he shares the Gospelwith the Turkish people.Turkey is one of the countries for which my heart isburdened: a country of over 70 million people but only3,000 - 4,000 Turks are Christians. They say that to beTurkish is to be Muslim. Nationalism is very strong, and thepeople take great pride in being Turkish. Our brother who is

I believe it will prove to be a year of many challenges asGod calls His Church apart from the world,and a year of many opportunities to see the faithfulness of God.

DEAR FRIENDS,I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW YEARAND WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FORHIS PEOPLE.

Muslim woman reading

working in Turkey has given out a lot of Bibles, and he isrequesting more.Another brother we are partnering with in Pakistan is trulycommitted to helping reach the Pakistani people with theGospel. He related a story which I believe needs to be shared,as it demonstrates the great need for Bibles in Pakistan. Hewent to a village along the Afghan border to share theGospel with a people group who had never heard it before.To get to the village, they traveled four hours by pick-uptruck and passed 26 Al-Qaeda training camps in 20 miles.Our brother was able to share the Gospel in a village with Jewish ancestry, where the people have been sacrificinggoats for forgiveness of sins. The Muslims are trying toconvert them to Islam, but our brother was able to preach,telling the villagers that the blood of bulls and goats cannotwash away sins, but that God sent His only Son JesusChrist to die on the cross for their sins. As the people heardabout God sending His Son to pay for their sins, they beganto weep, and they repented and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Our brother was able to give them Biblespurchased through funds donated to VBB. Afterwards he hadlunch with the village chief and asked him what heunderstood from what he had heard. He answered, “Wedon’t need to sacrifice goats anymore. God sent His son JesusChrist to die on the cross for our sins, and his blood isenough to pay for our sins.”

AS WE TRAVEL WE HEAR MOREREPORTS ABOUT HOW GOD ISAT WORK IN THE ISLAMICWORLD TO BRING PEOPLE TOHIMSELF.

Just as we heard reports of drug dealersand gang leaders coming to faith in Jesus Christ in the 50sand 60s, I believe that now we are going to see terroristscome to faith in Jesus! Already we are hearing reports of thishappening. Please pray that God will give us the boldness toshare the Gospel without fear.“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in theSpirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance andsupplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterancemay be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly tomake known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am anambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as Iought to speak.” Ephesians 6:18-20