Story by Todd Nettleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some years ago, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a Christian boarded a crowded bus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He carried a forbidden package: Bibles God called him to deliver into Vietnam\u2019s remote interior, spiritual food for fellow believers who had little to no access to Scripture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He knew the risk if his secret was discovered. The box of Bibles could cost him his freedom. He could be tortured. But he also knew the unstoppable power of God\u2019s Word to change lives. He knew he must answer God\u2019s call. Before the bus departed, he prayed quietly, asking for protection and strength to do what God had called him to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God answered his prayer in an unexpected way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moments before departure, a police captain boarded the bus, his crisp uniform exuding authority. The captain walked down the century aisle, then chose the seat right next to the Bible smuggler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The officer settled into the seat and quickly fell into a deep sleep. But before drifting off, he took off his police captain\u2019s hat and sat it squarely on top of the box of Bibles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 12 hours, the bus passed through multiple police checkpoints. Officers boarded at every one, demanding passengers\u2019 ID and inspecting their luggage and belongings. At every checkpoint, police saw the captain sleeping soundly and decided not to risk his wrath by waking him. They noticed his hat on the box of Bibles, and assumed that box didn\u2019t need to be searched. With his slumbering police escort, the bold Christian and his box of Bibles arrived safely to their destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Merv Knight, cofounder of The Voice of the Martyrs Australia, met this bold Vietnamese Christian and shared his story. Stories of bold believers and God\u2019s protection over deliveries of His Word are not uncommon in VOM\u2019s work serving persecuted Christians. In my years at VOM I\u2019ve heard stories of an unaccompanied donkey delivering Bibles across the Syrian border, Iranian police who thumbed through Bibles but somehow only saw blank pages, and airport security officers miraculously distracted from their X-ray screens as suitcases of Bibles inched along the conveyor belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For millions of Christians worldwide, access to the Bible is restricted or dangerous. Bold Christian believers often risk everything to share the truth of God\u2019s Word with brothers and sisters who still don\u2019t have access to the Bible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many barriers to Bible access. In some countries, strict laws make it illegal or nearly impossible to print, import, distribute or even own a Bible. In other places, God\u2019s Word has not yet been translated into the local language, or Christians are too poor to purchase their own Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vietnam is just one example of these challenges. With nearly 10 million Christians (almost 10% of the country\u2019s population), only a minority have their own copy of God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBible access in Vietnam is shaped by a tightly controlled religious environment under the rule of the Communist Party,\u201d reports the\u00a0Bible Access List. \u201cOn paper, Christians may own Bibles. However, the perception of open availability is misleading. In reality, printing Bibles in many languages is not permitted, while others are subject to strict government quotas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Vietnam, an official, expensive \u201cand extremely difficult to obtain\u201d permit is required to print or distribute any Bible in any language or format, the Bible Access List explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for persecuted Christians, the Bible is not a luxury; it is the lifeline of faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n