To Our Supporter Family

Fall 2007

Dear Friends, Supporters & Fellow Workers:

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us so much that He gave himself for us that we may share in His goodness for Eternity. This is why we go to the poor of this world to bring Eternal Hope to those who don’t have it. You have been a very important part of this work that has been called Bibles for the Poor Society for 6 years now. God has moved in many hearts to give so that we could purchase and distribute almost 2,500 Bislama Bibles to the people of Vanuatu so far.

Not long ago we received a letter from Beverly who is a missionary on the island of Malekula in Vanuatu. In her letter she told us that the 20 Bibles that we left with her almost three years ago are having a huge impact on the mountain people in her area. Evek a native woman has been evangelizing these people of Malekula by taking them the Word of God. Because of the steep terrain she can only take 2 or 3 bibles at one time along with salt and kerosene. Beverly sent us the names of each person who received a Bible and we pray for each one that it will not only change their hearts but also the hearts of their families and villages. Some of the names that she sent were Setlin Joshua, Lema, Keialtresa, Josina, Kelina, Ricki, Rinna, Annina, Esther, Saik, Hosea and Pauline. Please pray for these precious souls that they would become great witnesses for Him.

There have also been huge turnings to God recently with the Cargo cult people that we have been ministering to, distributing Bibles to and praying for over the past 5 years. This is the village on Tanna that received a new outboard motor from us last year. At that time their chief, Isaac Wan professed Christ by saying that he had Jesus in his heart. Many of his people have come back to God and joined the church; last year alone 1200 were accepted into the church on the island of Tanna. We know that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that this could happen.

But how will they hear except that someone go and tell them? It is of the utmost importance that the people get the Word of God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. This work of giving out Bibles can be difficult at times but very rewarding because we have a promise in the Scriptures that His Word will not return void.

Last year we had a request for Bibles too from a Wycliffe missionary couple on Tanna. Hundreds of people walked for miles in the pouring rain to receive a Bible. The following week after our distribution there, Ken contacted us just before we left Vanuatu saying that it was amazing how people could easily find the books of the Bible when he was preaching. He was also amazed at their enthusiastic Bible studies after the service, all sitting in a circle on the grass with their new Bibles open in their hands. They just couldn’t get enough of His Word.

This year we are thankful that we will be distributing a record number of Bibles. Bibles for the Poor Society has purchased 1000 Bislama Bibles for Vanuatu and God has supplied the funds through the generous giving of His people. Our team will be helping two other Wycliffe families this January 2008 as they have requested Bibles for the people in their areas. Jennifer Manua, a local high school principal on Tanna, has also requested 200 Good News English Bibles for her students. We plan to fill that request on our next mission too. We hope to visit Beverly on Malekula and take another box of Bibles to her area and especially to encourage her as she recently lost her husband. She had married a local native chief many years ago. We will continue to listen to the Holy Spirit as he maps out our course while we are in Vanuatu on this next mission. We will again work with local Christian leaders and pastors from all denominations assessing the needs and obeying His call.

Our mandate is to bring Eternal Hope to the world and this year we will be going not only to Vanuatu but the Solomon Islands located just above Vanuatu. A Wycliffe missionary along with other local Christian leaders are in the final stages of translation for a Pidgin English common language Bible for that country. This will be the first time that they will have the whole Bible available to them in their own language. Our desire is to keep distributing Bibles in Vanuatu and are now excited about reaching out to the poverty stricken Solomon Islands. Bibles for the Poor Society has already received a pledge of 100 Bibles for the Solomon’s. We feel called to go to the very poorest countries and distribute the Bibles to those who have no hope of ever getting one.

We will be leaving for Vanuatu and Solomon Islands from Vancouver B.C. on January 3, 2008. We go because the love of Christ compels us and He has given us the command and call to go to the ends of the earth. We go out in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and for His name’s sake.

We thank God that he has moved people to be involved with Bibles for the Poor Society in getting the Bibles into the hands of the poor. In the story in Acts we hear of how God sent an angel to Cornelius, the angel said “Cornelius your gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering to God.” Our God will not forget your labour and gifts of love.

We are greatful for your help as fellow workers in getting the Good News out to the ends of the earth. As a Canadian registered charity we are qualified to give tax receipts to all Canadian supporters. Please continue to pray for this work and our upcoming mission trip.

May God bless you this Christmas season and always.

Love in Christ,

Dave & Abby Dever