It’s been forty years since Bob Reekie, Jim Engel and Jim Johnson founded Media Associates International with just $5,000. “That’s how the Lord does things,” Bob had said, of MAI’s beginnings. “He says, ‘Hey, you’ve got too many troops out there and not enough faith.’” Since then, we’ve consistently seen God’s faithfulness.
“One of the things that stands out to me about MAI’s impact over the last 40 years is the multiplication effect of apparently small things,” MAI Board Chair Anna Piro said. “We start a friendship. We encourage a publisher. We have a conversation with a Christian writer. We run a training event. In of themselves, these are ‘little’ things.”
“But these things multiply—and through the years we have indeed seen that God uses the written word to transform lives. God has enabled us to discover hidden talent. Our ‘trainees’ are now trainers who equip others. As we continue to invest in each other, we’ve seen that Christian writing really is essential to the strength of the local—and global—Church.”
Here are just a few highlights from God’s work through global Christian writers, editors and publishers over the last forty years.
Students coming to faith
Titmakara Chim, executive director of Fount of Wisdom publishing house in Cambodia with whom MAI has had decades of relationship, shared of how a bilingual English-Khmer book, New Life in Life, has changed the lives of many young Cambodians. “Many have become Christians, disciples of Jesus—particularly among students who stay at dormitories and church.”
Discipling young Christians through writing
When Ukrainian author Serhii Soluhub published his first book of a devotional series about God’s perfections, he was asked for more. After learning at LittWorld about discipling young authors through collaborative writing, he is now working with a growing team of nine young local authors to complete the rest of the seven book series.
Investing in the long-term to bear lasting fruit
Inspired by LittAfrica 2023’s writing contest, Susan Binion at UBI Publishing in South Africa ran a similar one for school students in her local community, Letters of Hope Mpumuza. “Youth mentors, teachers and friends of the participants all testified that being a part of the program had changed the students’ lives,” Susan said.
Books on Christian living draw readers to Christ
A reader told MAI trainer and Philippine author Ardy Roberto that as a student ten years ago, she had become a Christian because of Ang pera na hindi bitin (“Money that’s never short”), his book about personal financial stewardship. Another reader said, “I was a sex addict. But because of your book, Real men are POGI, I accepted Jesus as my Lord.”
Offering redeeming hope to prisoners
Author Joan Campbell’s short story written in the voice of Barabbas, Murderer in the Crowd, was used by a ministry worker who read the story to prisoners at Easter. “Prisoners saw that a ‘bad man’ could be redeemed by Jesus,” Joan said. “What a blessing that God uses my stories in a small way to reach people with His love.”
Reassured of God’s character and compassion
God used author Emily Lim-Leh’s memoir, Finding My Voice, to assure a young woman experiencing voice loss that He is there for her. He also touched a reader of her children’s picture book, Just Teddy, with the realization that just as the main character is one-of-a-kind, she too is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)
Finding Jesus through books
A Christian publishing house in south Asia reported that where public evangelism is restricted, the written word is essential, “We’ve seen people coming to know the Lord through our books.” One young man did so after reading In Christianity or in Christ. Children’s story books and children’s Bibles have also prompted students to live lives of “salt and light.”
Saved from suicide by a leaflet of hope
At a busy bus station in south Asia, a leaflet blew in the wind and clung to a man’s leg—a man who had been considering suicide. He read of the love, peace and hope offered by Jesus in the leaflet, You too can be a winner written by MAI trustee George Koshy, and committed his life to Christ. He later contacted the pastor who distributed the leaflet, and joined a church.
Words for life for children
After mice ate his original manuscript, author George Koshy spent years recreating a children’s Bible. Samaritan’s Purse went on to distribute 58,000 copies in south Asia, where two children became Christians and started attending church after reading it.
Fostering reconciliation and friendship
In response to sectarian violence in Nigeria, Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS) published books to foster reconciliation. One book, My Brother’s Keeper, shared true stories of Muslims and Christians sacrificing to help each other, providing each side with the hope of friendship.
Training readers in healing words
Jean-Pasteur and Daphrose Katavo of the Democratic Republic of Congo translated and added locally relevant articles to a handbook, By His Wounds: Trauma Healing for East Africa, which was used to help train Christians as trauma counselors. A father who had lost his son to murder came to trust and find peace in God.
A letter saves a family—and starts a church
After coming to faith, author Ardy Roberto wrote his testimony in a twelve-page letter and published it, distributing it across the Philippines. Later, it was traditionally published as a gospel booklet, Ang Buhay na Hindi Bitin (“Living the Full Life”). A reader passed on a copy—through which a whole family was saved, and later started a house church.
Discovering Jesus through an online magazine
A young man living in the Middle East thought of Jesus as weak and dependent. He came across a Christian magazine online, where articles describe Jesus as “strong, free—more than a man.” He ordered a print copy, and described its arrival as the “most joyful moment of my life.” He then decided to read the Bible and ask questions about his new spiritual journey.
From book to play to salvation in Christ
Peruvian author Patricia Adrianzén de Vergara wrote El Cristo del Camino (“The Christ of The Road”), then created a play based on the book for Easter. A hundred people who attended the play came to profess faith in Christ.
Finding the ultimate treasure in the trash
A young man living alone in Kenya found chapters of a book, Growing in Christ When Young, that author Stella Okoronkwo had thrown away. He read the gospel within these pages and found salvation in Christ. Another man in Bhutan picked up a Christian book in the trash, and travelled for four days looking for a church that would baptize him.
Multiple generations coming to faith and standing firm
An academic dean and lecturer in Cambodia shared the impact of Is Christmas real? “The book became a part of my life—beyond just knowledge, it became a form of healing in difficult and discouraging times.” He has also seen friends and students at his school come to faith in Christ or grow in their faith through reading the book.
Perseverance and practical encouragement
Etienne Mbusa launched the Christian magazine Espoir (“Hope”) in war-torn eastern Congo after sharing his vision at LittWorld and receiving encouragement and funding. Despite surrounding violence, he persevered because “readers are longing for the second issue” to give them hope rooted in a loving God.
Publishing hand-in-hand with community service
MAI-Africa trustee Joanna Ilboudo launched Contact magazine and developed a ministry to widows and orphans, ACTS, in Burkina Faso. The president of Burkina Faso went on to award her a medal for community service. Author Pratibha Manaen used the profits from her book, A Friend in a Thousand, to establish the Manushi Funds to help rural Nepali girls attend school.
Publishing initiatives breaking new ground
Publishing foundation HARMAT was established in post-Communist Europe to provide students with books to grow in their faith. MagiMagi Publishers and a Christian writer association were launched after their founder attended LittWorld, which aimed to make the Bible and Christian literature “available, accessible and relevant” through locally-written books.
Persevering passion in the world’s hardest places
“I still vividly recall his passion as he described his desire to offer books in Burmese that shine hope and light,” said MAI Director of Publisher Development Ramon Rocha of a small Christian publisher in Myanmar today—one of many faithful Christian publishers who continue to serve amidst political, economic and social challenges.
“More Christian books written by local authors for local contexts leads to more Christians who are more engaged in the truths of scripture and more deeply connected to Christ,” MAI President Heather Pubols said. “This is essential to the long-term health of the global Church.”
In the next forty years, may there be a continuous stream of excellent, life-transforming, Spirit-empowered articles and books written for God’s glory—and may MAI keep facilitating that!
Related stories
- Why Christian publishing? with MAI President Heather Pubols
- Until there are no ‘hard places’: 40 years of MAI with former MAI President John Maust
- How have we been encouraged? Let us count the ways… with MAI Regional Board Chairs