{"id":20350,"date":"2025-09-29T16:40:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T21:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maiglobal.org\/?p=20350"},"modified":"2025-10-08T20:19:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T01:19:37","slug":"how-the-lord-does-things-40-years-of-mai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maiglobal.org\/id\/how-the-lord-does-things-40-years-of-mai\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHow the Lord does things\u201d: 40 years of MAI"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s been forty years since Bob Reekie, Jim Engel and Jim Johnson founded Media Associates International with just $5,000. \u201cThat\u2019s how the Lord does things,\u201d Bob had said, of MAI\u2019s beginnings. \u201cHe says, \u2018Hey, you\u2019ve got too many troops out there and not enough faith.\u2019\u201d Since then, we\u2019ve consistently seen God\u2019s faithfulness.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that stands out to me about MAI\u2019s impact over the last 40 years is the multiplication effect of apparently small things,\u201d MAI Board Chair Anna Piro said. \u201cWe 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 \u2018little\u2019 things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut these things multiply\u2014and 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 \u2018trainees\u2019 are now trainers who equip others. As we continue to invest in each other, we\u2019ve seen that Christian writing really is essential to the strength of the local\u2014and global\u2014Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are just a few highlights from God\u2019s work through global Christian writers, editors and publishers over the last forty years.<\/p>\n

Students coming to faith <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Titmakara Chim, executive director of Fount of Wisdom<\/a> publishing house in Cambodia with whom MAI has had decades of relationship, shared of how a bilingual English-Khmer book, New Life in Life,<\/em> has changed the lives of many young Cambodians. \u201cMany have become Christians, disciples of Jesus\u2014particularly among students who stay at dormitories and church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discipling young Christians through writing<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When Ukrainian author Serhii Soluhub<\/a> published his first book of a devotional series about God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Investing in the long-term to bear lasting fruit<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Inspired by LittAfrica 2023\u2019s writing contest<\/a>, Susan Binion at UBI Publishing in South Africa ran a similar one for school students in her local community, Letters of Hope Mpumuza. <\/em>\u201cYouth mentors, teachers and friends of the participants all testified that being a part of the program had changed the students’ lives,\u201d Susan said.<\/p>\n

Books on Christian living draw readers to Christ<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A reader told MAI trainer and Philippine author Ardy Roberto<\/a> that as a student ten years ago, she had become a Christian because of Ang pera na hindi bitin<\/em> (\u201cMoney that’s never short\u201d), his book about personal financial stewardship. Another reader said, \u201cI was a sex addict. But because of your book, Real men are POGI<\/em>, I accepted Jesus as my Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offering redeeming hope to prisoners<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Author Joan Campbell\u2019s short story written in the voice of Barabbas, Murderer in the Crowd<\/em><\/a>, was used by a ministry worker who read the story to prisoners at Easter. \u201cPrisoners saw that a \u2018bad man\u2019 could be redeemed by Jesus,\u201d Joan said. \u201cWhat a blessing that God uses my stories in a small way to reach people with His love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reassured of God\u2019s character and compassion<\/strong><\/h4>\n

God used author Emily Lim-Leh\u2019s memoir, Finding My Voice<\/a>, <\/em>to assure a young woman experiencing voice loss that He is there for her. He also touched a reader of her children\u2019s picture book, Just Teddy<\/em>, with the realization that just as the main character is one-of-a-kind, she too is \u201cfearfully and wonderfully made.\u201d (Psalm 139:14)<\/p>\n

Finding Jesus through books<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A Christian publishing house in south Asia reported that where public evangelism is restricted, the written word is essential, \u201cWe\u2019ve seen people coming to know the Lord through our books.\u201d One young man did so after reading In Christianity or in Christ<\/em>. Children\u2019s story books and children\u2019s Bibles have also prompted students to live lives of \u201csalt and light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saved from suicide by a leaflet of hope<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At a busy bus station in south Asia, a leaflet blew in the wind and clung to a man\u2019s leg\u2014a man who had been considering suicide. He read of the love, peace and hope offered by Jesus in the leaflet,\u00a0You too can be a winner<\/em> written by MAI trustee George Koshy, and\u00a0committed his life to Christ. He later contacted the pastor who distributed the leaflet, and joined a church.<\/p>\n

Words for life for children<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Fostering reconciliation and friendship <\/strong><\/h4>\n

In response to sectarian violence in Nigeria, Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS)<\/a> published books to foster reconciliation. One book, My Brother\u2019s Keeper<\/em>, shared true stories of Muslims and Christians sacrificing to help each other, providing each side with the hope of friendship.<\/p>\n

Training readers in healing words<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n

A letter saves a family\u2014and starts a church<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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<\/em> (\u201cLiving the Full Life\u201d). A reader passed on a copy\u2014through which a whole family was saved, and later started a house church.<\/p>\n

Discovering Jesus through an online magazine<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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 \u201cstrong, free\u2014more than a man.\u201d He ordered a print copy, and described its arrival as the\u00a0\u201cmost joyful moment of my life.\u201d He then decided to read the Bible and ask questions about his new spiritual journey.<\/p>\n

From book to play to salvation in Christ<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Peruvian author Patricia Adrianz\u00e9n de Vergara wrote El Cristo del Camino<\/em> (\u201cThe Christ of The Road\u201d), then created a play based on the book for Easter. A hundred people who attended the play came to profess faith in Christ.<\/p>\n

Finding the ultimate treasure in the trash<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A young man living alone in Kenya found chapters of a book, Growing in Christ When Young<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n

Multiple generations coming to faith and standing firm<\/strong><\/h4>\n

An academic dean and lecturer in Cambodia shared the impact of Is Christmas real?<\/em> \u201cThe book became a part of my life\u2014beyond just knowledge, it became a form of healing in difficult and discouraging times.\u201d He has also seen friends and students at his school come to faith in Christ or grow in their faith through reading the book.<\/p>\n

Perseverance and practical encouragement<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Etienne Mbusa launched the Christian magazine Espoir (\u201cHope\u201d) 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.<\/p>\n

Publishing hand-in-hand with community service<\/strong><\/h4>\n

MAI-Africa trustee Joanna Ilboudo launched Contact<\/em> 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<\/em>, to establish the Manushi Funds to help rural Nepali girls attend school.<\/p>\n

Publishing initiatives breaking new ground<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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 \u201cavailable, accessible and relevant\u201d through locally-written books.<\/p>\n

Persevering passion in the world\u2019s hardest places<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cI still vividly recall his passion as he described his desire to offer books in Burmese that shine hope and light,\u201d said MAI Director of Publisher Development Ramon Rocha of a small Christian publisher in Myanmar today\u2014one of many faithful Christian publishers who continue to serve amidst political, economic and social challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore 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,\u201d MAI President Heather Pubols said. \u201cThis is essential to the long-term health of the global Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2014and may MAI keep facilitating that!<\/p>\n

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