A letter of hope does not return empty. And in a nation of almost 15 million potential readers, that’s a lot of hope to go around!
Susan Binion of Union Bible Institute (UBI) Publishing— one of the largest publishers of isiZulu Christian literature—wrote to us recently of Letters of Hope Mpumuza, a writing contest inspired by MAI’s LittAfrica 2023, in which young people were invited to write a letter to their generation inspiring hope.
“As Christians, we are people of hope. We seek ways to engender hope and celebrate our reasons for hope as the gospel transforms individuals, communities and the world,” Susan said.
From over 100 entries, a panel of 7 judges chose 20 finalists to attend a writers’ workshop led by a local author, Steph Ebert. Other workshop facilitators included MAI-Africa’s Joan Campbell, author Lyn Pickering and Lwazi Shwala, winner of the LittAfrica 2023 Letters of Hope contest.
“I helped to read and mark the work of some of the entrants, and was deeply touched by their individual stories,” said Lyn. “Drug abuse, drunkenness, absentee fathers, poverty—and yet, despite all these setbacks, hope shone through many of the letters. Some recognized that real hope lay in the knowledge and love of Jesus as their Lord and Savior.”
The twenty students at the workshop had the opportunity to learn about editing, give each other feedback on their writing in small groups, and talk with local authors. Their letters were published in a book. Each student received a copy, as well as their seven different schools.
The long game
For Susan, distributing copies of Letters of Hope Mpumuza was a highlight of last year. She then had the joy of hearing about its impact. “Youth mentors, teachers and friends of the participants all testified that being a part of the program had changed the students’ lives.”
Since then, three of the students have joined a writers’ group facilitated by a local author, coming to UBI Publishing every couple of weeks for encouragement and to discuss their writing.
In February 2025, a local school librarian organized a World Read Aloud Day celebration, during which four finalists in the Letters of Hope contest read their entries to fellow students who came along.
“I confess it was a time-consuming process,” Susan said of the contest, workshop and publication. “But we are playing a long game here. We trust that cultivating a love of writing and reading among young people will eventually bear fruit in the lives of those who learn to love God’s Word and the Savior it reveals, and that some will become authors, recording their spiritual insights for the generations to come.”
From writing to publishing local authors
Susan herself is a writer, and when she first started leading publishing projects at UBI, went to LittWorld in Kenya to learn more.
“Everything I learned there I eventually put to use,” Susan said. “That is not an exaggeration!”
Later, MAI-Africa’s Lawrence Darmani ran a writers’ workshop for UBI, and MAI Director of Publisher Development Ramon Rocha ran a publishing workshop, engaging directly with the publications team and answering questions.
“One thing that stayed with me was Susan’s commitment to publish not only in English but in the isiZulu language, and to grow the number of UBI books in isiZulu,” Ramon said. “I thought that was an excellent, God-pleasing publishing mission: to reach more and more isiZulu readers in the southern African region with life-transforming materials.”
Local demand for local writing
Almost 15 million people (24.4%) speak isiZulu, making it the most widely spoken African language in the country, according to a 2025 report from Statistics South Africa. A national reading survey found that demand for reading in languages such as isiZulu is high, with 76% who read for enjoyment reporting wanting to read in African languages.
To help meet this need, UBI has been publishing books by local authors such as the recent release Impilo Yobukristu Yangoqobo (“The Genuine Christian Life”) by Bongekile Nene Dumisa and popular title Inkonzo Yamadlozi (“The Worship of Ancestors”) by A. Mpanza.
One of the team’s current projects is a collection of stories to help parents explain ancestor worship to their children, and how Christians can respond. Another is a revised family devotional, Masifundisane Ngezphezulu, based on Tyndale House Publishers founder Ken Taylor’s Devotions for the Children’s Hour.
Local and global partnerships
“One of our main goals in associating with MAI has been to connect UBI Publishing to the wider world and to people who can help it thrive,” Susan said. “We want to be sure UBI has the tools to provide relevant, biblically-based material to build God’s kingdom in South Africa.”
UBI Publishing also works closely with local organizations such as Ithemba Projects, which aims to build strong community structures through youth mentoring and early childhood development, which has included producing locally authored books.
“The most obvious thing in all of this is that no one could ever have orchestrated all these connections and opportunities,” Susan said. “This is God’s doing!”
How you can pray
Pray for the impact of Letters of Hope Mpumuza and other books at UBI Publishing. Pray that:
- Young people will love to read and write
- Young readers will learn to love God’s Word and Jesus as Savior
- Young Christians will write God-given insights for future generations
- The young writers’ group can continue to meet and flourish
- Families and communities will be strengthened through locally written Christian books
Photo notes:
Delivering Letters of Hope to authors and their schools, November-December 2024. “They were all so proud of being in print!” Susan said.
Students participating in workshops, small editing and critique groups, and consulting with local South African authors in August 2025.