Christian ministry distributes audio Bibles to Kurdish forces in Syria

Jardine Malado Tuesday, December 13, 2016

A Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighter looks at makeshift tents between the Syrian and Turkish borders of residents who fled Maskana town in the Aleppo countryside, as he stands in Tel Abyad town, Raqqa governorate, Syria, June 23, 2015. | REUTERS/Rodi Said

Kurdish soldiers who are battling ISIS in northern Syria are now able to listen to the word of God through the efforts of missionaries working with Audio Scripture Ministries (ASM).

ASM's India-Asia director J.P. Sundararajan said that a Christian traveling to Syria recently asked about their audio Bible players for the purpose of distributing it to Kurdish forces.

Kurdish soldiers, who are fighting against ISIS in key cities in Syria, needed small flashlights in order to keep a low profile at night when they cook their meals. They got exactly what they needed when ASM sent flashlights that were built into audio Bibles.

Sundararajan said that a representative of the ministry was able to connect with the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organization that works in high-conflict zones.

"Through a series of providential meetings, God enabled us to send about 50 of our audio Bibles in the Arabic and Kurdish languages to the frontlines, really, of Syria where soldiers who are battling ISIS were able to secure them," he told Mission Network News (MNN).

"One of the cool things we heard was the Bibles were immediately gone. I mean, 50 Bibles are, needless to say, a drop in the bucket," he added.

Sundararajan shared how encouraged he was knowing that the Kurdish soldiers are now equipped with the word of God.

"I can only imagine what they are feeling as they battle this terror group. But then, to have the comfort of God's Word in their heart language was beautiful," he remarked.

He said that the ministry wants to send audio Bible players to other people who are planning to go on a mission trip.

Other ministries have come up with ingenious ways to distribute Bibles in the Middle East. Last August, the Livets Ord (Word of Life) organization in Uppsala, Sweden revealed its plan to use drones to release thousands of small, electronic Bibles in Iraq.

According to mission director Christian Akerhielm, the Bibles are the size of pill boxes with a display, and it does not require electricity. The organization aims to spread the Gospel to people who are living in closed areas where their human rights are being denied.