Uniquely IBG
There are many Bible-giving organizations besides IBG, including a handful of large ones like the Bible Societies, Gideon’s International and the Bible League of Canada. But I am aware of dozens of small and very small Bible-giving ministries across the United States. Until recently, IBG would have easily fit in the middle of that small group, but God is leading us through rapid growth by acting on a fresh vision to help end Bible scarcity in the world.
Each Bible-giving organization has its own unique values and culture, and God uses each ministry in different ways. One thing I know about Bible-Giving organizations is that there are not enough of them to meet the world’s needs, so we should encourage and cherish each of these ministries, large and small. As I recently reflected on our ministry health (IBG is a healthy ministry!) and places where to improve, I noted several unique aspects of our ministry that God is using now in a big way.
Uniquely IBG 1: We are and have always been an all-volunteer organization. This creates a rather simple organization. There are no salaries. No headquarters building. Little overhead. Instead, you have an organic gathering of Christians naturally unified under a single passion –distributing God’s Word so that the lost meet Jesus. And while this allows us to direct 97-98% of our funding directly into purchasing, printing and distributing Bibles, it gives us something even greater – unity of purpose. We come from diverse evangelical backgrounds, but we are strongly unified around bringing Hope to a lost world.
Uniquely IBG 2: We are open to all believers and always have been. To be a member, you need to have a saving faith in Christ, agree with the Apostles' Creed, and financially support IBG. That’s it. God gave each of us a mandate to go and make disciples of all nations (people groups). (Matt 28:19-20). Men can distribute Bibles. Women can. Former prisoners can. If a child asks us for Bibles because they want to start a Bible study with their friends, we try to provide. Different ministries may have a unique focus on a particular country, a particular need or a specific group being authorized to distribute. We have no such encumbrance, and by being this open and flexible, we are at times uniquely positioned to be used by God to respond to what the Holy Spirit is doing.
Uniquely IBG 3: Ministry flexibility. IBG’s ministry has flexed to how God is using our ministry, not to man’s (Chuck’s) thinking of how to structure the ministry. And we have just a handful of policies which, except for our Constitution, are short one-page documents that outline critical needs such as how we steward financial gifts. The essentials are covered – otherwise, we are free to move as God directs. And God directs! The IBG Board has prayed for years that God would connect us to effective ministries globally where the printed Gospel was scarce. God did exactly that, such that today, our ministry is organized in three distinctive areas – Domestic Bibles, Prison Bibles and Global Bibles. This structure reflects how God is using us.
IBG’s Domestic Ministry continues to grow because the need right here is great. The mix of ministries coming to get Bibles each month is richly different every time! Our Prison Ministry is also growing as God uses word-of-mouth to penetrate prison systems long in opposition to God’s Word entering their gates. People struggling in addiction write to request Bibles. So do violent offenders. We give them Bibles, but the Holy Spirit is doing the heavy lifting in each of these cases, connecting our ministry to hearts ready for eternal change. Globally, we are focused on 7 areas where God has uniquely connected our ministry to what He is already doing. And yes, we will gladly provide Bibles elsewhere in the world when we are able to, but we are primarily focused on what God has given us to focus on today. In time, God will connect us to other places where He is already at work.
Finally, the MOST unique aspect of IBG is each of you. You are engaged in this ministry because you take the Great Commission and the Great Commandment seriously. Take joy in stories of changed lives as you continue to support IBG in your own unique way. God uses all of it.
Give Hope! Give Life! Give Bibles!
Chuck Hayes
IBG Chairman