This summer, an effort is underway to sign and send 100,000 Bibles to American troops in 100 days. Tens of thousands of people are expected to go to a local Christian bookstore, purchase a $4.99 camo-covered special edition Bible, write a personal message inside the front cover of the Bible, and give it back to the retailer to be shipped to an American soldier serving somewhere around the world. While there have been other efforts to provide Bibles to soldiers, never before have Bibles been sent with personal messages inscribed by individual Americans, expressing their prayers and gratitude.

At a special display station in at least 1000 participating Christian bookstores across the country including chains such as Family Christian Stores, Lifeway, Berean, Northwestern, Mardel as well as hundreds of independent Christian stores, caring Americans will be able to purchase, sign, and send the Operation Worship special edition of the New Living Translation. The Christian retailer will then send the signed Bible—along with thousands of others—to be distributed free-of-cost to active military via hundreds of military chaplains around the world who have requested Bibles.

“What better impact can you have on a soldier than to provide them with the Word of God?” said Jeff Hilliard, cofounder of Open Window Foundation and Operation Worship, a national not-for-profit ministry whose mission is to enrich the spiritual lives of military personnel. “No matter how we feel about the war, our soldiers need our support. This is an incredible way for ordinary Americans to support our soldiers in a personal and meaningful way.”

“Soldiers continue to ask for Bibles in the field,” Hilliard said. “One chaplain I talked to estimated that out of 40 soldiers attending a field church service from the back of a HumVee, only 2 to 5 of them will have a Bible. There is a great need.” When Bibles are made available, he reports, they are eagerly received by soldiers—many of whom are confronting some of the toughest challenges of their lives. This special edition Operation Worship Bible includes lined note pages at the front for a message of encouragement, warm words of thanks and support from retired Army Chaplain Steven R. Young, a brief introduction to the Bible for those who are encountering its truth for the first time, a topical reference listing, and the complete NLT text, one of the most readable and understandable Bible translations available today. Media outlets needing more information or requesting an interview with Jeff Hilliard, founder of Operation Worship, and/or Bill Anderson, president of CBA, the association for Christian Retail, may contact Nancy Guthrie via nancyguthrie@comcast.net .

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