Supporting the Troops with Military BibleSticks

Churches and parishes all across the country are honoring the troops in a unique way—by deploying Audio Bibles.

Nearly 400 church families will rally behind our nation's troops during the Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day weekends, May 15th and 29th respectively, by raising funds to provide Military BibleSticks.

The Military BibleStick is a digital audio player that is pre-loaded with a dramatized recording of the entire New Testament. It was created specifically by Faith Comes By Hearing, the world's foremost Audio Bible ministry, for the unique needs of today's servicemembers.

Chaplains from every branch of the military have contacted Faith Comes By Hearing and requested nearly 40,000 of these Audio Bibles. Currently, more than 325 chaplains are using Military BibleSticks in pre-deployment briefings, counseling sessions, Bible studies, weekly chapels and other spiritual services.

At slightly more than 3.5 inches long and less than an inch thick, this pocket-sized Audio Bible is field-friendly with a low-key design which reduces visibility for use in low-light situations.

"The BibleStick has been a great tool," said a National Guardsman who recently came home. "During our Iraq deployment, we had six troops come to Christ and another 15 baptized. I was able to supply them all with the BibleStick."

An Army chaplain serving "Airborne" troops wrote, "I use the BibleStick when doing PT (physical training). What a blessing it is! I want to share this with the soldiers so that they may do the same."

An Army chaplain who recently returned from Afghanistan said, "One soldier stated that he couldn't get a particular story out of his head [and] found himself thinking about it all day."

"Thank you very much," said one chaplain in Iraq. "I have received some of these while we have been here, and they flew off the shelves. Many people listen to Scripture while they are at work to keep their minds off the 'groundhog's day-ness' of the mission. I just put in another request for 100."

Every week more and more chaplains request these Military BibleSticks. In order to keep up with the demand, Faith Comes By Hearing is working with churches like Community Baptist Church in San Jose, CA to help troops receive God's Word in audio. This small congregation of about 300 raised enough for 152 Military BibleSticks!

Pastor Wah Fu said he was happily surprised by the amount of the offering. "The majority of our church is Chinese, and only two or three people have sons or daughters in the Army Reserve or National Guard."

Pastor Fu, an immigrant himself, said when church-goers there listened through free New Testaments provided by Faith Comes By Hearing, they were impressed with the work and wanted to provide the BibleSticks for the troops overseas.

Churches and parishes can make Military BibleSticks a part of their military care programs by contacting the ministry at (800) 545-6552. Chaplains, please submit an online request.