The Word of Life Experience: Summer 2023

"In part, the Biblical Strategies series came out of my work with Bible Institute students,” Phil shares. "Even though I didn’t start writing until much later, it was there that I

After presenting practical ways to apply biblical truth to real-world struggles, each of the Biblical Strategies books features a Bible reading schedule and Scripture memory plan. These guides are tailored to help people dealing with procrastination, anger, temptation, or whichever topic the book addresses. Over the past year and a half, God has provided a new ministry opportunity for Phil – one that is impacting countless refugees affected by the war in Ukraine. In July of 2022, Phil and the Biblical Strategies team trav- eled to Europe and distributed over 50,000 books on over- coming anxiety to Ukrainian refugees in Poland and the surrounding areas. Over half these books were copies of a children’s storybook written especially for young refugees. Amazingly, God had laid it on Phil’s heart to write this book only three months earlier. “I realized I had nothing for the children,” Phil shares. He had taught periodically at a seminary in Ukraine in years past and had already translated and published several books for the Ukrainian people. When he heard about thousands of Ukrainians crammed in refugee shelters and storage units following the Russian invasion, Phil’s heart was broken for the children caught up in the trauma of war. God opened unimaginable doors in the weeks that followed, providing a gifted illustrator, gracious donors, and many others who volunteered their time and resources to make the children’s book a reality. On May 14, 2022 – just 40 days after Phil had the idea of writing a book for refugee children – Safe in the Storm: A Ukrainian Children’s Tale was sent to print in the Ukrainian language. Since that time, Phil’s book has been distributed to thou- sands more children living inside the country’s borders – an opportunity made possible through a partnership with Word of Life missionaries in Ukraine. At the end of last year, Phil offered to send 10,000 books as gifts to accompany Word of Life Ukraine’s gospel-centered musical produc- tion. God richly provided resources for this project just in time for Christmas. This spring, God also opened doors for Phil to visit the Ukrainian missionaries himself, signing and handing out books to children after the show was over.

saw how the Bible works."

Phil giving Safe in the Storm: A Ukrainian Tale to a refugee in Poland

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