In his third year with FCA, Big County Ga. Representative Tommy Watkins hoped to hand out 1,000 Bibles. He approached his FCA Board and the Coffee Middle School FCA in Douglas with the idea to get a Bible in the hands of every child in the school.
Moving quickly on the idea, the first Bibles were distributed to the leadership team for use in small group Huddles, as more than 300 students attend on Thursday mornings. When other students caught sight of the Bibles, requests for more came in. Praying and raising funds for Bibles for the rest of the Huddle led to a desire to give Bibles to the rest of their peers, all 1,500 in the school.
Once funds were raised and the Bibles were secured, they were placed in the cafeteria during lunch. As students snatched them up, the stock soon depleted.
Requests kept pouring in for more Bibles for friends and family.
“So many kids are taking [a Bible] and giving it away to someone they know who doesn’t have one,” said Benita Lott, Coffee Middle School Huddle sponsor.
Parents got involved after seeing the enthusiasm of their children, both in giving and utilizing the literature in their hands.
“The most exciting thing is the number of parents I’ve had come up and tell me how much they love their child’s FCA Bible and how much they are enjoying reading it,” Watkins said. “I’ve had fathers tell me, ‘I’m having so much fun reading this Bible with my son.’”
The community support escalated behind the students’ distribution endeavors. Churches took up offerings to add to the Bible cash pool, and checks showed up in mailboxes with donations ranging from ten dollars to thousands of dollars.
Lott has observed the fruit of God’s Word being placed in young hands.
“I’ve had so many teachers come to me and say, ‘We’re sitting in language arts class during silent reading time, and the kids are reading these Bibles,” she said. “Or kids are sitting around the cafeteria going, ‘Show me where the story of Jesus’ birth is.’”
What has also fascinated Lott is watching the development of her students’ desire to share God’s love around the school.
“I tell them to be the light in this school, and to watch them—as middle schoolers—take it and truly be that light, is special.”
Douglas FCA Board Chair Julee Brooke Lewis pointed out the real heart behind it is God’s.
“The cumulative effect got the entire community excited about giving Bibles to these students, and we were able to do so much more than we could imagine. Without Him none of this would be possible.”
Douglas FCA wants to propel the movement forward and offer Bibles to the local high school, and eventually to the entire county.
Lewis believes this will be spurred on by God’s promise that His Word will not return void.
“For these kids to have access to it and be able to look in His Word and discover His truth for themselves,” she said, “it’s one of the greatest gifts we can give anybody.”
Photos courtesy of Tommy Watkins