Advertise on podcast: Bible League International // The Word in Action Podcast

We've always known that people everywhere need God's Word. The Bible Access List (bibleleague.org/BAL) confirms that gut feeling and reveals the numbers of Christians around the world who are waiting for their very own Bible. On today's podcast, host Michael Woolworth is joined by Jos Snoep, President and CEO of Bible League International, who shares why we joined with other Bible agencies to identify where the greatest restrictions and the greatest need for God's Word exist. If you're thinking that Bibles are available everywhere, or that smartphones are the answer to the shortage, today's program will tell us otherwise. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 24:09

Brian is a thirteen-year-old living in the Kiamburi slum in central Kenya, Africa. Because of extreme poverty and malnutrition, he could easily pass as nine years old. There's no father in Brian's life and his mother's poor choices, including substance abuse and abandoning her family for days, mean that he and his siblings are alone and hungry in a home where hope is in short supply. But enter the hope of the Gospel and the work of Bible League International to introduce Brian to Jesus. Join host Michael Woolworth and his colleague, Jennifer Macharia, to hear a story that's undoubtedly filled with heartache, but one with Scripture-rooted change that impacts a life and brings lasting joy. Subscribe and invite a friend to listen. Length: 18:25.

Every four hours somewhere in the world, Bible League International helps plant a new church by coming alongside pastors to provide resources to grow their churches to the glory of God.  That’s happening all over Africa, and especially in Ghana in the western part of this big continent. Often, pastors battle issues like syncretism, the blending of pagan beliefs and practices with Christianity, or are forced to be bi-vocational because their congregations aren’t able to support them full time. And yet, host Michael Woolworth and his colleagues, Thobi Qinisile and Jason Lauthers, will share that the Church is growing and thriving in places like Ghana on today’s The Word in Action Podcast. Subscribe today and invite others to listen with you. Length: 27:27.

In Matthew 25, Jesus states in His parable, "I was in prison and you visited Me." Then he went on to say, "Whatever you did to the least of these brothers and sisters, you did to Me." Many of us don't think often enough about men and women behind bars around the world, but God hasn't forgotten and neither has Bible League International's partners in the countries of Nepal and the Philippines. They minister to inmates like Sam and Pushkar, two believers you'll hear about through host Michael Woolworth and his colleagues, Bobby and Romi. Subscribe and invite someone to listen with you. Length: 27:10.

Around the world, illiteracy rates remain high especially among women and people living in extreme poverty. Many who have been denied access to education cannot even read a recipe or government form and are often overlooked for jobs and opportunities. But Bible League International's Bible-based Literacy not only teaches students to read and write in English or their native language but introduces them to the Gospel as they engage in God's Word through reading assignments. On today's The Word in Action Podcast, host Michael Woolworth, is joined by MariAnne Dibbley, Director of Bible-based Literacy, and Bobby and Romi (last names withheld for security purposes), both communications specialists in the region of Asia, to share how this program is bringing hope to people all over the globe. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 28:55.

Experts tell us that the continent of Africa is the region of the world where Christianity is growing in the greatest numbers and to God be the glory for that growth.  But reaching adults and children with the Gospel isn’t without its challenges – the influence of majority religions, pagan beliefs and practices, poverty, remoteness and other factors. On today's episode, host Michael Woolworth and his Bible League International colleague, Thobi (last name withheld for security purposes) share that God is at work though this global ministry to help equip the under-resourced Church -- from bustling cities to deep in the bush -- in southern and western Africa despite opposition to the Gospel. Subscribe and invite others to listen. Length: 34:22.

Caring donors have been critical and precious to the ministry of Bible League International since our founding 88 years ago. On today's The Word in Action Podcast, host Michael Woolworth is joined by his colleagues, Maritza Martinez-Pereira and Jared Martin, who keep in touch with individuals, families, churches and organizations that pray for, financially support and advocate for this global ministry. Maritza and Jared will share precious stories from the field they've experienced personally and they've shared with donors that inspire generous giving. And they'll point to God's promises that keep them -- and you -- encouraged as you support this ministry. Subscribe today and invite someone to listen with you. Length: 27:40.

Mexico is home to 132 million people and many here identify with traditional and pagan religions. But a growing number are coming to Christ and introducing others to the hope of the Gospel through the ministry of Bible League International. That's true for Tania and Jacqueline, two women living outside Mexico City who each faced tremendous hardship before God brought them to saving faith. After Tania came to Jesus, she was equipped by her local church to share her faith and she would introduce Jacqueline to Him inside Jacqueline's nail salon after hearing of her struggles during a pedicure. Join host Michael Woolworth and his Bible League colleague, Jorge Zafe, to hear the amazing stories of these women. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 16:35.

As we look back at the year 2025, there's much to be thankful for here at Bible League International -- from people reached with the Gospel to new churches planted and young believers growing in grace and living out who they are in Christ. In looking ahead to 2026, we continue trusting our gracious God to lead and provide in our 88th year of ministry. Join host Michael Woolworth and guests, Jos Snoep, President, and Rob Bullock, Executive Vice President for Advancement, at Bible League International, as they recollect the past year with precious memories and testimonies, and look ahead to 2026 with expectancy and excitement to reach even more people around the world with the Gospel. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 26:44.

Africa is home to the largest number of refugees in the world with 50 million people displaced from their homes in countries, including Burundi, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some 60,000 of these refugees have been posited into the UN-funded Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi in east Africa, a place designed only for about 10,000. Join host Michael Woolworth and his colleagues - Jennifer Macharia, Nick Catley and Jason Lauthers - who visited the Dzaleka Refugee Camp and saw firsthand the challenges and hardships people face there. They also saw God at work through Bible League and amazing fellow Christians to bring the hope of the Gospel to that part of the world. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 32:29.

The country of Rwanda in east Africa has known tremendous suffering and loss from the Genocide of 1994, in which hundreds of thousands were killed. And even though a huge percentage of Rwandans identify as believers, many mix elements of their former pagan beliefs and practices with their new Christian faith. So, the need for the Gospel to heal and correct is desperately needed. Join host Michael Woolworth and his guest, Anton De Vreugd, as Anton recalls wonderful Christians he met on his recent trip to Rwanda. That includes 12-year-old Joyeuse, who loves to write and sing her own songs about the Lord. And 63-year-old Dalie, who lost her own dear husband and son in the Rwanda Genocide but was granted strength by God to forgive those who brought such tragedy to her life. Subscribe today and invite others to listen with you. Length: 24:54.

The region of Latin America is home to incredible growth in the Christian community and that's especially true in the country of Colombia. No doubt, the area is effected by drug cartels, gang violence, poor economies and other factors, but God is using Bible League International programs to bring people to saving faith and to help them grow as new believers. That's true for Erica, a woman who lives with her family of four in extreme poverty in Colombia. Their home was destroyed by fire and her husband battled drug addiction, but Erica was led to the Lord by a church planter trained by Bible League, and the family is now rebuilding their lives and focused on following Christ. Join host Michael Woolworth and his guests, Ninoska and Daniel, to hear all that God is doing in Latin America. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 19:57.

Persecution of the Christian community is on the increase in the world's most populous country, India. In this Hindu-dominated nation, laws are often stacked against Christians and believers can pay a price for following Christ and sharing the Good News with others. Despite this opposition, host Michael Woolworth and his guest, Bobby (last name withheld for security purposes) affirm that the Gospel is spreading in India. And God is using Bible League programs, such as Church Planter Training, to equip pastors like Rakesh to face these challenges with courage and wisdom, and to grow their churches to His glory and honor. You'll also learn how to meaningfully support Christians facing persecution in India. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 20:17.

You may not always wake up and wonder, "What is God doing today in Papua, Indonesia?" But He hasn't forgotten. In fact, God is ministering in the eastern-most part of this huge nation of 17,000 islands through believers like Devi and her mother, Esther, and by using programs of Bible League International to equip Christians to grow and to share the Gospel. Join host Michael Woolworth and his guest, Romi (last name withheld for security purposes), as Romi recalls his recent trip to this Asian country. Grab a cup of coffee, subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 24:52.

God is truly at work on the continent of Africa. Organizations like Pew and Barna Research will tell us that this one of the world's regions where Christianity is spreading and growing in the greatest numbers, not only among adults but also children and young people. It's happening through Christians like Salome, who founded a school near Nairobi, Kenya, to teach at-risk children, often part of single-parent households and influenced by violence and rebellious peers, and to point them to the hope of the Gospel. And through young people like Anne, who at one time doubted God's existence, but now is a maturing believer helping other teens to follow Jesus Christ. Join host Michael Woolworth and his guest, Jennifer Macharia, who serves with Bible League International in eastern Africa, to step into the stories of these wonderful Christians. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 14:37.