Around 1989, a faithful bus worker had to leave the bus ministry. My wife and I took the Sunday school bus route over. If we did not, our Sunday school class would have no students.
I noticed one problem when visiting on Saturday to remind children to ride the Sunday bus to church. We went to many houses but had little Scripture-based material to leave; it was the same tract each visit.
The Lord laid on my heart to start writing a one-page newsletter with biblical teachings, spiritual encouraging articles, and KJV scripture. For months, I produced the newsletter and left it at hundreds of houses. If household members did not attend church, at least they could read what the Bible taught.
In 1991, a door to another full-time ministry opened in Haines City, Florida to work at the Landmark Baptist church publishing ministry. While there, I also worked in the bus ministry. Every Saturday, I and around 75 other bus ministry workers visited hundreds of households, inviting all we could to church on Sunday.
After a short period, I saw the same problem I saw at the other ministry. Many households were visited, but the same small salvation tract was left for residents to read. It was a missed opportunity to leave biblical teachings at households for family members to read. The only thing that will change hearts for the glory of God is the Word of God, so it was essential to try to get biblical truths into as many homes as possible.
Again, I produced another one-page weekly newsletter. Originally, it was named The Landmark Baptist Bus Banner.
Most editions were about one Biblical theme. A new Banner was published every week, and faithful bus visitation people left it in houses. The paper included Bible-based articles emphasizing biblical principles, puzzles, wise sayings, Bible lessons, and scripture.
Some of the Banners not only were left at hundreds of households to read, but members have left them at stores, laundromats, business counters, handed or e-mailed to friends, and many other inventive ways to get God’s truths into as many hearts as possible. If we do not tell others what the Bible teaches, who else will? It is a Christian’s responsibility to share God’s truths with as many people as possible.
Years later, a fellow Christian school teacher suggested I make them available online. That was a good idea, and soon, www.OpenThouMineEyes.com was created. The Banner was dubbed The Bible View and was posted online for over 5,000 people to read weekly. Bible studies, bible-based articles, puzzles, and wise sayings were published. Churches all over the world could then print and use the material freely.
New features were constantly added. A daily devotion was added and e-mailed to thousands. It was called The Daily View.
The View included one KJV chapter, a short commentary on something taught in the chapter, a recorded version of the devotion, biblical-based articles, poems, wise sayings, a prayer list, and access to Bible Views. After several years, the entire New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs were added. The ministry attempts to reach as many people as possible with biblical truths.
The full-time mininistry, as do most, constantly deals with problems. Some are technical and many are spiritual onslaughts attempting to halt the ministry. Sometimes, hackers tapped into it and caused it to be redesigned and repackaged. More than once, over several thousand articles and materials had to be re-installed and rewritten.
Hackers, including Chinese and Russians, still cause a lot of problems, but any work to get Bible truths out will face trials, tribulations, and obstacles. God always halts the delays, and the problems are eventually solved. The work continues.
The Devotions are now aired on a radio station, and many other ministries, including churches, prisons, deaf, nursing homes, and even local and Christian newspapers publish some of the material.
A translating module at www.DevotionsFromTheBible.com translates hundreds of lessons and articles into over 100 different languages. The Internet ministry is reaching places that we cannot imagine. If there is any hope for this world, it is that the Word of God works in lives.
Although the Bible View was printed for at least five years before they were numbered, this is the 1,000th issue. Hopefully, it will continue to reach many and point more souls to God’s truths and His only way to Heaven. Again, if we do not share the Truths from His Word, who will?
The task of telling others of God’s good news is on Christian shoulders. Are you also doing all you can to reach the lost and those ignorant of God’s Truths?
I really enjoy the bible view!!! Thank you so much for bringing this for us to read and learn. It has helped me Soooo much. I thank the Lord for laying this on your heart to do. I pray for this ministry almost everyday, to be able to continue. If it has helped me, then I know it can help others. Thank you so much.