A nearly 30% increase despite war, supply chain issues
HURST, Texas, Feb. 1, 2023 – EEM (Eastern European Mission), a ministry that has steadfastly worked for more than 60 years to supply free Bibles to eastern Europe and the surrounding nations, distributed 1,966,043 Bibles and Bible-based materials to 35 countries and in 26 languages in 2022, up from 1,529,668 Bibles distributed in 2021. Placed cover-to-cover on a bookshelf, these books would stretch over 15 miles.
Despite the war, lingering COVID-19 issues, rising costs and ongoing supply chain problems, EEM’s 2022 distribution increased by 28.5%. In Ukraine alone, Bible and Bible-based material distribution went up 40% even amidst war with Russia. Additionally, EEM provided funds for food, warm clothing, shelter medicine and urgent medical care for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in other eastern European nations. EEM’s Ukraine Aid donation campaign is continuing into 2023 with special effort to help Ukrainian families with humanitarian aid to survive the winter.
“We are so grateful to our donors, who have made this amazing growth possible. We praise God and give Him the glory for providing the resources, the manpower, and the open doors for sharing His Word throughout eastern Europe and beyond,” said EEM president Bob Burckle. “We also remain focused on the spiritual and humanitarian needs for the people of Ukraine. We continue to pray for peace in this region and are doing all we can to assist them in this time of dire need, when so many are turning to the hope found in God’s Word to endure the unendurable.”
EEM’s mission is to give access to the Word of God in the native languages of the nations of Eastern Europe and beyond by distributing Bibles and Bible-based materials to individuals, churches, public schools, orphanages, youth camps, hospitals, prisons and rehabilitation institutions. EEM works with national leaders in nations such as Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, North Macedonia and other countries to place Bibles both in public schools and directly to students.
“We are seeing a growing awakening to the Spirit of God throughout eastern Europe, especially in those regions where for more than a generation they now have access to God’s Word in their heart language,” said EEM vice president Dirk Smith. “The children who have received these Bibles are tomorrow’s leaders, and we look forward to seeing what God will continue to do in this region, bringing people to Him and bringing them together in Christian unity.”
To learn more about EEM, see www.eem.org. To make a donation to the Ukraine humanitarian aid fund, visit www.eem.org/ukraineaid.
About Eastern European Mission
Eastern European Mission (EEM) was established in 1961 to provide Bibles and Bible-based materials throughout the former communist bloc countries in Eastern Europe. Today, EEM publishes and prints Bibles and New Testaments as well as Teen Bibles, Children’s Bibles and Bible activity books, distributing them through a vast network of partner churches and organizations reaching more than 35 countries in 26 different languages. EEM is an accredited member of ECFA. For more information, visit EEM’s website at www.eem.org/.