“The Wa Bible was a long-awaited treasure for me. I had prayed for a Bible I could understand, and its arrival was precious. The Wa translation enables me to quickly grasp new words and read the Bible independently,” – Liu Yuzhen*

In a remote village in the mountains of Yunnan, God led Liu Yuzhen, a Wa ethnic minority believer, on a journey that reshaped her faith. For a long time, she did not have a Bible in her own language and had doubts about her faith which she was unable to resolve through church attendance alone. 

“I really wanted to see if the Bible was written in the same way as what I heard in church. Without seeing it for myself, I felt as if I had missed out on hearing God’s word firsthand,” said Liu. She desired to read and hear God’s word in her Wa language and longed for a Bible of her own. Without a personal Bible to explore and study, Liu struggled to understand important facets of her Christian faith, such as the grace of God. 

All this changed when Liu, at the age of 31, received her own Wa Bible, which her local church distributed with the support of the United Bible Societies (UBS). Liu shared that, “receiving the Wa Bible was an answer to my prayers. I had longed for this moment.” She knew that with a personal Bible, she would gain deep insights into God’s teachings and grow in her faith. 

Liu wasted no time and delved into the pages of her Bible immediately. The living words of God, carefully translated into her heart-language, resonated deeply within her soul. She was captivated, and with every turn of the page her faith grew stronger.  

As she read, she found that the truths she had heard in church were indeed revealed in the Scriptures. “Without this Bible, I wouldn’t be able to truly understand God’s word, and there would be many questions that I couldn’t get answers to. It was only after reading this Bible that I realised that many of the things written in it were true,” Liu shared.

Liu soon began to see transformation in her life as she applied the truth from her Bible in her daily walk. Due to marital problems and other challenges, she had once contemplated divorce from her husband. One day, while reading her Bible, she came upon a passage in the Gospel of Matthew. It spoke of the unbreakable bond between those united by God. Liu felt that separation was not the answer to her marriage problems. She resolved to persevere in her marriage, forging a harmonious, God-centred household alongside her husband, by God’s grace. 

Having a Bible in her own language helped her to see a path in life she had previously thought impassable. Guided by God’s word, Liu found a renewed hope and faith to heal fractured relationships. Reading God’s word for herself helped her to overcome her doubt, as she connected with God’s truth directly. 

As she continued to read the Bible, Liu’s faith grew, and by it, she was able to navigate challenges in her life. With what she learnt, Liu was able to pass on God’s love to others, as she shared teaching from the Bible with her community. 

Since the day Liu received her Bible, her local church continues to distribute free Wa Bibles with the support of the United Bible Societies. Liu is an example of the impact this project can have in the lives of believers, as she grows in faith and her life reflects her obedience to God’s word.   

Prayer Needs 

• Please pray for ongoing support for this project, to ensure uninterrupted supply of the Bible to the millions of seekers and Christians in China. 

• Pray for each Christian who receives a Bible, that they may read and understand the word of God and be nurtured and transformed, and that each non-believer or seeker will have their heart opened to God’s word. 

 *name changed to protect privacy