His Eye is On the Sparrow

Occasionally the good news trickles down to staff members. When they learn how one of their projects has transformed a life, faces light up and they pause to give God thanks. Then they turn back to their respective desks, computers and drawing boards with renewed zeal. 

OM EAST (the Eurasia Support Team, formerly known as Greater Europe) knows that for every testimony they actually hear there are several thousand more stories that will never reach them. Yet they are satisfied that people are being impacted by Christian literature, and for some readers the consequences are eternal. The Vienna-based team has published a phenomenal six hundred-plus titles in more than thirty languages since it began in 1983. New impetus came after the iron curtain fell in the 1990’s and it became possible to openly transport and distribute Christian media in Eastern bloc countries.

As more national Christian publishers got underway, OM EAST’s focus moved to where the greatest needs remained. Many people are surprised to learn that dozens of unreached ethnic groups still exist in Europe and Central Asia—32 in Russia alone. “We want to fill the gaps where there’s still little or no literature,” asserts Field Leader Steve. “It’s important to concentrate on people groups that are forgotten.”

Surveys help pinpoint which books are most needed. OM’s contacts with mature believers in many countries offer helpful insights when making selections. Usually the first books focus on evangelism, later discipleship, children, family and social issues.

“Our emphasis is not so much on theological titles, but books for the man on the street,” Steve explains. To facilitate this goal the team has forged effective partnerships with at least twenty other Christian organisations like Josh McDowell Ministries,Tyndale, CLC and Bethany House. Some of these partners provide copyrights for the books they want to publish; some help with printing and distribution costs.

A total of sixty projects are currently in the pipeline. Each book can take up to several years to complete, and some of the team work remotely. It’s up to Simon to oversee each phase of production until the book is ready for the printer. Asked why he and his wife joined the EAST team Simon relates, “When we looked into the options we were surprised at how many Christian organisations need people with graphics skills. It’s a privilege to use my profession to build God’s Kingdom!”

During Simon’s many trips to Eastern Europe he’s been able to witness some the results firsthand. One of his most thrilling visits, he says, was to a small community in Croatia.

“People ask if it’s really worth it to produce a book for a language group with less than a few hundred thousand people. A few years ago we went to visit the Bayash, a despised and rejected minority group who are descended from Roma (gypsies). These people are living in destitution, inside cold and dirty hovels with only plastic to cover the windows. Together with our local partner we started giving out a children’s Bible at each house. They looked at it—and us—and couldn’t believe it was in their own language. They were the outcasts! Why would anybody take the trouble to do this for them? It was a powerful experience.”

The reality is, however, that few publishers produce books in minority languages because they know they won’t make money. That makes companies more open to giving copyright permission to a non-profit ministry like OM EAST. Electronic and multimedia options are also being developed: electronic materials for countries where computers are readily available, and DVDs which can be made and distributed at a fraction of the cost of printed media. Still, books continue to be needed, especially in places without adequate supplies of electricity! 

My First Bible has been one of OM EAST’s most significant publications over the years, introducing God’s Good News to hundreds of thousands of people in thirty different languages. In the Crimea, authorities want to use this book as a language text in schools. The first 15,000 copies printed were snapped up within weeks.  

Regretfully, finance and staff shortages are too often the limiting factors. OM EAST’s sales cover only about 15% of actual costs and books are often distributed free to children in schools, for instance. So along with missionary pioneer Adoniram Judson’s assertion that “the future is as bright as the promises of God,” we might also reasonably add, “and the faithful teamwork of His people!”

The One who notices the death of a single sparrow cares infinitely about each man, woman and child in out-of-the-way places being overlooked by the rest of the world. His Son died for them. That’s a good enough reason to get excited about how we can partner with God in blessing and using the work of OM EAST.