Three people in different locations hold up blue and yellow booklets. On the left, an older woman smiles indoors. In the center, a woman stands behind a stroller with a baby. On the right, an older man stands outside holding his booklet.

Stories That Remind Us What Really Matters

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Last week, we shared numbers. This week, we want to share something even better—stories of three people who met Jesus through a simple Gospel of John. Each story reminds us that every number we track represents a soul. Praise God!

Our prayer is that these stories stir your heart the way they stir ours. Let’s jump in.

Oksana’s Story

Oksana, a young woman from Kharkiv, fled her home when war broke out. She arrived in Poltava—a city filled with silence, uncertainty, and loss. She longed for refuge, practical help, and even just a touch of human warmth.

At a local church food distribution, Oksana received something she never expected: a small PTL Gospel of John.

“I immediately liked this little book,” she recalls. “I carried it on walks, kept it by my bed, and read a few pages before going to sleep.”

But what moved her most was not its size—it was its message. The words of the Gospel spoke directly to her heart. They stirred hope where despair had been.

Eventually, she reached the My Response page. There she prayed a simple, life-changing prayer. She soon returned to the church where she had first received the Gospel, quietly joined a service, and knew she had found her place.

Today, Oksana is building friendships, studying Scripture, and walking in peace and hope.

“I never imagined that a small Gospel could bring such meaning into my life,” she shares. “Now I know God was with me, even when I thought I was completely alone.”

Vasyl’s Story

When Vasyl was admitted to the hospital with a grave diagnosis, his days were filled with pain and anxious thoughts. Hope felt distant.

One afternoon, a group of young believers visited his room. They spoke kindly and handed him a small gift—a PTL Gospel of John. They reminded him that God never abandons us, even in our darkest moments.

At first, Vasyl didn’t open it. But one night, he began to read.

“I believed, because I had nothing else to cling to,” he remembers. “And those words gave me peace.”

His strength slowly returned. To the surprise of his doctors, his condition improved, and Vasyl was released. With the Gospel still in his pocket, he returned home, eager to share with his neighbors how God carried him when no one else could.

Olena’s Story

Olena first received a Gospel of John almost by accident. Passing through a town square, she reluctantly took one from a group sharing with passersby—slipping it into her handbag, unsure if she’d ever look at it.

Soon after, devastating news came: her husband had been diagnosed with a serious illness. Fear gripped her heart.

In the middle of cleaning her home one day, she came across the little Gospel. She opened it.

The words offered comfort and hope. They reminded her that God had not abandoned her. Peace began to replace her fear.

She later visited the church connected with the Gospel and found a community that welcomed her with open arms.

Today, Olena is preparing for baptism—a profound step into her new life in Christ.

Why These Stories Matter

Next week, we will close the books on our Fiscal Year. Yes, there will be numbers to share. But every number is a person. A life. A soul.

That is why we pray for stories like Oksana’s, Vasyl’s, and Olena’s to happen again and again—20 million times in the coming year.

That is our heart, and we know it is yours too: that many would come to know Jesus.

Would you join us in praying toward that vision?