When people make a decision to follow Christ, we often point them first in the direction of the Bible. But what if they don’t have one? As our Community Outreach team builds bridges and opens doorways in our local community, we’re planning right from the start to equip them with a physical Bible. Recently, this vision took us inside the walls of HM Prison Thameside, where we shared the Gospel and placed Bibles directly into the hands of inmates. As fantastic as the online resources available to us now are, we recognise the tangible importance of being able to gift a physical Bible to new believers — in prison and beyond.
“The idea for me is really simple;
Whoever and wherever I connect with someone, they can walk away with something life–changing in their hand” says Sarah, head of our Community Outreach, Community Support and Intercessory Prayer Teams.
“The idea for me is really simple;
Whoever and wherever I connect with someone, they can walk away with something life–changing in their hand”
As this team launched, Sarah began pushing doors and starting conversations to see how we could make this dream possible, so beginning a partnership with The Navy and Military Bible Society. We recently welcomed Andrew Dakin, Executive Director at NMBS to our studios to share about the work he does within the society, and how a Bible placed in his hands in the ‘90s changed his life forever, starting him on the track to encountering Jesus for himself.
Partnering with NMBS, and because of the generosity of our Founders, we’ve been able to fast-track creating a print run of 300 pocket-sized New Testament and Psalms featuring a beautifully illustrated cover designed by one of CBN UK’s in-house designers, Kyle Trebble.
Kyle shared his journey to realising the vision of a beautiful pocket-sized Bible:
“Having a compact Bible that slips effortlessly into your pocket or bag is such a wonderful idea. It reminds me of a simple yet powerful thought I once heard from a pastor: ‘Imagine if, instead of mindlessly scrolling on our phones while waiting at a bus stop or in a waiting room, we opened the Word of God and used those moments to invest life into our hearts.’
When I was first approached to design a Bible cover, I honestly felt overwhelmed – ‘my art on the Word of God? No way. Nothing I could create could ever be worthy.’ But then I remembered that the very inspired, holy and flawless Word of God was penned by broken and imperfect people. He has a habit of making straight lines out of crooked sticks. I am worthy because He says I am. And just like a father proudly places their child’s drawings on the fridge, I realised that’s how I should approach this incredible opportunity – because God loves including us in His glory.
So I set to task. I wanted to create something that would be accessible to all people, something that would point to our vision at CBN UK, and something that would reflect the simplicity and beauty of the gospel. My hope was to design a cover that wouldn’t just hold the Word of God but would also invite people in, to make it feel approachable and personal, because that’s what it is. ”
On Thursday, 6th March, in partnership with a local church and the prison chaplain, we brought the Gospel and 100 Bibles into HM Prison Thameside. In a place often marked by darkness, we shared hope, worship, and prayer with the inmates, witnessing powerful moments of transformation. As the men eagerly opened their new Bibles, God’s Word brought light and encouragement to those who needed it most. This visit was a powerful step forward in our ongoing efforts to bring faith, healing, and restoration to prisoners, care homes, and hospitals across the UK. Stay tuned for a detailed account of this visit very soon!
As we begin distributing the first of these Bibles, we’re already preparing to invest in more, knowing that every Bible placed in the hands of someone new to Christ has the potential to transform not only their life but also the lives of those around them as they learn to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
“There is a real need for God’s word, we have almost run out and are looking to order more.” shared Luke Hancorn, Director of Mission Advancement.
Having these first 300 Bibles printed and 100 already distributed has been made possible thanks to the giving of our UK Founders, a passionate group of everyday people united with us to see revival come in the UK, believing with us to see 1 million lives encountering and eternally impacted by the love of Jesus. As we continue through 2025, we’re believing we’ll see 700 Founders pull up a seat at the table and join the collaboration, through prayer and partnership, to see God move on our behalf.
If you’d like to find out more about the UK Founders Club, click here, or reach out to one of the team today.
Donate
Become a Partner
Church Partnerships
Leave a Legacy
Volunteer
Job Opportunities
