The Launch of World Church of Messiah Bible Distribution Project
In the Sacred Word entitled “Prison” in his book Memoirs on Religious Persecution, Meishu-sama said the following:
There is one last thing I want to add. That is, to place at least one Bible in every cell of a prison. For among all the religious books in the whole world, there is no other book more powerful than the Bible to lead people to repentance.
October 30, 1950
Meishu-sama clearly demonstrates his will in this Sacred Word.
He said that he wanted to have Bibles in prisons. And if possible, to put one Bible in every cell of a prison. That is because among all the religious books in the whole world, there is no other book more powerful than the Bible to lead people to repentance.
We often say “materialize Meishu-sama’s will,” but until now, did we ever even once try to implement this Meishu-sama’s will regarding the Bible that he demonstrated so clearly?
Even though Meishu-sama said that he wanted to put Bibles in prisons, did we ever even once respond to that Meishu-sama’s will, his Sacred Word, and say, “Certainly, Meishu-sama. We will do our best to place Bibles in prisons”? Did we ever even once take any concrete action?
We have to say we never did. This is just inexcusable toward Meishu-sama.
But now, owing to Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama’s bold guidance, the time has come to materialize Meishu-sama’s will to distribute the Bible and make it widespread, through our hands. There is no other way to interpret the will that Meishu-sama clearly set forth in Memoirs on Religious Persecution. The time has come to implement exactly what the Sacred Word says.
If a founder of a religion wishes something, in this case the distribution of the Bible, and his followers do not respond to his will, they cannot be called his followers. Isn’t that true?
Meishu-sama also said the following:
It is indeed a wonder of the world that the United States has consolidated its position as the world leader within the last hundred years or so, and we need to know why. I say that the United States as a nation is founded on a noble religious spirit—this is the reason for their growth. Naturally, then, the most important and urgent matter for reconstructing Japan is for all the populace to become people of faith, that is, to believe in God. I am truly envious to hear that in the United States, every household owns at least one Bible in their home.
“The Japanese and their piety,” December 17, 1949
In order to reconstruct Japan, the entire populace of Japan must foster a heart of faith. People of Japan: look at the United States! Each home has at least one Bible! How envious it is!
This is what Meishu-sama was saying.
Why is Meishu-sama envious? Of course, it is because “among all the religious books in the whole world, there is no other book more powerful than the Bible to lead people to repentance.” It is because there is nothing more powerful than the Bible to foster one’s heart of faith.
In light of the aforementioned will and Sacred Word of Meishu-sama, which we came to know through Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama, in order to materialize Meishu-sama’s will, in order to fulfill Meishu-sama’s Sacred Word, today, World Church of Messiah hereby launches the “World Church of Messiah Bible Distribution Project.” Of course, we will strive to distribute the Bible to prisons, but we will also aim for widespread distribution in Japan—no, all over the world.
We will put our efforts in Bible distribution activities so that as many Bibles as possible can be placed in prisons, schools, senior citizen communities, hospitals and various other establishments.
As Meishu-sama said that he was truly envious, every household in World Church of Messiah, too, needless to say, must own at least one Bible in their home. Again, Meishu-sama said, “Every household owns at least one Bible,” and that was what made him envious. We members of World Church of Messiah, the true followers of Meishu-sama, will carry out his will as written in the Sacred Word.
We will always hold dear Meishu-sama’s will when he says, “Among all the religious books in the whole world, there is no other book more powerful than the Bible to lead people to repentance.” We will go forward placing importance on reading the Bible ever-under the guidance and interpretation of Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama.
Now, in receiving the guidance of Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama, at World Church of Messiah, the Japanese Bible Colloquial Version published by the Japan Bible Society is recommended for Japanese. For English, the New International Version, Good News Translation or New Living Translation (NIV, GNT or NLT, respectively). For Portuguese, the Almeida Revista e Corrigida, Nova Versão Internacional or Nova Versão Transformadora (ARC, NVI-PT or NVT, respectively).
We ask for your help and support in various aspects so that we may go forward together in order to materialize Meishu-sama’s will that flows through Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama, that is, in order to advance the World Church of Messiah Bible Distribution Project.
Had it not been for the existences of Kyoshu-sama and Masaaki-sama, we would have continued to ignore even this Meishu-sama’s will that was simply and clearly shown to us right before our eyes for many years. With the feeling of deep repentance for this posture of ours, let us strive to deliver the Bible to as many people as possible.
