The Word for Today in Asia and the Pacific

Where is it available?
How can you get a copy?

The Word for Today is currently available in:

  • The Cook Islands
  • Fiji
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Nauru
  • Nepal (Nepalese)
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Samoa
  • Solomon Islands
  • Time-Leste (English and Indonesian)
  • Vanuatu

If you’d like to find out how to get hold of a copy either click on the nation in our Projects menuor use our contact form.

Thanks to the support of donors we printed a total of over 59,000 copies for the people of the nations listed above.

For the first time in 2022, Nauru and Indonesia have received their own edition.

We are grateful to you, and all our supporters, who are praying for our ministry and helping with distribution of these devotionals.

Solomon Islands

Fiji

Vanuatu

Indonesia

Samoa

Nauru

Cook Islands

Papua New Guinea

Station Upgrades for Baucau & soon Vequeque

Station Upgrades for Baucau & soon Vequeque

Dear UCB friends, Last Sunday afternoon we traveled to Baucau, and then to Viqueque, both Districts in the East side of Timor island, in order to install the new radio upgrade to the 100W Transmitter. In Baucau, the weather was really bad, but the Lord helped us and...

Hope for people fleeing the Ukraine

Hope for people fleeing the Ukraine

People fleeing their homes in the Ukraine have many urgent needs. One thing that God offers everyone is HOPE! and what better way to share this than through the reading of Scripture, or more specifically The Word for Today. Our sister ministry UCB Hungary asked for...

Bringing Hope and Helping Ukraine’s Refugees

Bringing Hope and Helping Ukraine’s Refugees

This week we were able to help our brothers and sisters forced from their home country by the war in the Ukraine. Our sister ministry UCB Hungary is printing a special edition of The Word for Today and will be making it freely available to refugees across many part of...

Blessing for the people of Indonesia

Thanks to your prayerful donations the people of Indonesia have The Word for Today available in their own language. Pictured are leaders from Indonesia's JAPPRI community of Christian radio broadcasters, happy to each receive their copies. New for 2022, all the...

Have You Sinned? God Will Forgive You!

‘He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.’ 1 John 1:9 KJV

The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of—lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV) In the Bible, God refers to David as ‘a man after His own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out.’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV)

So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I anointed you king… Why then have you despised the Word of the Lord?’ (2 Samuel 12:7–9 NLT) Then God passed sentence: ‘I am going to bring calamity on you… before all Israel.’ (2 Samuel 12:11-12 NIV)

From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. On many levels, ‘the way of transgressors is hard’ (Proverbs 13:15 KJV), not the least of which is that sometimes God takes away your peace so that you will acknowledge your sin. It took an unplanned pregnancy, the murder of an innocent man, a child’s death, a prophet’s persuasion, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV)

And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9 KJV) As long as you keep excusing, defending, and rationalising your sin, God can do nothing for you. But the minute you confess it to Him, He will forgive you. Isn’t that wonderful?

SoulFood: Job 24-28, Luke 21:1-11, Ps 38:1-12, Pro 8:22-23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

Listen To The Right Voice

‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Joni Eareckson Tada tells of a group of friends who were on a mountaintop discussing which direction to go. One man said, ‘That’s south!’ Another replied, ‘No, that’s east.’ Everybody threw in their two-cents’ worth, until finally someone produced a compass and said, ‘We can settle this real fast.’ Within seconds the compass confirmed they were, in fact, facing due west!

The only reliable source had the final say, and nobody was about to argue with it. During the day, many voices vie for your attention, and some so-called ‘experts’ can be dead wrong. Bottom line: you had better know which voice to listen to, because if you look only at your circumstances, you will become disoriented. An unexpected phone call, a floundering relationship, a lost job, or a sick child can make north look like south and east look like west. When that happens, it’s easy to lose your bearings, jump to conclusions, and end up on the wrong path.

The Bible says, ‘Whether you turn… right or… left, your ears will hear a voice… saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ There is only one true source of wisdom and truth, and Peter recognised that when he asked, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ (John 6:68 NIV)

You don’t need to know every detail in advance; that’s not how God works. Often, He doesn’t show us the big picture because we would be overwhelmed and think it was impossible. He wants to develop in you an unshakeable trust in His character and goodness; an acceptance that in order to fulfil His plan, you must depend on His strength.

SoulFood: Job 21-23, Luke 20:27-47, Ps 55:12-23, Pro 8:19-21

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

Stick With God’s Plan (2)

‘God is the one who began this good work in you.’ Philippians 1:6 CEV

Paul writes, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain… He won’t stop before it is complete.’ (Philippians 1:6 CEV) You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing.’ (John 5:19–20 NLT)

Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, ‘My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ (Matthew 27:46 NIV) And His words teach us three important things:

(1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times.

(2) When God doesn’t answer, we must practise standing on the promises He gave us in His Word.

(3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it.

So stick with God’s plan; as long as you do that, there is nothing the enemy can do to destroy you. The Bible says, ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed… These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord.’ (Isaiah 54:17 NLT) When you feel like you have reached the end of your rope, do what Jesus did and pray, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ (Luke 23:46 NIV)

In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.

SoulFood: Job 18-20, Luke 20:9-26, Ps 55:1-11, Pro 8:17-18

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

Stick With God’s Plan (1)

‘God always does what He plans.’ Ephesians 1:11 CEV

God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end.’ (Revelation 22:13 CEV) God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what He plans.’

Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV) But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good!

David said, ‘When You corrected me, it did me good because it taught me.’ (Psalm 119:71 CEV) If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, rest assured that no human action can cancel it.

The psalmist wrote, ‘The Lord will vindicate me; Your love… endures forever.’ (Psalm 138:8 NIV) There is no situation Satan can devise for which God hasn’t already made ‘the way of escape.’ Paul reassures us: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [testing] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

It’s in your times of testing that you discover God is faithful. He will stretch you, but never beyond your breaking point. His plan is for you to come out of this experience stronger and ready for what’s next on His agenda [plan].

SoulFood: Job 15-17, Luke 19:41 – 20:8, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

Forgive Your Parents (2)

‘Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37 NLT

Once you understand that some parents aren’t capable of giving their kids what they didn’t get themselves—namely love, nurturing, acceptance, and physical affection—it becomes easier to forgive them.

Stormie Omartian says: ‘Sometimes what one parent didn’t do hurts as bad as what the abusing one did. A parent’s uninvolvement or unwillingness to step in and rescue you feels like a betrayal. Unforgiveness for that uninvolved parent is more difficult to recognise but is more common than we think. Ask God to show you any unforgiveness towards a parent who didn’t come to your rescue. If it’s there, you have to deal honestly with your feelings…We can’t go back in time and get someone to hold and nurture us, and we mustn’t demand it from a spouse or friends because they can’t do it. It [must] come from our heavenly Father…The first step…is to receive [His] forgiveness and let its reality penetrate the deepest part of our being. When we realise how much we have been forgiven…we have no right to pass judgment on…another. Being forgiven and released from everything we’ve ever done is such a miraculous gift, how could we refuse to obey God when He asks us to forgive others? Forgiveness is a two-way street. God forgives you, and you forgive others…We base our decision not on what we feel like doing but on what we know is right.

Jesus said, ‘Do not judge… and you will not be judged… Forgive… and you will be forgiven.’ (Luke 6:37 NLT) Choosing to forgive and not let somebody else’s sin dictate what you feel or do frees you to live in peace.

SoulFood: Job 11-14, Luke 19:22-40, Ps 116:12-19, Pro 8:10-13

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

God’s Word through Facebook

I have been fulfilling some of the responsibilities of my church, such as leading youth groups, Sunday school, Sisters fellowship, etc

Due to the burden of family’s responsibility and future, I went out for this job. At the same time, I used to go to church in a hurry due to my busy schedule. Thus day by day I began to weaken in prayer and spiritually and the habit of reciting the Word of God gradually disappeared. As I tried to move closer to God, I began to feel uneasy, frustrated, and depressed.

One day I found out the Facebook page of The Word for Today Daily Devotion that is being broadcast from Message of Hope through social media and started listening to it day after day. From this daily devotional book, I found great excitement and inspiration in my life. Finally, I realized that according to Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plan is greater than my plan and will. Eventually, I changed my mind. So I would like to thank God and Message of Hope Nepal from the bottom of my heart.

Rachan – Kailali, Nepal

New Hope and Meaning

I am a regular reader of The Word for Today. Reading this book became one of the favorite things to do in the morning. This gives me new hope and meaning in my life. I am very much blessed by this program.

Thank you Message of Hope Nepal for this opportunity.

Shushila – Nepal

The Word for Today reaching Ukrainian’s

We received the following report from our friends at UCB Hungary about how, with your support, The Word for Today is reaching reaching Ukrainian’s and bringing them hope and encouragement from the Bible.
Dear Fellow Workers at The Word for Today,
I have great gratitude in my heart because, with your help, God’s message of hope has reached many Ukrainian-speaking people even in these weeks full of doubts.
At your request, I would like to tell you what we are doing and where your publications have come as part of this mission in a few sentences.

We have been working hand in hand with the Hungarian Baptist Aid and the Baptist on Mission Foundation for many years. During the current period of war, we are (also) present in Ukraine with medical groups, providing free treatment and counselling for refugees, orphans, and soldiers. Needless to say, the situation is very difficult… almost unbearable the complete hopelessness and blank future associated with misery, persecution and violence. Therefore, believe me, you, your work, and these publications are sorely needed. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NKJV) According to His Word, God teaches us to build one another. He invites us to go beyond ourselves and notice others. Moreover, seeing the problems, we carry each other’s burden. How good it is that we have been able to do this now with you, via the “Word for Today” publications, prayers, medicines, and other donations. Glory be to God for it.

In the last few weeks, we managed:

  • To get to Rafajnaújfalu [Рафайновe/Rafaynove is a Hungarian-speaking village in Zakarpattia Oblast], where we gave out publications at a refugee reception point. Here we even met rape victims from Butsa (many women and even a little boy).
  •  Also visited refugee reception points in Gát and Gut [Гать/Gat and Гут/Gut are Hungarian-speaking villages in Zakarpattia Oblast]. Many people came to these places from the interior of the country, even all the way from Harkiv.
  • We were also in Munkács [Мукачево/Mukachevo], where an orphanage was set up for children orphaned in the war, where we could talk to teenagers. And in a section of the hospital set aside for the soldiers, we were able to hand out publications to soldiers, who mainly suffered burns and were expecting a long recovery. We visited a refugee reception point here, too.
  • And I conclude my list by reporting that we managed to deliver care packages to several parts of the Donetsk region for the soldiers there, and we put a copy of  “The Word for Today” in each of the packages.

 Thank you! Without you, all our help would have been much poorer!

Much Love: 
Tóth Tünde

worker of Hungarian Baptist Aid

Gaining Biblical Knowledge

Jaimashi,
First of all, I would like to give thanks our heavenly Father for this wonderful time and also Message of Hope Nepal. In my daily morning devotion I use to listen “The Word for Today” which is broadcast from YouTube and Facebook. I usually participate the quiz competition organized by Message of Hope Nepal, through
which I got the encourage to read Holy Bible.

When I listen “The Word for Today” from Message of Hope Nepal, I felt so blessed because it is very meaningful and useful God’s word in our life. It is very easy to understand and easy to relate those words in our life. Through this program I’m able to achieve Biblical knowledge as well as other things also. This program helps me to became strong in my Spiritual life. Once again thank you Message of Hope Nepal.

Shanta
Bharatpur, Nepal

 

Slowly Recovering, but Blessed

Mrs. Albertinha, is very grateful and feeling blessed by the delivery of God’s Word and prayers from Radio Voz for her. So many changes in her life. She used to be sickly but has slowly recovered.