When we read our Bibles, we see how God provided for people’s needs in those ancient days.
It’s actually part of His character – He is the Provider.
Thousands of years ago, when the Israelites are hungry in the wilderness, they’re sent manna (AKA bread) from the sky by the Lord to eat (Exodus 16). When the prophet Elijah is hiding and hungry during a drought, he’s given meat and bread from ravens sent by God (1 Kings 17:6). And in the New Testament, Jesus multiplies five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of more than 5,000 (Matthew 14:20–21).
Our God knows just how to provide us with what we need … even when all hope seems lost.
The staff at Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODBM) experienced this very blessing with the purchase of our newest printing press.
For nearly the last 30 years, our Harris Printing Press has been something of a faithful helper, printing more than a billion copies of Our Daily Bread devotionals that have been shared around the world. But as our audience grows, so has the demand for newer equipment.
“The press is fine, but we needed to start looking for a replacement before it isn’t fine anymore,” said Mike King, ODBM’s Vice President of Print Services & Supply Chain.
The biggest obstacle, though, in searching for a replacement press had to do with the paper cutting size.
“Our press is a little unique. Most presses in the United States cut a traditional size of 8.5 by 11 inches,” said Mike. “We cut a larger size, though. It’s technically called a ‘European cut-off,’ and it gives us a perfect layout for our devotionals.”
Therefore, when Mike and the rest of the ODBM staff started thinking about getting a new printing press, they assumed they’d only be able to find what they needed in Europe.
A myriad of questions followed: How would they find it? How would they ship it overseas? How would they afford it?
But then, God provided.
“We got word that there was one printing press available with our specific cut-off size in the States. We were able to purchase it for a much lower price than we expected,” Mike explained. “It was truly a needle in a haystack.”
If it weren’t already obvious that God’s hand was in this find, the new press is technically called a “Sunday Press.”
Mike also said that he sees the Lord in his work and his team often. “Before I was here at ODBM, I had stopped working, but God fired me from retirement, and now I’m running this place. We see God’s hand all the time. Every day. Especially during the COVID pandemic. And now in this.”
This provision from the Lord comes at a time when ODBM prints on average more than 60 million Our Daily Bread devotionals every year. In Canada, we distribute Our Daily Bread in nine languages, including English and French. In fact, Canada has responsibility for the French language for the global ministry. Around the world, ODBM is working hard to translate our materials into and make resources available in 10 (non-English) languages to reach even more people with God’s Word.
But Mike and his team know that it’s not a machine that makes all of this happen; it’s the Lord working through the employees, donors, ambassadors, service partners, authors, and everyone else who supports ODBM.
On a whiteboard near the printing press, one of the Printing Services team members has written, “We are RESURRECTION people — sending the WORD of LIFE that RAISES souls from death and people from despair.” Underneath it, another employee has chimed in with a written, “Yes!”
No matter how you support us, thank you for being a part of God’s glorious provision in our mission. It’s a privilege to be resurrection people with you.
Consider partnering with us by being a Ministry Ambassador!
Churches and ministries in Canada are hungry for good, solid Bible-based materials. We have them. You can help make that connection … and be part of a growing Bible engagement movement around the world!
