A plan to distribute an unprecedented 1,000 million Bible study invitations around the world over the next 12 to 18 months is shining a spotlight on the Adventist Church’s capacity to respond to Bible study requests.

The Sow 1 Billion challenge has galvanized the church’s Bible Correspondence School system over the past year, according to Pastor Kurt Johnson, world Bible School coordinator. “There are 145 Bible schools around the world in 130 countries,” he says. “And we have been meeting with these Bible school leaders and directors and talking to them about the need to print Bible lessons, and the need to train church members to work together and be ready for all the requests we receive for Bible lessons.”

In the Northern-Asia Pacific region, which will begin to distribute some 58 million brochures this month, at least 3,000 volunteers are needed to help staff at local church-based Bible ministries, says Pastor John McGhee, regional Sow 1 Billion coordinator. Adventists in this area—which includes countries such as Mongolia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan—are being encouraged to personally hand out two of the small Bible study invitations every day.

Although extra resources have been provided for the five Bible Correspondence Schools in the Northern-Asia Pacific, and another school will soon open in Mongolia, the volume of response means that church members will need to get involved in responding to Bible study requests. The aim is to open some 400 local church Bible study ministries by the end of this year, and another 400 by the end of 2004. Ultimately, the goal is to have Bible schools operating in 100 percent of local churches in the Northern-Asia Pacific region, says McGhee.

“Should you choose to help, you will experience the joy of giving the Bible to people who would like to live with no fear,” says McGhee. “You will also be one of the first to become their brother or sister.”

Debra Brill, vice president of the church in North America and Sow 1 Billion coordinator for that region, echoes this thought, saying that local church-based Bible school ministries will play a major role in follow-up as 25 million brochures are distributed throughout the United States and Canada next year. There are currently around 2,400 of these ministries—known in North America as “Discover Bible Schools”—and each relies on the enthusiasm and involvement of lay people, many who are new to this type of outreach.

“We say to people, ‘If you can lick a stamp, if you can operate a computer, if you have a smile, if you can knock on a door, then you can be a part of a Bible study ministry,’” Johnson says. “There’s really something for everyone to do.” Local Bible schools in North America, and in many other parts of the world, use four basic methods to deliver Bible lessons: correspondence courses, the Internet, taking lessons personally to people’s homes, and small group Bible study.

“People tell me, ‘Once you lead someone to Jesus, when God uses you in that process, you can’t stop, you have to keep sharing,’” adds Johnson.

Sow 1 Billion is a global outreach initiative set in motion by the world church president, and approved by the General Conference executive committee in October 2002. Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) is a major partner in the project, providing funds for printing the 1 billion brochures. The theme of the small Sow 1 Billion brochure is “Don’t be afraid,” a thought expressed more than 300 times in scripture.

Almost half of the church’s 13 regions—including East-Central Africa, Northern-Asia Pacific, South America and Southern Asia Pacific—will begin distribution of the special invitations in September, with the remaining regions launching over the coming months.