Ministry Overview

In Cluster 1, the Muslim majority regions of the Sahel and North Africa, people see religion as an important part of their daily life. These countries have lower levels of economic development and a higher proportion of those aged 15–24, compared with the other majority-Muslim context, Patmos Cluster 3.

The Christian respondents showed a warmth towards the Bible, with strong agreement on the personal relevance of the Bible and its influence on decisions they make in daily life.

55% of Christians use the Bible on a weekly basis.

86% of Christians say the Bible has a lot of influence on the decisions they make at home, work or school.

8 in 10 Muslims are receptive to learning from people who think differently from them.

Prayer Points

+ Pray that the BSS workers in exile would find strength and be blessed in their efforts.

+ Pray that the local church across the Sahel would be encouraged in their daunting task to reach their region with the Gospel.

+ Pray that the fighting would stop and peace that passes understanding would reign in hearts and minds, from Jesus.

+ Pray that the God’s Word would overcome logistical, economic, and human resource barriers to reach all those who need to hear of God’s redeeming love.

Ministry Overview

Founded in 1816, the Bible Society in Poland remains committed to making Scripture accessible and meaningful across generations and denominations. Ministry in Poland reflects many of the realities described in Patmos Cluster 2. While religion plays a smaller role in daily life than in the past, there is still warmth and openness toward the Bible. Scripture is widely available, yet active engagement is not always consistent — owning a Bible does not guarantee regular reading or personal application. Availability does not equal engagement.

In response, the Bible Society in Poland has shifted focus from distribution alone to creative engagement. They curate and adapt Bible reading plans and digital initiatives to help people rediscover Scripture’s relevance. Patmos research shows younger audiences value in-person gatherings, so we are planning more live events. Older audiences often prefer online resources, leading them to develop podcasts and webinars. One upcoming project is a podcast exploring how the Bible speaks into everyday situations.

Prayer Points

+ Pray for funding for the Bible revision project.

+ Pray for volunteers to promote Bible engagement as ambassadors of the mission.

+ Pray for technical volunteers for podcast editing and webinar production.

+ A new team member for the Bible Society Staff.

Ministry Overview

The challenge of ministry in the Middle East is reaching out to the Muslim majority. History is long and churches in this part of the world have existed from the beginning. Numbers of Christians are small, emigration of people and pastors weakens the local witness, and many feel forgotten by global churches. Yet as Scripture truth leaps off the page amid division and seemingly endless conflict, there is joy and boldness. Those determined to stay seek transformation and pray for peace, even among those who do not want it. They serve neighbours in Christ’s name and find imaginative ways to share his gospel as the only lasting hope.

In Egypt, for example, Christians make up roughly 10% of the population. 90% of them are Coptic, meaning ‘Egyptian’ orthodox-style, traditional churches, focussed on Jesus and steadily renewing. One of their main encouragers is the Bible Society there, who can hardly keep up with the demand for Scripture as they employ creative methods to deliver the Word of God to the whole population. their bookshops and online presence equips Christians with Bibles and engagement resources. Summer festivals allow outreach to children, families and young people, and their presence at the annual International Book Fair leads to significant conversations.

Prayer Points

+ Pray for the stalwart Christian minority, who seek Christ and share the Bible against all challenges.

+ Pray for peace amongst people of differing backgrounds, nationalities, and beliefs.

+ Pray that the most vulnerable will find relief and support in the midst of the chaos.

+ Pray that a lasting, loving, transformative relationship with Jesus will reach across the divides to heal individual, community and regional wounds.

Ministry Overview

Compiled in conjunction with Pablo Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Peruvian Bible Society

Prayer Points

+ Pray that the Healthy Families guides will reach at least 5,000 families this year, and the light of God’s peace and love will resonate as they encounter God’s Word.

+ Pray that regional and domestic violence ceases and that peace will come to the streets and homes of Peru.

+ Pray that fathers in Peru will turn to Jesus and seek help from the Lord and from the church to live with their families in unity and peace.

Ministry Overview

New Zealand, a land of natural beauty and cultural diversity, is undergoing a spiritual transformation. As of the 2023 census, 51.6% of New Zealanders identify as having no religion, while 32.3% identify as Christian. is indicates a continued decline in Christian affiliation, particularly among younger generations.

Prayer Points

+ Pray for the growing house church movement, that God’s Word would reach across divisions and differences to unify the church across NZ.

+ Pray for the wider NZ context that God would be found against the growing secular culture.

+ Pray for BSNZ’s ministries across NZ to reach diverse people groups and across accessibility boundaries.

Ministry Overview

Talk of a Quiet Revival has caught the attention of the Church and the media since the report of the same name was published at Easter.

Prayer Points

+ Pray for the young people who are feeling a pull towards God’s Word, faith and Jesus, that they would know God’s love.

+ Pray for churches around the country, that ministers would be well equipped to handle the influx of people seeking God.

+ Pray for the people of Scotland, that we would know God’s grace, and he would bless us with intimacy and grace, wisdom and joy.

+ Pray for revival and the continuing work of God across Scotland, the UK, and around the world.

Ministry Overview

Compiled in conjunction with Dr. Sigit Triyono
(General Secretary of IBS)

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, consisting of 17,000 islands. Its population of 283 million people is highly diverse, with 1,350 ethnic groups and 917 local languages. There are six officially recognised religions: Islam (87%), Protestantism (7.5%), Catholicism (3%), Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Despite this diversity, there is relative religious tolerance, under the motto of ‘Unity in Diversity’.

Since its inception on 9 February 1954, the Indonesian Bible Society has followed in that tradition, and completed many translations:

Full Bible: 38 editions in 38 local languages
New Testament: 115 editions in 107 local languages
Portions: 340 editions in 79 local languages

All Catholic and Protestant denominations in Indonesia use the same Bible, translated and published by the IBS, making the ecumenical movement a tangible unifying force.

Prayer Points

+ Pray for wisdom and discernment as Sigit guides the 463 employees of IBS.

+ Pray for the translation efforts into new languages every year.

+ Pray for the mammoth logistical challenges of reaching 283 million people across 17,000 islands, with the love of Jesus.

+ Pray for the staff working to navigate complex language translations.

Ministry Overview

Compiled with Mphatso Wiseman Bello, Chief Executive Officer of the Bible Society of Malawi

Malawi, known affectionately as “The Warm Heart of Africa,” is a nation of breathtaking beauty and resilient people. Yet beneath this beauty lie profound challenges. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and people grapple daily with economic instability, food insecurity and increasingly devastating storms and drought from climate change.

Over 80% of Malawi identifies as Christian, and the church is a central pillar of community life. However, this faith is often tested by hardship and a lack of deep, personal engagement with Scripture. The Bible is revered, but for many it remains inaccessible either due to cost, illiteracy or a lack of access to it in a heart-language. The Bible Society of Malawi (BSM) seeks to ensure that the transformative power of God’s Word is accessible to every Malawian, providing light and hope in their own language.

Prayer Points

+ Pray that God will provide during hardship, physically and spiritually, giving hope and resources to everyone.

+ Pray that in the midst of economic struggle, the Bible Society of Malawi will know the grace and provision of God for their ministry.

+ Pray that God’s Word will continue healing the wounds of trauma across society.