Dear BA Reader and Friend,

As I write this annual fundraising letter to you, outside my window a spring storm is passing over my valley, the rain is falling steadily, and a hundred shades of green are soaking it up and bursting with new life. How richly God blesses us: “For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God” (Hebrews 6:7, NKJV).

We thank our Lord for rains of other kinds too. Because of your generosity in 2015, the Bible Advocate Press thrived in our kingdom calling of sharing good news of Jesus to the nations — 80 of them, to be exact — and distributing hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature. Abundant rains indeed!

As I near the completion of my first year in the editor’s chair, the Bible Advocate celebrates 153 years. I’ve been reviewing our fascinating history. Brother LeRoy Dais once called our published literature God’s “little messengers,” like raindrops. Did you know that a single copy of the BA, falling into the hands of a fertile reader, helped launch the Church of God in places like Nigeria, India, and Jamaica?

In 1863 the first issue of the BA was mailed to less than 40 homes. During the Civil War, many of these families couldn’t pay the 75 cent subscription rate, but they received a copy anyway. In 1970 this became the norm; the Advocate was sent free of charge to whoever requested it. Our pressrun is now approaching 13,000.

The Bible Advocate is free, but it is not cheap. We need your ongoing outpouring of support to continue and grow our work in 2016. We’ve crunched the numbers and wanted to share the results with you. Put simply, the total cost in doing the Father’s business averages about $2 for each BA developed, printed, and distributed. So a gift of only $12 per year helps us reach one family; $24 allows us to bless two. And a gift of $144 a year sends our “little messengers” of God’s Word to twelve families.

The rain outside my window is subsiding, and I’m wondering how many “little messengers” God will bless us with to send into the thirsty field this year. Whatever the count, I’m full of gratitude for all He’s done and is doing through the Bible Advocate Press and faithful friends like you. God bless! We couldn’t do it without you.

“Let my teaching drop as the rain . . . as showers on the grass” (Deuteronomy 32:2, NKJV).

Yours in Christ and His kingdom,

Jason Overman

Editor