Sharing Bibles: Stories of Hope and Transformation

At Watermark Health, we get to see firsthand how the power of God’s word in someone’s own language can make a huge difference. Over the last year, our clinics saw patients who spoke 25 unique languages. While providing compassionate and excellent medical care we engage in spiritual conversations with all of our patients. For those whose first language is not english, we are blessed to work with a translation line where we can communicate through an interpreter. Being able to supplement this through sending a patient home with Bibles and Biblical resources in their heart language has the potential to change lives. Every year hundreds of bibles are gifted as resources to our diverse patient population. Recently, our team was reminded of why these gifts matter so much.

From Learning English to Finding Eternal Hope

One day, a patient’s father—originally from a Muslim background—noticed bibles in a variety of languages in our room and was excited to share with the staff and volunteers serving him the importance of the scriptures in his life. As he shared his testimony, he mentioned he was once offered a Bible by a friend and at first, accepted it not out of spiritual curiosity, but simply as a tool to learn English. Yet as he read, something remarkable happened. The words in red—Jesus’ own teachings—captured his attention. What began as a language lesson became a journey of faith. Through those words, he encountered the love and truth of Christ, and his life was transformed. Today, not only is he a believer, but his entire Arabic-speaking family has come to faith.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

A Spanish-Speaking Family’s Joy

A Spanish-speaking patient visited our clinic.  When the Nurse Practitioner serving her that day asked about her faith she mentioned her family was Catholic, but wasn’t willing to open up much further about spiritual things. The Nurse Practitioner offered her a Jesus Storybook Bible for her children, and the patient gladly accepted. As they were leaving, she noticed a devotional in Spanish from the Love God Greatly team (who donates many of their beautiful bible studies in a variety of languages) and asked if she could take it home. When she was asked if she owned a Spanish Bible for herself, she said no—and her excitement was palpable. She left with both the devotional and a Bible for her, as well as the children’s bible for her kids. Her arms were full and her heart full of joy. For this family, receiving God’s Word in their own language was a gift that reminded them they are seen, valued, and loved.

Psalm 119:111

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

The Gospel in a Heart Language: A Burmese Encounter

Recently, one of our Pastoral Care volunteers met with a man from Burma. During the conversation, he shared that he believed in Jesus, but as they conversed further, it became clear that he was finding his hope in salvation in his own ability to do good works and fight back sin. The Pastoral Care volunteer grabbed a Bible in his home language, and they opened it up together to Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, and Ephesians 2:8-9. Rather than attempting to discuss these truths in English, which the patient spoke but was his third language, he was able to read them in his original heart language. During the conversation he was able to acknowledge that his beliefs were different than what these verses said and was willing to consider that difference further. The ability to articulate God’s grace in his heart language made that much clearer. He left not only with a Bible for himself, but also with a Bible study resource to his wife in their heart language as well. This encounter underscored the importance of meeting people where they are—linguistically and spiritually.

Psalm 109:105

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Why Bibles Matter

These stories illustrate a simple truth: God’s Word is most powerful when it speaks to the heart in a language people understand. For many patients and families, a Bible in English may be out of reach, but when we offer Bibles in Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, or one of the other 22 languages seen on site, we open doors to hope, healing, and transformation. Countless times, patients have noticed a resource in their heart language on a shelf in the patient room, or a counter on their way out the door and their countenance has visibly changed. Their excitement is palpable as they reach out to touch God’s word in their heart language, and often humbly ask “may I take this with me?”.

How You Can Help

Every Bible given is an invitation to our patients to further encounter Jesus. But we can’t do it alone. Donors make it possible for us to stock Bibles and a variety of resources in many languages, ensuring that no patient leaves empty-handed. Your gift helps us share the love of Christ with families from every background—sometimes sparking a journey of faith that changes generations.

Are you interested in providing bibles this Holiday season? Find a list of Biblical resources to donate here, or consider contributing to the mission financially.

Your support means more stories like these; more lives touched, more hearts transformed, and more families discovering the hope found in God’s Word. Thank you for considering how you can help share Bibles with patients in their heart language. Together, we are redeeming healthcare, one story, one Bible, one person at a time.