The Bible is transforming lives in Maasai land, Kenya.

“I have seen that as I preach from the Bible, people’s lives are touched and changed,” said Daniel Koinet, Bishop of Empuyiankat Word Provision Church, and one of Resonate Global Mission’s partners.

“God speaks to me first in Maasai, my mother tongue. I understand and hear his voice and see him at work through the Bible. That is why it is important for a Christian to own a Bible—because as he reads, God speaks to him in a personal level.”

Yet many members of Bishop Koinet’s congregation and community did not have copies of the Bible in their own language or only had copies of the New Testament.

Resonate Global Mission partnered with ShareWord Global to give Maasai Bible translations to an estimated 400 people who gathered for the placement. They are now able to read the complete Bible in their own language.

And God is speaking.

After receiving copies of the Bible, many community members came to church for the first time and accepted Jesus as their personal savior. Even the driver hired to transport members to placement sites gave his life to Christ.

Spiritual growth is also evident among Bishop Koinet’s congregation members.

“Their faith has been strengthened and Bible study in the church has become lively and interactive,” said Bishop Koinet. More people are now able to participate in Bible studies, and congregation members are able to revisit scripture they hear during Sunday sermons.

Resonate's Global Mission’s Regional Mission Leader for East and Southern Africa, notes that while Africa is known as the “heartland of Christianity,” faith can be 1,000 miles wide and a quarter inch deep. Providing scripture in Masaai is one way Resonate works to strengthen faith among the Masaai communities he works with.

Bishop Koinet expresses his gratitude for the Bibles. Many community members have contacted the church and inquired how they too could get a Bible. “This has changed our community and particularly our church members.”

This article was originally published on crcna.org.