Contact: Kelly Hughes, 312-280-8126
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 14, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Beginning in April, anyone who buys a Thomas Nelson-published Bible in a Christian retail store will be doing more than bringing home God's Word -- they'll be putting it into action and helping children. Through the God's Word in Action "Buy a Bible, Help a Child" promotion, sales of Thomas Nelson Bibles -- including children's and Spanish-language Bibles -- will help World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization, end poverty and preventable deaths among children in the U.S. and worldwide**.
The "Buy a Bible, Help a Child" promotion will result in a minimum donation of $75,000 to further World Vision's mission in the U.S. and worldwide, with the potential of much more based on revenue growth. When World Vision combines Thomas Nelson's donation with matching grant funds and corporate donations, the donation multiplies four times to be used to improve the health of children around the world.
"Based on our fiscal plan for the upcoming year, and matching grant funds, we have set an overall goal to provide more than $1 million to help children around the world through World Vision," says Gary Davidson, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher for Thomas Nelson's Bible Group. "As a Bible publisher, we are 'practicing what we preach' and living out what God calls us to do as people and as a company, by reaching out and helping those in need. Despite a tough economy, we believe this is one of the most important investments we can make."
"'Buy a Bible, Help a Child' is an extraordinary initiative that demonstrates Thomas Nelson's heart for children and commitment to the poor," says Marcia Kuszmaul, World Vision's Director of Retail Partnerships. "Through one simple act, they are enabling their customers to provide lifesaving care for thousands of children and families around the world."
Children such as 5-year-old Jean De La Croix. Jean regularly got diarrhea and stomach aches from drinking unsafe water until World Vision was able to use donated funds to build a mechanized water system in his town in Mali. Or Mariama, age 6, who suffered from trachoma, a blinding eye disease from unclean water, until World Vision installed two water pumps in her village in Niger. The donation created by the "Buy a Bible, Help a Child" promotion will help thousands of children like Jean and Mariama around the world.
Every two minutes, 30 children under the age of 5 die; 22,000 young children every day. Most succumb due to preventable causes such as diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition and malaria. Funds generated by the God's Word In Action "Buy A Bible, Help A Child" promotion will include immunizations, prenatal and ongoing medical care, vitamins and deworming medications, bed nets for malaria prevention and life-saving food.
The promotion will also aid children living in poverty in the United States, helping World Vision to make available necessities that disadvantaged families are unable to afford, and to assist community-based organizations in providing children with personal care items.
The "Buy a Bible, Help a Child" promotion is part of Thomas Nelson's God's Word in Action campaign, which is inspired by Psalm 82:3: "Stand up for the poor and the orphan; advocate for the rights of the afflicted and those in need" (The Voice). The campaign encourages and empowers Christians to join the company in their mission to change the world by serving others, one person at a time. The God's Word in Action website provides inspirational resources, ideas for taking action, and a place to share people’s stories of compassion and giving.
For more information on the campaign and to join the growing movement of people dedicated to putting God's Word into action please visit www.SeeGodsWordinAction.com. Together we can change the world!
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. They serve the world's poor -- regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org.
Thomas Nelson, Inc., is a leading provider of Bibles, books, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational, and family values themes. For more information, please visit www.thomasnelsonbibles.com.
**Applies to sales at U.S. Christian retail stores only from April 1, 2011 -- March 31, 2012. Thomas Nelson will donate 10% of its year-over-year net revenue growth achieved during that period to World Vision, with a minimum donation of $75,000.
