Trailblazing - Fall 2013

More Than a Carpenter Birth of a “Missionary”

1977 48 12

Year published Hours it took Josh to write Written on 12 legal pads

Factoids

150 100

Distributed in 150 countries Published in over 100 languages

YOU can send More Than a Carpenter out into the world!

Support this “little missionary” for just $3.25 per copy!

Since 1977, when More Than a Carpenter was first published, this little book has been on mission all around the globe, actively sharing the gospel through its pages.

Now, 36 years later, we get requests for hundreds of thousands of copies in dozens of languages. Men and women around the world read it and immediately want to share it with family, friends, communities — and even strangers. Some share it just one copy at a time, while others want to share it by the hundreds or thousands.

$3.25 sends 1

More Than a Carpenter

Today, will you join with us to provide copies of More Than a Carpenter to people who are passionate about sharing Jesus with the world?

Every $3.25 you send will provide a copy to a seeker or a believer who wants to use it in their evangelism efforts.

High Demand for 2014

Copies in print

1,542,040

Copies requested by ministry partners in 2014

$3.25

The

little missionary ” heard ‘round the world

“

In the 36 years since More Than a Carpenter was first published, one thing has become remarkably clear: The Lord may have used me to write this book, but it is the Holy Spirit who reaches people for Christ through its pages.

Isn’t that amazing? More Than a Carpenter has become a “little missionary,” ministering to people regardless of country or culture, convincing them that the message was written for them. I am humbled by this and so thankful for all that God has done, and continues to do, through this book.

Countries requesting copies right now!

Cost per copy to distribute internationally

2001 West Plano Parkway Suite 2400 • Plano, TX 75075 972.907.1000 • www.josh.org

The newsletter of Josh McDowell Ministry

People from all around the world come up to me and tell me they thought I, like them, was Russian, or Egyptian, or South American. Why? Because they read More Than a Carpenter and thought to themselves, “This man understands me, he understands my culture.”

27,000,000

40

Fall 2013

For only $3.25 you can provide a copy of More Than a Carpenter to a seeker or new believer.

INSIDE: See how this “little missionary” is reaching the world with the gospel.

▶

2001 West Plano Parkway Suite 2400 • Plano, TX 75075 972.907.1000 • www.josh.org

More Than a Carpenter:

How this “little missionary” is making disciples all over the world Since 1977, More Than a Carpenter has helped millions come to Christ around the world — you may be one of them. But did you know that MANY new believers are going beyond that? We hear story upon story of believers who are partnering with this “little missionary” in their lives, using this book to impact others for Christ. They’re taking the gospel to the whole world — one book at a time! And in unique and miraculous ways . . .

On Mission: As a food wrapper A merchant at a bazaar uses More Than a Carpenter in a unique way.

A neighboring merchant who came and bought sunflower seeds from him was surprised to find that the paper his sunflower seeds had been wrapped in was not ordinary paper — but the page of a book. The merchant was very curious and began to read the page from More Than a Carpenter. He was so intrigued that he turned the page over and read the other side. After reading it over many times, he gave his heart to Christ and trusted Him as Savior and Lord.

On Mission: As a resource for new employees In 1992, business owners Jo, and her husband John, held a four-week employee training retreat. On the last day, John said, “I want to share my testimony with you of how I came to know Jesus Christ.”

Despite being a secular business, John’s message was well received.

At the end of the retreat, he passed out copies of More Than a Carpenter to each employee. Since 1992, Jo and John have made the book part of their new employee-training. Every month, their company distributes 10 to 30 copies — about 5,000 copies over the past 21 years!

On Mission: As a textbook God called Sasha to start a ministry to orphans, widows, and prisoners in a closed country in Central Asia. Sasha and his staff show and live out God’s love to those enrolled in his skill-training programs. He also teaches from and distributes More Than a Carpenter. A young woman would come to class each day, proudly proclaiming she was not a Christian and had no desire to learn of this “god” they spoke of. Today, because of More Than a Carpenter, she is a believer and has brought her sisters to Christ as well.

On Mission: Behind prison bars While in prison, Mounir discovered one night that someone had slipped a book under his door with a note to read a chapter and return it the next morning.

Over the next six months, More Than a Carpenter would mysteriously appear each night. He never knew who brought him the book. But in the process of reading it, he came to Christ. After being released from prison, he returned home and led his wife and four children to the Lord.

On Mission: As a traveling library When Josh McDowell climbed into a cab in Cuba, the cab driver exclaimed, “You’re Josh McDowell!” He went on to tell him how he came to Christ through More Than a Carpenter. In his Cuban community, people would tear out the pages from More Than a Carpenter and circulate them, one page at a time, so that everyone could read the book.

Are you interested in using More Than a Carpenter in your outreach?

Have you used this book in a unique way? Are you interested in evangelism resources or study guide questions for More Than a Carpenter? Email michelle.oney@josh.org.

More Than a Carpenter is helping thousands take the first step of faith!

More Than a Carpenter:

How this “little missionary” is making disciples all over the world Since 1977, More Than a Carpenter has helped millions come to Christ around the world — you may be one of them. But did you know that MANY new believers are going beyond that? We hear story upon story of believers who are partnering with this “little missionary” in their lives, using this book to impact others for Christ. They’re taking the gospel to the whole world — one book at a time! And in unique and miraculous ways . . .

On Mission: As a food wrapper A merchant at a bazaar uses More Than a Carpenter in a unique way.

A neighboring merchant who came and bought sunflower seeds from him was surprised to find that the paper his sunflower seeds had been wrapped in was not ordinary paper — but the page of a book. The merchant was very curious and began to read the page from More Than a Carpenter. He was so intrigued that he turned the page over and read the other side. After reading it over many times, he gave his heart to Christ and trusted Him as Savior and Lord.

On Mission: As a resource for new employees In 1992, business owners Jo, and her husband John, held a four-week employee training retreat. On the last day, John said, “I want to share my testimony with you of how I came to know Jesus Christ.”

Despite being a secular business, John’s message was well received.

At the end of the retreat, he passed out copies of More Than a Carpenter to each employee. Since 1992, Jo and John have made the book part of their new employee-training. Every month, their company distributes 10 to 30 copies — about 5,000 copies over the past 21 years!

On Mission: As a textbook God called Sasha to start a ministry to orphans, widows, and prisoners in a closed country in Central Asia. Sasha and his staff show and live out God’s love to those enrolled in his skill-training programs. He also teaches from and distributes More Than a Carpenter. A young woman would come to class each day, proudly proclaiming she was not a Christian and had no desire to learn of this “god” they spoke of. Today, because of More Than a Carpenter, she is a believer and has brought her sisters to Christ as well.

On Mission: Behind prison bars While in prison, Mounir discovered one night that someone had slipped a book under his door with a note to read a chapter and return it the next morning.

Over the next six months, More Than a Carpenter would mysteriously appear each night. He never knew who brought him the book. But in the process of reading it, he came to Christ. After being released from prison, he returned home and led his wife and four children to the Lord.

On Mission: As a traveling library When Josh McDowell climbed into a cab in Cuba, the cab driver exclaimed, “You’re Josh McDowell!” He went on to tell him how he came to Christ through More Than a Carpenter. In his Cuban community, people would tear out the pages from More Than a Carpenter and circulate them, one page at a time, so that everyone could read the book.

Are you interested in using More Than a Carpenter in your outreach?

Have you used this book in a unique way? Are you interested in evangelism resources or study guide questions for More Than a Carpenter? Email michelle.oney@josh.org.

More Than a Carpenter is helping thousands take the first step of faith!

More Than a Carpenter Birth of a “Missionary”

1977 48 12

Year published Hours it took Josh to write Written on 12 legal pads

Factoids

150 100

Distributed in 150 countries Published in over 100 languages

YOU can send More Than a Carpenter out into the world!

Support this “little missionary” for just $3.25 per copy!

Since 1977, when More Than a Carpenter was first published, this little book has been on mission all around the globe, actively sharing the gospel through its pages.

Now, 36 years later, we get requests for hundreds of thousands of copies in dozens of languages. Men and women around the world read it and immediately want to share it with family, friends, communities — and even strangers. Some share it just one copy at a time, while others want to share it by the hundreds or thousands.

$3.25 sends 1

More Than a Carpenter

Today, will you join with us to provide copies of More Than a Carpenter to people who are passionate about sharing Jesus with the world?

Every $3.25 you send will provide a copy to a seeker or a believer who wants to use it in their evangelism efforts.

High Demand for 2014

Copies in print

1,542,040

Copies requested by ministry partners in 2014

$3.25

The

little missionary ” heard ‘round the world

“

In the 36 years since More Than a Carpenter was first published, one thing has become remarkably clear: The Lord may have used me to write this book, but it is the Holy Spirit who reaches people for Christ through its pages.

Isn’t that amazing? More Than a Carpenter has become a “little missionary,” ministering to people regardless of country or culture, convincing them that the message was written for them. I am humbled by this and so thankful for all that God has done, and continues to do, through this book.

Countries requesting copies right now!

Cost per copy to distribute internationally

2001 West Plano Parkway Suite 2400 • Plano, TX 75075 972.907.1000 • www.josh.org

The newsletter of Josh McDowell Ministry

People from all around the world come up to me and tell me they thought I, like them, was Russian, or Egyptian, or South American. Why? Because they read More Than a Carpenter and thought to themselves, “This man understands me, he understands my culture.”

27,000,000

40

Fall 2013

For only $3.25 you can provide a copy of More Than a Carpenter to a seeker or new believer.

INSIDE: See how this “little missionary” is reaching the world with the gospel.

▶

2001 West Plano Parkway Suite 2400 • Plano, TX 75075 972.907.1000 • www.josh.org