Not Alone
The Beauty of Ministry in the Gulf
The towering skyscrapers, gleaming shopping malls, and sprawling construction projects of the Arabian Gulf tell one story: economic growth. But behind the headlines, there is another story, quieter yet no less vital - the lives of the millions of migrant workers whose sweat, skill, and resilience power this rapid development. Many work long hours in searing heat, often isolated from family and home, facing both physical and emotional challenges. For these workers, hope can feel distant.
But the Bible Society in the Gulf wants to rewrite that story - not through policy or economic reform, but through Scripture. The project brings Bible stories to life for migrant workers, in the languages they understand best, in ways that speak directly to their hearts and experiences. It is a bold effort to provide spiritual sustenance where it is most needed.
Storytelling is at the heart of the project. For a Nepali construction worker, a story from the Bible might be the first story he has ever heard in his own language that speaks of courage, faith, or redemption. For Sister Sujatha, a domestic worker, hearing Genesis 3 in Amharic clarified lessons about obedience, sin, and God’s guidance - lessons that now resonate in her everyday life. Brother Benjamin, who struggles with loneliness far from home, described how hearing Scripture gives him a sense of dignity and purpose, reminding him that he is seen and loved.
The initiative doesn’t stop at listening. Around 150 individuals are trained as storytellers, learning not just to recount the Bible, but to convey its message in ways that resonate with the challenges workers face. Pastors and volunteers meet, practice, and refine their storytelling, ensuring that the narratives are accurate, engaging, and meaningful. “When we tell the story of Saul’s conversion,” explains Brother Shankar, “people realize that God can transform anyone, anywhere—even me.” These trained storytellers then return to their communities, multiplying the impact and creating networks of support across the Gulf.
Beyond spiritual growth, the project nurtures emotional resilience. Life as a migrant worker can be isolating and stressful. Long hours, cultural barriers, and the distance from loved ones often take a toll. Bible storytelling provides more than lessons - it offers connection. Groups gather, listen, discuss, and reflect, forming friendships and support networks that are often the first sense of community workers experience in a foreign land. “We play football, share snacks, and then hear a story,” says a Nepali pastor. “They sit, listen, and for a while, they are not alone.”
The ripple effects extend far beyond the Gulf. Many workers eventually return home, carrying a renewed faith, personal insights from Scripture, and the desire to share these lessons with families and communities. What begins as a simple storytelling session in Bahrain or the UAE could spark spiritual renewal in villages across the world, spreading hope across borders.
Every Bible story shared, every session held, every connection forged is an investment in the lives of those often overlooked by society. It is a tangible way to ensure that no worker is forgotten. By taking the timeless message of Scripture and delivering it where it is needed most, the Bible Society are illuminating the darkness of hardship with the light of hope.
Through storytelling, training, and community building, the Bible Society in the Gulf is doing more than sharing Scripture - it is planting seeds of faith that may flourish for generations.
1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
This is faith in action! Hope is not just a distant promise - it is alive, spoken, and heard in the lives of those who need it most.
