Light Bearers Ministry began in the mid-1980s as James Rafferty and Ty Gibson became friends in the study of God’s Word. These newly converted young men started sharing their discoveries with anyone who would listen. Friends began inviting James and Ty to hold weekly studies in their homes. Some began recording the messages to copy and send to friends and family across the country. As the taped messages made their way around the United States and to other countries, invitations to conduct local seminars multiplied until nearly every weekend was scheduled months in advance.
Increasingly convicted that God was calling them to proclaim the gospel wherever doors would open, they launched out by faith. Both young men quit their jobs and dedicated themselves to a teaching ministry. Next James and Ty began to prepare written studies to share with those attending their seminars. Using a computer and a copier, they put together a few hundred study guides every now and then. They soon saw what a powerful tool literature is for communicating truth; long after the sermon is over and the preacher is gone, the written word remains for personal study.
With a lot of prayer and faith, they converted an old garlic-drying shed into a small print shop. Before long an addition was in order, and the pair more than doubled the size of their building. That too was soon overflowing with publishing equipment.
Seeing the impact this small ministry was making, James and Ty envisioned a missionary publishing house committed to flooding entire nations with gospel literature. They committed their dream to the Lord. God answered more powerfully than they imagined, impressing a man to donate all of the money needed for the building project. In spring 1991, Light Bearers moved into the new facility. People rushed forward to support the bold new vision, providing for all of the costly publishing equipment.
Light Bearers developed a simple pattern of action: target a needy country with believers on location ready to receive and freely distribute gospel publications to the masses, fill a shipping container with 2 to 4 million pieces of literature, then deliver that container to the location. The financial formula is just as simple: charge nothing. Since the countries targeted are those with Third World economies, to place a price on the literature would place it out of reach to those most eager to receive it. God has used hundreds of compassionate believers to make this impossible business plan a reality. Today more than 350 million pieces of gospel literature in more that 30 languages have been put into the hands of men, women, and children around the world.
Learn more at the Light Bearers Ministry website.
