Study Bibles for Students
Transforming Richmond’s Schools
through the Proliferation of the Personal Study of God’s Word
“The thought of high schoolers and college students spending time in the study of God’s Word gives me great hope. Let’s get as many of these powerful Study Bibles as we can to as many students as we can!”
~ Don Coleman (former Chairman of Richmond School Board)
“I envision these Study Bibles being vigorously used by our college students in their journey to know Christ more deeply and to make Him known more widely across our campus.”
~ Kip Hart (Campus Minister, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship)
“The ability to hand a Study Bible to a student could be a life-changing event. I can imagine this Bible being in their room and, because of it being a Study Bible, it will enable them to dive into God's Word on their own with confidence. I imagine it going with them into college, into their first job or into the military. I think about it guiding them as they figure out their path, seek to love their spouse and raise their kids. There is no more important thing you could put into the hands of a young person than the Scriptures!”
~ Matt Bouknight (Area Director, Young Life)
“Study Bibles for Students” is a collaborative, Richmond-wide effort happening now to benefit our students in the various high schools and universities throughout our Greater Richmond community.
Every year there is a greater and greater famine for the Word of God in our society and especially in our schools, and our children and students pay the price. But what can we do? Imagine our students throughout the high schools and universities of Greater Richmond being gifted with their very own personal Study Bible, an immensely transformative personal resource lasting a lifetime through which they could become truly and deeply grounded in the Word of God and a Biblical view of life, given in the context of the campus ministry groups where they are building new friendships and will be continually encouraged in their study of the Word of God and their growth in the Kingdom of King Jesus. That’s what “Study Bibles for Students” is all about!
At this point, we already have requests from a variety of campus groups for over 2000 Study Bibles that they would then gift directly to their students on their respective campuses that they are already in relationship with or are building relationships with. This would have the effect to being received as a true gift from a friend rather than a hand out from someone they don’t know, and (being a gift of great value and benefit to the student) would also tend to foster that relationship and tie them in even more with the giving campus ministry.
The ministries on the ground tell me that no matter what kind of school you are talking about, the lack and the need for these Study Bibles is basically the same throughout. Consequently, these Study Bibles would go to students in schools of all sorts throughout Greater Richmond – public and private, city and county, high school and college.
As we considered what Study Bible to focus on, the various receiving ministries on the ground confirmed our thought that the NIV Study Bible would be the best fit for this project, given its great quality, accessibility, name-recognition and trusted reputation throughout its many decades. They also strongly recommended the Personal Size (since students will be much more likely to bring it with them if it is of a more portable size while still being fully readable) and imitation leather rather than paperback or hardcover (as it would last a lifetime and communicate to the student that this is a true gift to them).
Through our partnership with Zondervan, we have worked out a significant discount for these Study Bibles. Whereas you would normally pay nearly $75 for one of these Study Bibles after tax, for this project we are able to provide them for $49 with no sales tax, since it would be a charitable gift rather than a purchase.
I would like to request that you prayerfully consider how many Study Bibles you might provide for our students in the various high schools and colleges throughout our Greater Richmond community.
Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration regarding your possible participation in this collaborative, Richmond-wide effort to benefit our students throughout our Greater Richmond community and to transform our schools through the proliferation of the personal study of God’s Word. If you are able to participate, please contact Chris Daniel, Executive Director of the Richmond Center for Christian Study, at 804-852-5151. We would love to talk with you more about it!