We hear story after story, from around the world, of how God has changed a life through the power of His Word and the ministry of Walk Thru the Bible. Here we are privileged to share the deeply moving story of Timofey, an 8-year-old boy whose life was forever changed by the war in Ukraine… and God’s Word.

Timofey’s heritage was one of faith and service. His grandfather is a pastor, and his own father, Brother Gregory, served as a pastor until 2022 when he answered the call to defend his country, Ukraine. For three years, Gregory’s family, his church, and even young Timofey prayed for his safety.

A new (agonising) story begins
But in May 2025, the unthinkable happened. After sustaining a severe head wound and undergoing five surgeries, Brother Gregory passed away from his injuries and went home to be with Jesus.

For Timofey, a new, agonising story began. He was absolutely shattered. He took his father’s death very hard, and he was angry at God. Unable to be with his father for a final goodbye, Timofey struggled to believe he would ever see him again.

When we met Timofey at a summer Bible camp last July, he was closed off. He refused to pray, wouldn’t participate and withdrew from the other children and leaders. His grief manifested in tears and sudden, explosive outbursts. His heart was broken.

The fire of God’s Truth
In Ukraine and in many countries around the world, Walk Thru the Bible has a vibrant children’s ministry. Our team on the ground lead Bible camps all summer long for children, using Walk Thru the Bible otLIVE and ntLIVE events (these events teach the big picture story of Scripture) and other Walk Thru the Bible resources.

When Timofey came to Bible camp this last summer (just two months after his dad passed away), our Walk Thru the Bible team members were teaching on the life of the prophet Elijah. During these lessons, God began to heal Timofey’s heart.

Timofey learned that God took Elijah home with Him in a chariot of fire. And Timofey learned that God is still in the fire of our lives and our circumstances. Timofey realised that Christ-followers go to heaven to be with Him, just as He promises us. And most importantly, Timofey learned that when God takes believers Home, that is not the end.

It is the beginning of eternal life—the promise that as believers, we will see Jesus and spend eternity with Him.

This divine truth touched Timofey’s young heart. He realised that his father, though he missed him terribly, was happy in his new home with Jesus. And he realised that His heavenly Father loves him with an everlasting love.

By the end of summer, Timofey had returned to church and was attending Sunday school again, with his faith—and his hope—renewed. God’s love, and the hope and truth of the Bible, healed Timofey’s heart.

Timofey’s story is a beautiful, powerful reminder that even in the deepest pain of war and loss, God’s truth prevails and brings hope.

What a privilege to bring the enduring, life-transforming Word of God to millions around the world who desperately need it.

“Reaching as many as we can with God’s Word and bringing them to faith in Christ Jesus”

The vision endures, 12 years after the first otLIVE instructors were trained in Malawi. By God’s grace, and the faithful work of the instructors, there has been much fruit. otLIVE is now taught in 81 schools in Malawi, reaching 15 291 children in this year alone. We are grateful for each child who has received God’s Word, for the lives that have been impacted and the positive choices the children have made as they face life’s challenges.

The otLIVE lessons are taught on a weekly basis in Standards 5 and 6 during a normal school day, with a team of instructors comprising 5 full-time presenters and 12 volunteers. A significant highlight was the introduction of otLIVE at 24 new schools during the last school year.

otLIVE has also been introduced in some churches.

Pastor Joshua Kalolo of Zambezi Evangelical Church reports:

“otLIVE has also had a big impact on the people in our church who never learned to read. In our church, almost 50% of our women did not go to school, and some of them can’t read the Bible on their own, but with otLIVE, they are able to know the Bible using the hand signs.”

Hear from some of the learners at the schools where otLIVE is taught

Chimwemwe from M’thawaluba Primary School:

“otLIVE has helped me see reasons for staying in school and working hard in class. My life changed ever since I started attending the otLIVE lessons at my school. At first, I used to run away from classes and was also stealing, but now I have stopped because my conscience won’t let me. I also used to not respect my teachers and my parents. But my parents noticed some changes in my behaviour and the way I do things now. I told them that I learnt in otLIVE that the Bible teaches to respect your parents. Both my parents and teachers are happy for me.”

Yasimin (from a family of another faith)

“Because of otLIVE, I have learnt some Bible stories. I like the story of Ruth. I like how she cared for Naomi, her mother-in-law, after her husband’s death. In this story, I learned how to be kind to others.

Feedback from the teachers

Anita Jere, a standard 5 teacher at Yambe Primary School

“otLIVE has been of great importance at my school because learners are benefiting both spiritually and academically. Their spiritual life is being deepened as some of them do not go to church, but at least with otLIVE they are learning the Word of God at school.”

Clovis Chipata, a standard 5 teacher at Napache school

“I have noticed a change of behaviour in the otLIVE classes – there is less quarrelling and the learners are more merciful to each other.

Jonah Kamwendo , a standard 6 teacher at St Francis primary school

“ There is less absenteeism in the classes where otLIVE is taught! The drop out rate of standard 6 learners has also reduced.

Some challenges
Some areas where otLIVE is taught are under the significant influence of other faiths, but God continues to make a way for the teaching of His Word. Poverty is also an ongoing challenge for pupils from many households, with Malawi often not receiving adequate rainfall during the growing season.

Looking forward
Wiseman, one of the long-time instructors, shares: “We would love to see otLIVE teaching expand to more schools in the Salima district, and also add schools from the Chitala and Katelera areas. It would be good to have more volunteers to join us in bringing God’s kingdom into the lives of children.”

More about otLIVE
otLIVE teaches the big picture of God’s Word using engaging memory tools. Please click here to find out more about otLIVE.

Meet Kester from the Philippines

When Kester was in primary school, he was bullied — mainly because he had a difficult time with reading and spelling. And he had a stutter. When he tried to read aloud, his classmates laughed at him. And many times, the bullies told him they just didn’t like his face. All the bullying and hurt quickly caused Kester shame and fear, and a lack of confidence and self-respect. Later, he began to defend himself and fight back. After being bullied for so long, he became a bully himself; always in trouble, always in the principal’s office.

But God was working in his life. Kester came to know the Lord when he was 12 years old, after a teacher shared the gospel with him. He began to grow in his faith, started reading God’s Word, and became more involved at church, especially in the student ministry.

He finished high school, and his dream was to teach children and to help them know their heavenly Father through His Word. But his parents couldn’t afford to send him to Bible college. During the Covid pandemic, Kester was trained virtually by Walk Thru the Bible’s children’s ministry team in the Philippines to teach otLIVE (the live event that teaches the big picture of the Old Testament).

“I wanted to serve as an inspiration to the students – that even though I was bullied and then became a bully myself – there is hope. The Lord can change a person. He changed me,” he said.

Kester still had a stutter, but he persisted throughout the training—and he mastered the Old Testament storyline, the teaching sessions, and the handsigns. During the otLIVE training, he shared his story of how God impacted his life, gave him hope, and grew his faith. And otLIVE helped him to learn God’s Word for himself and gave him the confidence to stand and teach in front of others.

Kester’s persistence paid off. His primary school principal allowed him to teach otLIVE to the Grade 6’s at the school. When the other teachers saw how the children loved otLIVE and how they really connected with Kester, they asked him to teach it to the kids in their grades too.

Kester, who is now 22, says that the otLIVE training definitely helped him grow in his walk with God, but also helped him overcome his fear of sharing the Word and teaching it to others. “God and His Word changed me,” he said, “and if He can change me, He can change others.”

Perhaps this story is a reminder to view the children around us a little differently…

We may, or may not, see smiles on the outside, but no one knows what pain or fear is hiding on the inside. In this world of confusion and deception, each child – and each one of us, too – need someone to give them hope, the hope that only God’s Word can give. Each one needs to hear of the One who loves them with an everlasting love. Each one needs to know they were made for a special purpose by a loving Creator.

Kester learned this through the work of God and His Word in his life. And now he’s sharing God’s Word with children in public schools in the Philippines. We praise God that Kester also experienced the hope of God’s Word through the ministry of Walk Thru the Bible – and his life will never be the same.

Please join us in prayer for the over a million children around the world that we aim to reach with the hope and truth of God’s Word.