Since 2008, New Life Ministries has been delivering Manga to children in Uganda. What follows is a true story from those early days.
It happened at a school in northern Uganda, on the day Manga Messiah was distributed in a classroom. One boy, seated in the front row, stared quietly at the book he had been given. After a moment, he drew it close and held it tightly against his chest with both arms.
From that day on, the boy was never without it. During breaks between classes, during recess—he was always reading the Manga. When the class moved to another room, he never left it behind on his desk.
His teacher later shared this:
“We actually had to remind him not to read it during other lessons. Even in classes unrelated to Bible study, he would find himself opening it again.”
Do you remember something from your childhood that you couldn’t let go of—without knowing exactly why?
This testimony was made possible by the prayers and donations of many, including you.

Children Raised Amid War

Uganda gained independence from Britain in 1962.
But in the decades that followed, the nation endured repeated cycles of tribal conflict, dictatorship, and civil war. For a long time, violence and fear overshadowed daily life.
Especially in the northern regions, countless children have grown up having lost family members before their eyes, been abducted and forced into armed groups, or lived with deep guilt for having survived.
Today, many Ugandans identify as Christians. Bible verses decorate taxis in the streets, and church signs are everywhere.
And yet—very few people actually own a Bible of their own.

A Country of “Faith” Where Bibles Are Scarce

More than 85% of the population lives on less than the equivalent of one U.S. dollar a day (around 150 yen). Buying a Bible is simply beyond reach for many, and access to education is often limited.
At the same time, the country faces a harsh reality:
• Large mosques are being built in urban centers
• Qur’ans are distributed free of charge
• Tangible aid is sometimes offered in exchange for conversion
Uganda is a country open to the gospel. But it is also a country where the foundation of Scripture and sound faith is critically lacking.

Reaching Hearts Through the Manga Bible

It was into this context that the Manga Messiah was delivered—telling the story of Jesus Christ gently and visually, through illustrations that speak directly to the hearts of children.
For those who struggled with written text alone, manga became a powerful way to encounter the gospel as their own story.
Children eagerly turned its pages.
Adults, too, began to listen.
“I finally understood that Jesus died on the cross for us.”
“This Manga Bible made me start thinking about the meaning of my life.”

300 Yen That Nurtures a Lifetime

The cost to print one Manga Messiah is about 300 yen—roughly the price of a cup of coffee.
Just one book.
And yet that single copy can walk alongside a child carrying deep trauma, bring the gospel into a family, and spread hope through a church and an entire community.
Most of all, it takes root—slowly, over time—within a life.

An Unexpected Message, Years Later

In 2025, at an international conference held in the United States, two young men from Uganda visited our booth.
They told us that when they were children, they had received the Manga at school. Through it, they came to know God and became Christians.
Today, they serve in ministry, spreading the love of God wherever they go.
“If it hadn’t been for that Manga Bible, I wouldn’t have known God—and I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
For them, a single book received years ago had grown, over more than a decade, into a life devoted to serving the Lord.

Children Are Still Reading—Quietly

In another town, even after the distribution had ended, children could be seen sitting outside the school building, Manga in hand, turning the pages.
Two boys sat side by side, sharing one book between them.
One pointed to a panel with his finger; the other gazed at it silently.
The work of the Manga Bible is not a story of the past.
It is still happening—right now.

Connecting the Next “First Day”

The story of the boy who received a Manga Bible in his classroom did not end there.
Like him, many children turned its pages during breaks, reading it again and again.
The words slowly stayed with them.
And years later, among them are those who came to know the Lord—and who now stand as messengers of that grace.
Even at this very moment, somewhere in the world, a child is waiting for the same opportunity.
Through your prayers and donations, a single Manga may become that child’s unforgettable day—the day they could not let go.
And that day, over time, may grow into a life devoted to serving the Lord.
Your gift is not merely about delivering a book.
It is about quietly beginning the first day of someone’s life-changing journey.