History

In 1936 William Chapman, a Chicago area businessman, was near death. He lay seriously ill in a small hospital room, where an elder from his church came to visit him. The elder shared a few words of comfort with Mr Chapman and then bowed his head in prayer. He asked that God not only spare Chapman from death but also give him a new kind of life, a life dedicated to powerful service in God’s kingdom.

Chapman was surprised by the prayer. He believed in God, certainly, and considered himself a religious man. However, he had never thought of himself as a valuable member of God’s kingdom.

What could he do for Christ? What did he have to offer? He saw no reason for God to return him to health only in answer to such a incredible prayer. Throughout the night in that hospital room, the elder’s words never left him. And gradually William Chapman made that prayer his own. He dedicated his life to whatever work God would call him to do.

Chapman recovered, slowly. During his period of recuperation, he went on vacation and noticed a Gideon Bible placed on the nightstand of his hotel room. It struck him that if every hotel room in America was supplied with a Bible, why shouldn’t every home in America have the same privilege?

William Chapman came to believe this was the specific service God had in mind for him. This idea was the seed that eventually grew into the ministry now known as Bible League.

He asked his wife to join him in his vision and armed with a supply of 1,000 Bibles he bought with his own savings, he began his Bible placement program in Walkerton, Indiana in 1938. The Chapmans personally canvassed that neighbourhood one afternoon and found 45 families who didn't own a Bible. After eliciting a promise that the Bible would in fact be read, the Chapmans joyfully gave each of these families a Bible to own.

The Chapmans searched out Bible-less homes. The story of their unique ministry spread and its scope expanded. The Chapmans soon realised they would need help.

To meet the demands for Scriptures from all over the country, Chapman called on local congregations to reach the unreached. Limiting themselves to the role of supplier, the Chapmans depended on local churches and organisations to identify needs within their own communities and then to organise the actual placement of the Bibles.

As news of Chapman’s vision spread, this door-to-door ministry soon developed into The American Home Bible League, from there into The World Home Bible League, and eventually into Bible League, as it is known today.

Today more than 80 countries have received Bibles, New Testaments, Scripture portions and evangelistic/ discipleship Bible study materials from Bible League.