Telling youth the ‘Truth’ with Bibles

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Comics aren’t just for the Sunday paper anymore.
Various groups in Bland County, led by the Rev. Larry Sutphin of Rocky Gap Pentecostal Holiness Church, have purchased teen-centric Bibles in an effort to ensure that every kid in the county has a chance to hear their message about God.
The Bibles, known as the “The Truth for Youth,” feature an easy-to-read translation of the New Testament – no “hath’s” or “ye’s” here – and also include a full-color comic series showing youth dealing with issues such as pornography, abortion, secular rock music and school violence.
“My prayer is to get a Bible in the hands of every youth in this county or anywhere around,” Sutphin said.
The Truth for Youth Bibles are produced by Revival Fires International, a group led by evangelist Tim Todd that according to its Web site seeks “to bring the message of the Gospel to America’s youth and to counter the ill effect of the liberal agenda aggressively being promoted in America’s public schools.”
The Web site includes numerous testimonies about the power of the Bibles from both kids and spiritual luminaries such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Boone and David Ring.
“The Truth For Youth Bible for teens clearly challenges today’s young people about the issues they are facing today,” the late Falwell states on the site. “The unique format grabs their attention with the Biblical truths that will transform their lives. I recommend it!” 
The comics take a conservative slant on the issues discussed, with their conclusions presented as “absolute truths.” Bible verse citations are sprinkled in throughout the panels in an effort to link the characters’ statements back to Scripture.
For example, the comic on evolution, “Somebody’s Making a Monkey Out of You!” shows a character ending the strip by declaring, “God, thanks for creating the heavens and the Earth … I’m sorry I turned my back on you by believing in man’s theories instead of your truths ….”
The campaign encourages youth to pass out the Bibles to their “unsaved” friends at school and the back covers of the books feature students’ legal rights regarding distributing religious literature and holding religious gatherings on school grounds.
“They take them to school and maybe show them to a friend,” Sutphin said. “It’s getting them involved with their friends.”
According to Revival, students are allowed to distribute the Bibles on campus during non-instructional time.
A comic about school violence shows a character carrying a Truth for Youth Bible as he argues with an educator who states, “It took us years to get all that religious mumbo jumbo out of our public schools.”
“Yes, sir – and now instead of Bibles we have bullets,” the teenage character responds.
The strip ends with the teenager, decked out in a cross necklace and Tommy Hilfiger shirt, shouting, “You took your best shot Satan! Now the youth of America are fighting back! With God’s help, we are legally smuggling Bibles into public schools to stop the violence!”
With donations from the members of his church, as well as community groups such as the Men’s Prayer Breakfast and the Rocky Gap Ruritan Club, Sutphin said he was able to purchase 200 Truth for Youth Bibles.
About 40 were distributed, Sutphin said, before he was hospitalized for cancer treatments earlier this fall.
Sutphin returned home last week and he said he hopes to reinvigorate the Bible distribution program in the coming weeks. On Friday, he said plans called for the Bibles to be passed out over the weekend at his church’s annual fall celebration.
Members of the Rocky Gap Pentecostal Holiness Church youth group as well as other Christian youngsters around the county are participating in passing out the Bibles to their peers, Sutphin said.
“That’s the whole thing to Christianity that we can put away denominations,” the reverend said.
While the comics in the Truth for Youth Bibles present no room for doubt on the issues discussed, Sutphin said his purpose in exposing area youth to the messages is simply to give them a chance to see another take on controversial topics – not to brainwash or browbeat kids into seeing things his way.
Sutphin said the viewpoints given in the comics are ones that kids may never hear if they get all their information from the media or secular society.
“They should have the opportunity for both sides,” Sutphin said, adding that using free will is a fundamental tenant of Christianity.
For more information about the Truth for Youth Bibles and to see more examples of the comics, visit http://www.revivalfires.org.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .