Bridges of Faith

03/31/2026

As you know, the first printing of Bridges of Faith’s waterproof, Ukrainian, military New Testament has been distributed – directly into the hands of frontline soldiers and chaplains. Our website – available to Ukrainian soldiers in the field – offers copies to anyone who contacts us.

The other day, a call came in. Thomas Kraus, Bridges of Faith’s European director, answered the phone. It was a soldier at the front.

“May I buy one of your waterproof military New Testaments?”

“Actually no, you can’t buy one. We only give them away!”

A sigh of relief. “How can I get one?”

“I am so sorry to tell you that we are out. May we stay in touch so that I can get one to you as soon as possible?”

“Yes, sure. I hope I’m still alive.”

We have never been able to connect with him again. I assume the worst has happened. Deep in my soul, I never want to have this happen again.

We are in process to complete the second printing. This is a run of 50,000 New Testaments. We our remaining balance is only $60,000 – $25,000 of which should be paid now. And another $10,000 for shipping from Poland to delivery points in Ukraine.

Will you consider helping put Scriptures in the hands of soldiers, many of whom are very young men with a very short life expectancy?

Of course, we are still caring for orphans in Romania, both through our group homes and through our school. It’s such a great way to provide good education and share life in Christ Jesus. And we still care for orphanages inside Ukraine and other acts of mercy ministries. Just the other day, Thomas Kraus, our director of work in Eastern Europe, visited an orphanage where we made provision of food while they were under Russian occupation. While they hid in basements, the leaders of the group shared that the only way they survived those times was through our assistance. They felt they would have starved if not for Bridges of Faith and your donations.

I hope that you will consider a gift today, either toward Bibles or toward orphan care.

Believing in miracles!

Rev. Tom Benz
[email protected]

PS: Dpn't forget, the summer trip is coming up! We leave the US 10 July and return 17 July, giving us five full ministry days with orphans. Please call or write so that we can make plans together.

PPS: If you love this ministry but - for any reason - just don't feel this trip is for you, please partner financially with us. The trip fees are not terrible, but they just don't cover everything. And, I always have people who clearly should go, but the expenses are just too much. We always build a scholarship fund to help those wonderful people get to Eastern Europe.

03/15/2026

"But is it really waterproof?"

That's the question that often comes up about the waterproof Bibles made for Ukrainian soldiers in the trenches.

The answer? Absolutely.

We ran across a post from Romanian Alexandru Adalbert Vlad , who runs an NGO that helps Ukrainian kids. He filmed one of these sturdy little Bibles being doused with water, and had this to say:

“The water proof Bible is not like those cheap watches that say ‘water resistant’ Each page is made from plastic so it would withstand harsh conditions!”

For soldiers on the front lines, this isn't just a novelty. It's a necessity.

Thanks to Biblica's partnership with Bridges of Faith these specially designed Bibles are getting into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers who desperately need the hope of Scripture in the midst of war. And thank you, Alexandru Adalbert Vlad, for the video demonstration!

Watch the video to see just how waterproof these Bibles really are: https://bit.ly/3ZdEzQ6

When conditions are impossible, God's Word remains unshakeable—and now, unsoakable too.

02/25/2026

I am happy to say, "It's that time!"

It's to make plans for summer outreaches. Our team - which I hope includes YOU! - will charge the runways for Romania 10 July and arrive back 17 July.

While there we will share the love of God with Ukrainian orphans. Not only have the two people who should be their staunchest natural protectors failed them, they are now victims of a gruesome war.

Each one of these children are looking for something. It could e a mom or dad, a grandparent, or a brother or sister. I can, on every trip, almost see the radar antenna revolving on the tops of each child's head, looking for that someone. When someone tells me that they feel an urge to go, but don't see themselves as a 'kid person,' I tell t hem about the radar systems. You very well may fit the need in one of those children's hearts.

If this trip sounds interesting to you, please let me know. I'd love to talk details with you and see if this is a good fit for you.

Write or give me a call soon!

Rev. Tom Benz
334-221-0385
[email protected]

PS: If you love this ministry but - for any reason - just don't feel this trip is for you, please partner financially with us. The trip fees are not high, but they just don't cover everything. And, I always have people who clearly seem that they should go, but the expenses are just too much. We always build a scholarship fund to help those wonderful people get to Eastern Europe.

PPS: The pictures are from last summer's outreach!

02/15/2026

Valentines Day, 2010, I was in Haiti. Only days after the catastrophe, we flew in a mosquito sized private aircraft to visit the grim aftermath of their horrendous earthquake.

Traveling with me were Andy Langeland and Jerry Goodwin. The horrifying stench of death only foreshadowed the worst - the blanket of despair that covered this already poor island nation.

We brought some humanitarian aid, mostly money, to help meet natural needs. We mostly visited orphans, hoping to bring a group of those kids to our retreat center in Alabama. We hoped to, at the very least, give respite from fear, hunger, and thirst. We wanted to share hope in Jesus.

The conditions wrenched our hearts. The Haitian government would not play ball. Several local Christian leaders sorely disappointed us.

As Scripture often says - ‘But God!’

It was this viscerally crushing experience that jolted me to immediately move forward with bringing Ukrainian orphans to Alabama. For our tiny organization, this was an enormous step of faith, in time, in money, in legalities, etc.

But God!

I could never erase from memory the images of those first, beautiful children. I saw them emerge from their shells. I saw them begin smiling and begin receiving our love and God’s love. And I can never forget the two hundred kids who found forever homes in those next years.

I invited you to look through these pictures and remember for a few moments the least of these in our world. And to thank God with me other huge blessings/accomplishments that have followed. From caring for orphans through Putin’s war to publishing the first official Ukrainian Military New Testament (waterproof!), I stand in absolute amazement at God’s greatness and goodness.

Let’s see how God uses us together next!

01/21/2026

As you know, the relentless pounding of Russian drones, rockets and missiles has disabled huge chunks of the Ukrainian power grid. Millions, in the dead of winter, are plunged into frigid darkness. As Kyiv’s mayor warns that residents may need to evacuate the city, we want to invite you to consider an urgent opportunity to provide immediate, life-sustaining help.

Imagine it’s -23°C / -4°F tonight outside, and you’re sitting in your apartment without electricity or central heating. This is the daily reality for millions of Ukrainians.

Back in February 2023, together we placed 60 Kelly Kettles into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers and the families of Christian soldiers. We watched them go directly into use, boiling water, making food, bringing warmth during blackouts and bitter cold. It worked. Because it worked, we stand determined to do it again, only we hope to help many more soldiers, orphans, and families.

Large portions of Kyiv are experiencing prolonged power outages, leaving families without heat or electricity. On the frontlines, soldiers are enduring freezing temperatures while holding ground in trenches, often without access to fuel or safe heating options.

Kelly Kettles are uniquely suited for this war-time winter:
+ They boil water in about 3 minutes
+ They use tiny amounts of found fuel, twigs, dry grass, pinecones
+ They work without electricity or gas
+ They are effective in wind, snow, and extreme cold

And there is a reality we must not ignore. In many areas, collecting firewood is dangerous. Fields and forests are often contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. A traditional fire requires repeated trips and armloads of wood. A Kelly Kettle requires very little fuel, often gathered closer to home or from already-traveled paths. That means less exposure, less risk, and less time in harm’s way.

We plan to purchase 600 Kelly Kettles. We can buy them at the reduced cost of $50, making this one of the most cost-effective ways to provide immediate, life-sustaining help.

Of course, we also want to pair the kettles with the Gospel. For every 100 Waterproof Bibles, we will provide one Kelly Kettle
A gift of $300 provides 100 Waterproof Bibles ($250) and a Kelly Kettle.
A gift of $50 provides a Kelly Kettle for an orphanage, a group of soldiers, or a soldier's family.
One gift meets physical survival and spiritual endurance.

We are stating our goal of 600 Kelly Kettles, but we are limited only by the resources that God provides. Please give as the Lord leads you!

If you were part of this story in 2023, thank you.
If you’re able to join us again, now is the time.
This winter is harsh.
The need is real.
And together, we can respond, again.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=city+prepping+kelly+kettle&&mid=37064D975A6BA2C1AA3837064D975A6BA2C1AA38&mmscn=mtsc&aps=152&FORM=VRDGAR

To give electronically, click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=gift%40bridgesoffaith%2ecom&item_name=Bridges%20of%20Faith&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF&charset=UTF%2d8

To give by check, please send your gift to
Bridges of Faith
174 County Road 383
Billingsley, AL 36006

12/31/2025

Thanks to amazing support, the displaced Ukrainian orphans we care for in Romania received a great Christmas. As you may know, we now support several large group homes in Medias, along with a school there for our orphans and other Ukrainian refugee children.

The gifts we brought were simple, but they bore powerful messages. They reminded these kids, (who had no choice to be orphaned or to have their country invaded, disrupted, or terrorized), that they are not forgotten. They reminded them that they do matter to someone.

Most importantly, the gifts, the special foods, the Christmas tree, and the attention reminded them again of God's love. With nearly every child in every camp that Bridges of Faith has run, I have shared about the ubiquitous nature of God. That's a big phrase, but incredible. It doesn't just mean that God is everywhere; it means that He is fully present everywhere. If I call on the Lord here in Alabama and a tiny orphan - at the same - calls His name when a missile strikes in Ukraine, God is fully present with both of us. Not just a small portion of Him.

Together, through the work of Bridges of Faith with the least of these, we change lives. I am viscerally grateful for your support. As are many, many children.

12/23/2025

Because of our involvement with the Ukrainian military chaplaincy and because we produced and provided waterproof Ukrainian military New Testaments, Thomas Kraus, our Executive Director of Bridges of Faith Europe, spoke at the recent Ukrainian Military Prayer Breakfast. Also attending and speaking were President Zelenskyy and other key figures. Here is a portion of Thomas's address:

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
Albert Paine

"On December 6, at the invitation of the President, I had the humbling honor of leading an international delegation to Kyiv and speaking at the 2nd edition of the Ukrainian Military Prayerbreakfast.

"As I looked around the room, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we have met, partnered with, and prayed for many of the leaders gathered there, chaplains, soldiers, policymakers, and key political leaders. These are no longer just “contacts.” They are friends, brothers and sisters in a shared calling.

"I was given the opportunity to share words of encouragement and to speak about the Waterproof Bibles we produced for Ukraine’s defenders in partnership with Biblica. In trenches, hospitals, and command centers, these Bibles are a simple but powerful reminder that God has not forgotten them, nor have we.

"It is sobering to realize that this war is likely the defining conflict of our century. History will remember what was decided in rooms like the one we were in and what each of us chose to do. By God’s grace, we have been allowed to play a small part: standing alongside those who carry the weight of daily decisions, national security, and the care of their families all at once."

I used my time to reaffirm our commitment:
to the Ukrainian Chaplaincy, Church Leaders,
to the nation’s political and military leadership,
and to the many war-affected children whose lives and futures are being reshaped by this conflict.

One moment will stay with me forever: watching President Zelensky share a quiet, tender exchange with the daughter of a fallen hero, as they enjoyed a piece of cake together while her mother spoke from the stage. In the midst of strategy, security, and sacrifice, there was a glimpse of simple humanity and fatherly kindness. I deeply admire his leadership, and I am profoundly grateful for the two hours of prayer we were able to share in such a time as this.

We also heard powerful messages from:
• Dr. Chris Seiple, a trusted friend, scholar of International Relations, former president of the Institute for Global Engagement, and founder of The Review of Faith & International Affairs.
• Former Congressman Geoff Davis of Kentucky, whose words resonated deeply with everyone present.

Despite the honor of contributing at such a critical moment for Ukraine, we are clear about our role: to serve, not to be seen; to listen before we speak; to resource and encourage those who are walking through the hardest season of their lives.

Our prayer is simple:
May the Lord continue to protect and bless the men, women, and children of Ukraine.

We intend to stand by their side in the months and years to come and we invite you to join us in this mission: through prayer, partnership, and practical support. History is being written now.
We are inviting you to join us in this mission to the chaplaincy service, the leadership development programs, the trauma healing initiatives and the needs of the thousands of war orphans and children at risk. Will you join us?

Thomas Kraus,
Bridges of Faith

Our first run of the waterproof official Ukrainian Military New Testament Is distributed. Leaders, soldiers and especially chaplains plead with us for copies. Each Scripture costs $5 to print, ship and place in soldiers' hands. This next run of 20,000 will cost $100,000. Please remember us and this need!

Tom Benz
Bridges of Faith

12/14/2025

This fall, for the first time in many years, we did not travel to our beloved orphanage and school in Romania. Normally, we take a team and, and, while there, we gather with the children, fitting them for new coats and sturdy shoes—ensuring they are prepared for the long, cold months ahead. We missed this year. I didn’t realize that we missed dressing these beautiful Ukrainian children for winter.

As winter grips Eastern Europe, faithful caregivers reminded me of this oversight. I was shocked! This urgent need now weighs heavily.

We must quickly raise $2,000 to provide warmth and care for the fifty wonderful Ukrainian orphans we serve in our school and group homes in Romania. Your help will allow us to purchase not only winter coats and shoes, but also small gifts—each one a token to remind a child that someone cares deeply about them, and that they are truly loved. Along with these gifts, we share the hope of the Gospel, letting each child know their life matters.

We cannot let these children face the season feeling forgotten. Your tax-deductible gift, no matter the amount, will make a world of difference. With your compassion, we can wrap each child in warmth and fill their hearts with joy and hope this Christmas.

Thank you for opening your heart to these precious children. Together, we can bring light and love into their lives during this special time.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr. Tom Benz, President

PS: While we are talking about needs, two of our group homes need improvement in their kitchens. One needs a stove and the other needs a microwave. With another three thousand dollars, we can provide these key appliances, stock kitchens and encourage our selfless staff. Thank you so much for considering!!

12/02/2025

As we approach the end of our 29 years of ministry to Ukrainian orphans, we see many human treasures the Lord brought into our lives. We lovingly call these precious souls, “Saints Among Us!” These are not molded into stained glass; they are clearly with us, fulfilling all kids of needs with their hands, with whisper prayers, and sharing generosity where human eyes do not see.

Maybe you have already guessed, but I’m talking about you . . . and many other unsung heroes. You may have never worn a medal, but your steady ‘yes, I’ll help’ has made miracles real. Because of your faithfulness and partnership with Bridges of Faith, lives have changed—beautifully and measurably – for many years.

Just since this heinous war in Ukraine has begun, let me tell you what your kindness has done.

As the war began in Ukraine, fear and chaos were everywhere. In the middle of that darkness, you helped sustain our school for Ukrainian orphans in Mediaș—not just for a week or a season, but for three continuous years. As of October 2025, that’s 1,111 days of stability, laughter, learning, and healing for children who lost almost everything. You helped turn sadness into sparks of hope and daily struggles into daily bread.

This summer, you also made something unforgettable possible. We hosted 49 war orphans in Mediaș for a full month of summer camp. Imagine Ukrainian children who had not felt safe in years—swimming, playing soccer, painting, worshiping, and remembering what joy feels like. One of the boys, Maksym, told us, “This was the first time I felt like a child again.” That happened because of you.

You helped put the Word of God into the hands of people on the frontlines—literally. Together, we produced Ukraine’s first-ever waterproof Bible and printed and distributed over 20,000 New Testaments and Psalms to chaplains, soldiers, and families. Scripture they can carry into rain, snow, and muddy trenches. The Word endures—and you helped carry it there.

We’re now praying and planning to print an additional 80,000 Bibles so that 100,000 soldiers encounter the Gospel by June 2026. Please keep this unique initiative in your prayers.

You helped fill stomachs and hearts: 36,000 nutritious meals served through our school, plus 84,000 meals offered to Ukrainian orphans so far. Every meal is a sermon without words: You are seen. You are loved. You matter.

Because of you, seven group homes for Ukrainian orphans received help with rent and utilities, keeping their homes warm through another winter. You helped us host trauma-healing sessions with specialists in child PTSD. And this year we secured an 11-year lease on a 24-room conference center—a space that will soon become a War Trauma Healing Center for families rebuilding their lives.

Your generosity also reaches young adults who have aged out of orphan care. Through vocational barista training, they are gaining life skills, stepping toward independence, and entering adulthood with dignity and courage. They are becoming more than survivors; they are becoming leaders who can support themselves while pursuing higher education.

If you ever wonder whether your giving matters—it does. It matters to the child who finally found a forever home. It matters to the chaplain holding a waterproof Bible in the pouring rain. It matters to the foster mother who can sleep without worrying about rent. It matters to the student who now dares to dream.

All of this—every story, every number, every answered prayer—has happened because of your faithfulness. You have lived the Great Commandment in a world that often forgets how to love its neighbor.

As Rick Warren reminds us, “We are most like Jesus when we serve.” Thank you for reflecting Christ’s compassion for the poor and the vulnerable.

Here is the truth: this isn’t just our story. It is our shared yes to Jesus—one table, one classroom, one life at a time.

So as we celebrate the Saints Among Us, we simply want to say thank you. Thank you for standing with us, praying for us, and giving when it would have been easier not to. Thank you for believing that the Kingdom of God is not just a place but a thousand small acts of love that change the world.

You are one of those saints among us.

With deep gratitude and love,

Tom Benz and the entire Bridges of Faith family.

10/09/2025

I know these pictures have already apprehended you. It is Mark, one of our guys who carry our waterproof, Ukrainian military New testaments to the front lines. He and his three beautiful kids are standing in front of the van he uses to carry those Bibles. The missile that destroyed their van also destroyed their apartment and all their possessions.

We offered to bring Mark, his wife and family, to Romania to catch their breath after this trauma. Mark had two responses. First, he politely declined, saying that their family decision is to stay where they are most needed. Second, he organized songs of worship and shared the Good News in an outdoor meeting in front of their flat.

Mark has a strong church family who are surrounding the family in this tragedy. We thank God for their love. While the church does this, we want God to use us to provide a van for the family and for the ministry that Mark wants to immediately re-engage.

On another note, summer camps were amazing. Our first group of orphans had special needs; what an honor share life and God’s love with them. And everything we gave was return many times over by these loving children.

We hoped the second group of kids would be Ukrainian orphans who had been held captive in Russia – some of those 20,000 plus children whom Russian troops captured and took to Russia. Our European Director, Thomas Kraus worked with Mrs. Zelenskyy to make this happen, but obstacles put that ministry opportunity off to a later time. Instead, we had 55 children who had lost one or both parents in the war. These damaged children came with rather obvious chips on their shoulders, but God had a plan. Within two days, the walls began coming down! Many of these tragically shattered children shared from the depths of their hearts and found deep emotional healing in the arms of the Lord Jesus!

Our school is under way! We have 45 Ukrainian children, with more being added. This incredible ministry opportunity is now in it’s third school year and we continue seeing young lives changed.

Finding the financial support the school needs has been on ongoing walk of faith. We stand absolutely grateful to God for His faithfulness; at the same time, we have occasionally ‘quietly panicked in faith!’ We have been able to decrease expenses from 20,000 plus a month to about 15,000. We have ongoing gifts and grants that will cover 10,000 each month. And we stand in faith believing that this $5,000 gap will stay closed.

I ask you now if you will help us move forward. First, we have no greater need than for godly men and women to call our names before our Father. Second, to know that you are standing with us encourages the entire Bridges of Faith team to work even harder to share Christ. Third, your financial support amazes me and our BOF family. I ask if you will step to the plate and help us together to hit homeruns in the Kingdom!

Thank you so much for being a part of this outreach through your friendship, prayers and financial support. All of us at Bridges of Faith will surely appreciate your help . . . and I pray these children’s lives will never be the same!

Believing in miracles,

Dr. Tom Benz

09/15/2025

Now that I have your attention . . . Nancy and I are in Beatenburg, Switzerland, joining in discussions and dreaming with leaders of Scripture translation, printing and distribution across Eurasia. We were invited because of our work in producing the only waterproof Ukrainian military New Testament.

Part of what brought this product to fruition was the Kitchen for the Soul. Through our work with Ukrainian military chaplains, we helped launch this vital distribution arm for these Tedtaments. Chaplains, in small groups, drive to within a couple kilometers of the front lines. They set up a field kitchen. Soldiers come, dive into a hot meal, receive toiletries, etc., and enjoy fellowship, music, and hear a warm presentation of the Gospel. Of course, they receive Scripture.

Please for all of us in this small and powerful group. We desperately need His leadership, empowerment, and vision to effectively help fulfill the Great Comission!

The scenery isn’t bad. And I am working on a good summary for you of Bridges of Faith’s summer work! Trust me, Thomas, Nancy, and I are grateful to God and inspired for the future!

09/03/2025

Love this 2017 article from the Montgomery Advertiser - we still serve Ukrainian orphans!

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2017/09/01/ukrainian-children-find-sweet-home-alabama/551221001/?cookies&from=global&showmenu=true&fbclid=IwZnRzaAMklutleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhvFe1pFQFF-Jay8muCYX5b8Jrn_3lcn19-a7xPZGSdl32plwr-E-8vLjcBs_aem_IeWS3Heath4kWOfGWezFrg

In the 10 years Bridges of Faith ministry has brought Ukrainian children to Alabama more than 100 have been adopted.