1. How does it work?

James 2:18 Ministries sends out inquiries to inpatient behavioral health facilities across the country to see if facilities would like donations of softcover Bibles.

• Once a facility responds favorably and provides the number of Bibles requested, the ministry seeks donations to purchase the Bibles.

• Once funding is established, James 2:18 purchases Bible from bulk Bible distributor websites such as Bibles in Bulk, Bible Surplus, Christian Book, or Church Source (depending on sales and shipping cost, we go with the cheapest available at the time of purchase). There are 24 Bibles in a case.

• The Bibles bought in bulk are then shipped directly from the distributor to the partner facility.

• James 2:18 attempts to create a sustainable stream of funding so every facility that desires Bibles receives Bibles on a monthly or quarterly basis.

2. Which Bible translation do you use?

Behavioral health facilities MUST receive softcover Bibles. Sometimes facilities will request a particular translation, such as the King James Version (KJV) or New International Version (NIV). In cases where a specific Bible translation is not requested by a facility, James 2:18 Ministries purchases English Standard Version (ESV) Bibles. The ESV is sent because it is a close translation of the original Hebrew and Greek versions of the Old and New Testaments.

3. Why behavioral health facilities?

The Word of God is powerful. It can change lives. Most likely your life has been changed because you have read Scripture. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they do not always have ready access to their own Bible. This can be due to their Bible not being softcover or it being such an emergency that they are unable to prepare for their departure to the hospital. 

By providing softcover Bibles to behavioral health facilities, James 2:18 Ministries is giving the powerful Word of God to those who are experiencing some of the most difficult times in their lives. Bibles shine light in the midst of darkness. This is not only true of those who are believers, but also those who do not know God. A Bible in a behavioral health facility can change the eternal life of someone.

4. How frequently are Bibles donated?

Bibles are donated based on the individual needs of a facility. The goal is to ensure that at any time each patient in a behavioral health facility has access to a Bible. That means the ideal would be to send at least 24 Bibles (a case) to each partner facility on a monthly basis.

5. What happens to the money once I donate?

A case of 24 ESV Bibles runs about $100 with taxes and fees added in. The shipping is usually free, but not always. All donated money goes to funding cases of Bibles to be sent to behavioral health facilities. A monthly contribution of $100 is greatly appreciated from churches, businesses, or those who have the means to do so. Otherwise, whatever you can contribute is added into larger donations to purchase a case of Bibles.

6. Which facilities receive Bibles?

The facilities James 2:18 Ministries currently works with in order to provide Bibles are:

• North Star Behavioral Health (Anchorage, AK)

• East Alabama Medical Center (Opelika, AL)

• Bryce Hospital (Tuscaloosa, AL)

• Valleywise (Mesa, AZ)

• Palo Verde Behavioral Health (Tucson, AZ)

• Sonora Behavioral Health (Tucson, AZ)

• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Colton, CA)

• Aurora Charter Oak Hospital (Covina, CA)

• Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare (Santa Rosa, CA)

• Peak View Behavioral Health (Colorado Springs, CO)

• Colorado Mental Health Institute (Denver, CO)

• Silver Hill Hospital (New Canaan, CT)

• MeadowWood Behavioral Health (New Castle, DE)

• Windmoor Healthcare (Clearwater, FL)

• River Point Behavioral Health (Jacksonville, FL)

• Northeast Florida State Hospital (Macclenny, FL)

• Mt. Sinai Medical Center (Miami, FL)

• Ft. Lauderdale Behavioral Health (Oakland Park, FL)

• Vines Hospital (Ocala, FL)

• University Behavioral Health (Orlando, FL)

• Chicago Behavioral Hospital (Des Plaines, IL)

• Parkview Behavioral Health (Ft. Wayne, IN)

• Brook Hospital (Louisville, KY)

• Our Lady of Peace (Louisville, KY)

• Northlake Behavioral (Mandeville, LA)

• River Oaks Hospital (New Orleans, LA)

• Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, MA)

• Pine Rest Christian Services (Grand Rapids, MI)

• DePaul Hospital (Bridgeton, MO)

• Parkwood Behavioral Health (Olive Branch, MS)

• Carrier Clinic (Belle Mead, NJ)

• St. Claire's Behavioral Health (Boonton, NJ)

• Mesilla Valley Hospital (Las Cruces, NM)

• New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute (Las Vegas, NM)

• Spring Mountain Treatment Center (Las Vegas, NV)

• One Brooklyn Health (Brooklyn, NY)

• Woodhull Medical Center (Brooklyn, NY)

• Erie County Medical Center (Buffalo, NY)

• Nassau University Medical Center (East Meadow, NY)

• Metropolitan Hospital (New York, NY)

• Dublin Springs (Dublin, OH)

• St. Luke's Sacred Heart Campus (Allentown, PA)

• Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital (Ft. Washington, PA)

• Torrance State Hospital (Torrance, PA)

• Butler Hospital (Providence, RI)

• Woodridge Hospital (Johnson City, TN)

• Peninsula Hospital (Louisville, TN)

• Delta Specialty Hospital (Memphis, TN)

• St. Thomas Behavioral Health (Nashville, TN)

• Austin Oaks Hospital (Austin, TX)

• Cross Creek Hospital (Austin, TX)

• Medical City Green Oaks Hospital (Dallas, TX)

• Dallas Behavioral (Desoto, TX)

• Houston Behavioral Healthcare Hospital (Houston, TX)

• Sun Behavioral Health (Houston, TX)

• West Oaks Hospital (Houston, TX)

• San Antonio State Hospital (San Antonio, TX)

• Terrell State Hospital (Terrell, TX)

• Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center (Virginia Beach, VA)

All facilities currently need Bibles. 

If you would like to earmark funds for a specific facility, please include this information when donating. 

Additionally, James 2:18 Ministries attempts to cultivate relationships with churches in the cities where the behavioral facilities are located in order to provide softcover Bibles and/or funding.

7. Do Bibles in behavioral health facilities make a difference?

There is no known study about the use of Bibles in behavioral facilities leading to conversions. However, there is great power in the Word of God. When someone goes into a behavioral health facility they are vulnerable, fearful, and often feel quite alone. The Word of God is there to comfort them. It is there to help heal them. It is there to provide them a way to eternal salvation if they have not already received this free gift. In these ways the Bible makes a huge difference in behavioral health facilities.

Chaplains working at facilities have reported that patients study the entire Bible (both Old and New Testaments) during their stay. They make notations in their Bibles. They also take the donated Bibles home upon discharge. Even acute patients are able to receive the Word of God because the Bibles provided are in large enough print for them to read.

These donated Bibles are ways to directly improve the lives of fellow Christians who are in need of the love of God during their time of sickness.