Open the Bible was founded in 1999 by Colin Smith. Originally from Scotland, Colin has served for over two decades as Senior Pastor of The Orchard, a network of church congregations in the North West suburbs of Chicago in America. The ministry of Open the Bible began when a radio producer in the church suggested broadcasting Colin’s sermons. Colin’s focus on clear accessible Bible teaching, with an eye to how the grand story of the Bible fits together and points throughout to Jesus Christ, proved popular. Since then, the ministry has grown steady in size and reach. Today, Colin’s teaching is broadcast on over 650 radio stations and reaches millions of listeners worldwide, and he continues to write books and other materials to help you open the Bible.
Open the Bible’s UK ministry began in 2017, when Colin’s teaching was aired on Premier Christian Radio. John Martin was appointed as our first UK Executive Director in 2022, and since then we have established a UK-focused ministry supported by a small staff team. We are busy adapting Colin’s teaching materials into a growing range of printed and online resources to help you open your Bible, for yourself and with others. We are eager to support you, whether you are exploring faith, growing in faith, or learning to lead in your church. Church leaders should find we have many easy-to-use resources to equip congregations.
God longs for us to know Him, and enjoy friendship with Him. He has graciously revealed Himself to us in the words of the Bible. There we can meet Jesus, and discover the abundant life that He offers. It all begins when we open the Bible.
God’s Word is everlasting and never returns to Him empty. Yet with all this power to create and sustain new life, so many Bibles remain unopened.
We have this ministry by the mercy of God. God in his kindness has chosen to take ordinary and unworthy people like us, and use us to proclaim the greatest good news the world has ever heard.
Putting the gospel within people’s grasp through accessible multimedia resources
Our UK team is based in and around the Cotswolds. Together we produce the radio broadcast, publish books and booklets, create an ever-growing array of multimedia online resources and courses, and keep in touch with you, our partners and supporters. We’d love to hear from you – do get in touch.
Open the Bible creates accessible resources to help you open the Bible, for yourself, and with others, that you may encounter the God who offers you abundant life in Jesus.
Whether you are exploring the Christian faith, growing in your Christian faith, or equipping others in their Christian faith, Open the Bible has accessible resources to help for you.
